v16_0074 - PARTHIAN KINGDOM - ARSACES II Drachme

PARTHIAN KINGDOM - ARSACES II

(211 - 191 BC)

Among the old authors (…until the middle of the 20th century), Arsace II is called Artaban I, who would then be the son of a certain Tiridate, the latter being brother of Arsace (founder of the dynasty but without descendants). A better study of literary sources (cf.. the account of Justin, a Roman historian of the 3rd century) redefines the genealogy of the first Parthian Arsacids. Arsace I is the founder of the dynasty, his son and successor is Arsace II (the ex. Artaban I) and Tiridates never ruled. The epigraphic and numismatic discoveries made for half a century, in particular on Iranian soil, confirm this version, which puts an end to the discussions on the historicity and the role of the first two Parthian kings.. As a result, there is a discrepancy in the numbering of the kings who will bear the name of Artaban: the first reigned from 127 to 124 BC.. -VS. (it is the old Artaban II). When Arsace I died at the end of a reign of about thirty years, his son Arsace II also had to defend his conquests. The Seleucid king Antiochos III Megas launched an expedition, occupied Parthia and Hyrcania but did not penetrate the steppes of northern Iran where Arsaces II had taken refuge. These steppes providing favorable conditions for the evolution of the famous Parthian cavalry, it seems that Antiochos III was obliged to conclude a peace, and Arsaces II took back a large part of the lost territories.. With the death of Arsace II the eldest branch of the Parthians Arsacids died out and power passed to the younger line, descended from a cousin of Arsace I of whom we know nothing, represented by Phriapite (around 191-175 BC).. -VS. ) and by his son Phraates I (circa 176-171 BC. -VS. ), to which no coin can currently be assigned.