Artabanus II of Parthia

Coin of Artabanus I.

For another ruler also known as Artabanus I, see Arsaces II of Parthia.

Artabanus II of Parthia (Persian: اردوان دوم‎‎) ruled the Parthian Empire from c. 126 to 122 BC.^[1] The son of Phriapatius, it was originally believed that he succeeded his nephew Phraates II in 126 BC; however, new evidence suggests that he succeeded his brother Bacasis, who reigned briefly in 126 BC.^[2] Just like Phraates II, Artabanus died in battle against the nomads in the East, namely the Tochari (a name commonly identified with the Yuezhi of the Chinese sources)^[3] who had apparently invaded the eastern territories of Iran:

"Bello Tochariis inlato, in bracchio vulneratus statim decedit"

"During the war against the Tokharians, he was wounded in the arm and died immediately" Justin, Epitomes, XLII,2,2.

He is perhaps identical with the Artabanus mentioned in Trogus, Prologi, xli, 5.

Cuneiform and numismatic evidence also suggests that his young son, Arsaces X, succeeded him and reigned for a year (122-121 BC), after which Mithridates II became king.^[4]

References

↑ "Assar_2005" pg. 47-9
↑ "Assar_2005" pg. 47-9
↑ Grousset, Rene (1970). The Empire of the Steppes. Rutgers University Press. p. 31. ISBN 0-8135-1304-9.
↑ "Assar_2005" pg. 49-51

This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Artabanus". Encyclopædia Britannica (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press.
Justin, Epitome of Pompeius Trogus, xli, 2

Artabanus II of Parthia Arsacid dynasty Died: 122 BC
Preceded by Phraates II	Great King (Shah) of Parthia 126–122 BC	Succeeded by Mithridates II

Rulers of the Parthian Empire (247 BC – 224 AD)

Arsaces I (250–246/211 BC) Tiridates I (246–211 BC) Arsaces II (211–191 BC) Phriapatius (191–176 BC) Phraates I (176–171 BC) Mithridates I (171–132 BC) Phraates II (132–126 BC) Artabanus II (126–124 BC) Mithridates II (124–88 BC) Gotarzes I (95–90 BC) Orodes I (90–80 BC) Sanatruces (77–70 BC) Phraates III (70–57 BC) Mithridates III (57–54 BC) Orodes II (57–38 BC) Pacorus I^§ (51 BC) Phraates IV (37–2 BC) Tiridates II^§ (32 BC) Musa (2 BC–4 AD) Phraates V (2 BC–4 AD) Orodes III (4–6) Vonones I (6–12) Artabanus III (10–35) Tiridates III (35–36) Artabanus III (36–38) Vardanes I (40–47) Gotarzes II (40–51) Vonones II (51) Vologases I (51–78) Vardanes II^§ (55–58) Vologases II (77–80) Pacorus II (78–105) Artabanus IV^§ (80–90) Vologases III (105–147) Osroes I (109–116) Parthamaspates^§ (116–117) Sanatruces II^§ (116) Osroes I (117–129) Vologases III (129–140) Mithridates IV (129–140) Vologases IV (147–191) Osroes II^§ (191) Vologases V (191–208) Vologases VI (208–228) Artabanus V^§ (208–224)

^§ usurpers or rival claimants

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