Artabanus I-V
Artabanus I-V refers to a series of five kings of the Parthian Empire, each contributing to the complex history of this ancient civilization. Artabanus I, who reigned from 211 to 191 BCE, took the throne after Arsaces I. His reign was marked by military conflict with the Seleucid Empire, culminating in a compromise that allowed him to retain his kingship despite territorial losses. Artabanus II (128-124 BCE) expanded Parthian control over much of the Iranian Plateau, though he faced challenges from nomadic tribes. Artabanus III (c. 10-38 CE) struggled against Roman influence, centralizing power while dealing with internal revolts and foreign threats. The fourth in line, Artabanus IV (79-80/81 CE), was embroiled in a power struggle with his brother before his death. Lastly, Artabanus V (213-224 CE) was the final Parthian king, who ultimately fell to the rising power of Ardashīr I, leading to the decline of the Parthian dynasty and the establishment of the Sāsānian Empire. This lineage illustrates the tumultuous political landscape of the time, characterized by both internal strife and external pressures from more powerful neighbors.
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Artabanus I-V
Related civilization: Parthia
Major role/position: Parthian kings
Lives
The name Artabanus (ahr-tuh-BAY-nuhs) is shared by five Parthian kings. Artabanus I (also known as Arsaces II; r. 211-191 b.c.e.) succeeded Arsaces, the first Parthian king. In 209 b.c.e., Seleucid king Antiochus the Great attacked Artabanus and took Hecatompylos, the Parthian capital. Artabanus fled, and the Seleucid and Parthian conflict was ended by a compromise treaty. Artabanus retained his position as king, but after 206 b.c.e., Parthia lost much territory to Euthydemus, king of Bactria.
Artabanus II (r. 128-124 b.c.e.), who succeeded Mithradates I, continued the expansionist policies of his predecessor until the entire Iranian Plateau and the Tigris-Euphrates valley were under the control of the Parthians. The Parthian Empire, however, was troubled by attacks from the nomadic Sakas, or Scythians, in the east.
Artabanus III (r. c. 10-38 c.e.) was supported by the Parthian nobility against Vonones, who had been installed on the throne by the Romans. Artabanus defeated Vonones around 10 c.e. and began to centralize his power and quell local dynastic revolts within the empire. Artabanus angered Rome by placing his son on the Armenian throne (c. 34 c.e.), so in 35 c.e., Rome placed Tiridates III on the Parthian throne. Artabanus regained his throne, fled again, then regained it not long before dying.
Artabanus IV (r. 79-80/81 c.e.), the son of Vologases IV, was killed while fighting against his brother Pacorus II for the throne of Parthia.
Artabanus V (r. 213-224 c.e.), the last Parthian king, came to the throne after he had defeated his brother Vologases V in 213 c.e. In 216 c.e., the Roman emperor Caracalla attacked the Parthians, but the following year, he was killed by Macrinus, his successor. Because Macrinus did not accept Artabanus’s demands for peace, a major battle took place at Nisibis, which resulted in Roman defeat in 218 c.e.
By this time, a local Persian prince by the name of Ardashīr I (r. 224-241 c.e.), the son of Bābak, had made conquest in Persis (province of Fārs) and was becoming powerful. At first, Artabanus sent governors to defeat Ardashīr, but all were unsuccessful. Consequently, he himself faced Ardashīr in battle at the plain of Hormizdagān in 224 c.e. and was killed. This brought an end to the power of the Parthian Dynasty in the Iranian plateau and gave rise to the Sāsānian Empire.
Bibliography
Bivar, A. D. H. “The Political History of Iran Under the Arsacids.” In The Cambridge History of Iran, edited by Ehsan Yarshater. Vol. 3. Cambridge, England: Cambridge University Press, 1983.
Debevoise, N. C. A Political History of Parthia. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1938.