Bakur

Bakur, also known as Pacorus or Aurelius Pacorus (Latinized: Bacurius, Aurelius Pacorus Greek: Αύρήλιος Πάκορος) was a Parthian Prince who served as one of the Kings of Armenia in the 2nd century.

Not much is known on the life and origins of Bakur. Bakur was a member of the Parthian Royal family, the Arsacids. He is known from a Greek funeral inscription in Rome as a dedication from him in honoring the memory of his brother Aurelius Merithates. In the inscription dedication Bakur describes himself as:

Αύρήλιος Πάκορος βασιλεύς μεγάλης Άρμενίας

or from the Greek translation

Aurelius Pacorus King of Greater Armenia

From the inscription it is evident that Bakur’s brother lived and died in Rome. The inscription also shows that Bakur lived for a time in Rome and had friends in Rome. The name Aurelius points to a close connection with the imperial house of the Nerva–Antonine dynasty. At some point Bakur and his brother received Roman citizenship from an Emperor of the Nerva–Antonine dynasty, perhaps from Lucius Verus either before or after Bakur’s Armenian Kingship.

Bakur is known to have ruled Armenia in the second century and is the only Bakur to be appointed as King of Armenia by a ruling King of Parthia who was removed by Lucius Verus. During the Roman Parthian War of 161-166, Vologases IV of Parthia in 161/162 entered the Roman Client Kingdom of Armenia, expelled the Roman Client Armenian King Sohaemus and installed Bakur as a Parthian Client King of Armenia.

Bakur served as an Armenian King from 161/162 until 163/164 when Lucius Verus arrived with the Roman Army in Armenia. Bakur was dethroned by the Romans when they captured Armenia and the Armenian capital. After Bakur was dethroned, Sohaemus was reinstalled to his Armenian Kingship. Bakur’s fate is unknown afterwards, however he may have been brought to Rome by Lucius Verus to live.

Bakur is not to be confused with another Pacorus made King of the Lazi in Colchis by Roman emperor Antoninus Pius.