Artabanus II of Parthia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Artabanus II𐭍𐭐𐭕𐭓 |
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| King of Kings | |
Coin of Artabanus II, minted at Seleucia in 27 AD
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| King of Media Atropatene | |
| Reign | ???–12 AD |
| Predecessor | Artavasdes II |
| Successor | Vonones II |
| King of the Parthian Empire | |
| Reign | 12–38/41 AD |
| Predecessor | Vonones I (predecessor) Tiridates III (rival king) |
| Successor | Vardanes I |
| Born | 30–25 BC Dahistan |
| Died | 38/41 AD |
| Issue | Arsaces I Orodes Vardanes I Artabanus Gotarzes II (adopted) |
| Dynasty | Arsacid dynasty |
| Father | unnamed Dahae prince |
| Mother | unnamed daughter of Phraates IV |
| Religion | Zoroastrianism |
Artabanus II (also called Artabanos II or Ardawan II) was a powerful ruler of the Parthian Empire, an ancient kingdom in what is now Iran. He was the King of Kings from about 12 AD to 38 or 41 AD. Artabanus was the nephew of the previous king, Vonones I. His father was a prince from the Dahae people, and his mother was a daughter of another Parthian king, Phraates IV.
Before becoming the main king, Artabanus ruled a smaller kingdom called Media Atropatene. He used this area to fight against King Vonones I, who was supported by the powerful Roman Empire. Artabanus won, and Vonones I had to leave. Artabanus tried to make his own son the king of Armenia, but the Romans stopped him. They later agreed to make Artaxias III the new king of Armenia.
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What's in a Name?
The name Artabanus comes from the Latin language. It is based on the Greek name Artábanos. This Greek name comes from an even older language, Old Persian. In Old Persian, it meant "the glory of Arta," which refers to a concept of truth and order. In the Parthian and Middle Persian languages, his name was Ardawān.
Early Life and Becoming a King
Artabanus was not from the main royal family branch of the Parthian Empire. His father was a prince from the Dahae people, who were likely related to an earlier Parthian king, Mithridates II. His mother was a daughter of the Parthian King of Kings Phraates IV.
Artabanus was born between 30 and 25 BC. He grew up among the Dahae people in Central Asia. When he became an adult, he became the ruler of Media Atropatene. This happened either during the end of Phraates IV's rule or during the time of his son, Phraates V. It's not clear how Artabanus became king of Media Atropatene.
This kingdom became Artabanus's base to fight against the Parthian king Vonones I. Vonones I had lived in Rome and was put on the Parthian throne by some powerful families. The Roman Empire supported him. However, many Parthian nobles did not like Vonones I because he had adopted Roman ways. This helped Artabanus. After years of fighting, Artabanus finally defeated Vonones I, who then fled to Armenia and became its king.
Artabanus's Rule as King of Kings
Artabanus was now the ruler of the entire Parthian Empire. He tried to remove Vonones I from the Armenian throne and put his own son there instead. The Romans saw this as a threat to their interests. So, the Roman emperor Tiberius sent his stepson Germanicus to stop it.
Germanicus did not face any fighting from the Parthians. Instead, he and Artabanus made an agreement in 18 AD. They decided that Artaxias III would be the new king of Armenia. The Romans also agreed to stop supporting Vonones I. This meant the Romans accepted Artabanus as the true Parthian ruler. To show their friendship, Artabanus and Germanicus met on an island in the Euphrates River.
The Romans moved Vonones I to a place called Cilicia. He was killed the next year when he tried to escape. With Vonones I gone, Artabanus was the clear ruler. However, not all Parthian nobles liked that a new branch of the royal family was in charge.
Around 19 or 20 AD, a Parthian governor named Gondophares, who ruled areas like Sakastan, declared his independence from Artabanus. He created his own kingdom, called the Indo-Parthian Kingdom. He took grand titles like "Great King of Kings." Artabanus and Gondophares likely agreed that the Indo-Parthians would not interfere with the main Parthian Empire.
Artabanus spent the next few years making his power stronger. In the northeast, he helped set up a new ruling family in Khwarazm. He also likely worked to control western Bactria, which had been part of the Parthian lands for a long time.
Later Challenges and End of Reign
In 35 AD, Artabanus tried again to take over Armenia and make his son Arsaces I its king. This almost led to a war with Rome. Some powerful Parthian nobles who were against Artabanus asked Emperor Tiberius for a new king from the old royal family. Tiberius sent Tiridates III, who was a grandson of Phraates IV. He also sent a Roman general, Lucius Vitellius the Elder, to restore Roman power in the East.
Vitellius was very skilled in military and diplomatic actions. He succeeded completely. Artabanus II's followers left him, and he had to flee to the East. Tiridates III was made king, but he could not keep control. His subjects saw him as a puppet of the Romans.
Artabanus II soon returned from Hyrcania with a strong army of Scythian (Dahae) soldiers. The Parthians accepted him as king again. Tiridates III left and fled to Syria. Artabanus II was not strong enough to fight Rome. So, in 37 AD, he made a treaty with Vitellius. In this treaty, he gave up all his claims to Armenia.
A short time later, Artabanus II was removed from power again. Another person, Cinnamus, was declared king. Artabanus II found safety with his loyal ruler, King Izates bar Monobaz. Izates helped Artabanus by talking to the Parthians and promising them forgiveness. This persuaded the Parthians to put Artabanus II back on the throne one more time.
Artabanus II died shortly after this. His son, Vardanes I, became the next king. Vardanes I's rule was even more difficult than his father's.
Artabanus II had four sons: Arsaces I, Orodes, Artabanus, and Vardanes I. He also had an adopted son named Gotarzes II.
Connection to the Mandaeans
The Mandaeans are a religious group. They believe that a king named Artabanus (in their language, Ardban) helped them. They say he helped them escape from persecution in Jerusalem and settle in Media during his rule. This king is most likely Artabanus II. He is mentioned in a Mandaean religious text called the Haran Gawaita.
