Reign 132–126 BC Religion Zoroastrianism House Parthian Empire Dynasty Arsacid dynasty Name Phraates II | Father Mithridates I Died 128 BC Mother Ri-'nu Parents Mithridates I of Parthia Siblings Rhodogune of Parthia | |
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People also search for Mithridates I of Parthia, Phriapatius, Antiochus VII Sidetes, Demetrius II Nicator, Rhodogune of Parthia | ||
Predecessor Mithridates I of Parthia Successor Artabanus II of Parthia | ||
Phraates II
Phraates II, was king of the Parthian Empire from 132 BC to 126 BC. He is mostly known for his attempt to reconquer Babylon. He was the son of Mithridates I (171–126 BC). Because he was still very young when he came to the throne, his mother Ri-'nu initially ruled on his behalf.
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War with the Seleucids
In 130 BC the Parthian empire was attacked from the west. Antiochus VII Sidetes (138–129 BC), ruler of the Seleucid Empire attacked in the west to reconquer territory lost earlier. After three battles he reclaimed Babylonia and Media. After this he offered a peace, by which he would regain Mesopotamia and large parts of Iran. The Parthian realm would be restricted to its core territories and would pay a heavy tribute. Phraates II could not accept these high demands, so he refused the offer. In the following winter (129 BC), Antiochus VII quartered himself and his army in Ecbatana, where he completely alienated the local people from himself because he forced the local people to pay for the upkeep of his soldiers and because, it seems, the soldiers assaulted the locals. Thus when Phraates II attacked the Seleucid army in its winter quarters, the local people supported him. Antiochus VII was defeated and killed or committed suicide, ending Seleucid rule east of the Euphrates.
Phraates II succeeded in capturing Seleucus, the son of the king. He allowed Antiochus VII a royal funeral and returned the body to Syria in a silver coffin. Phraates II also had Demetrius II Nicator, who had been held by the Parthians as a hostage for several years, to become king of the Seleucid realm for the second time. Through this the Parthian king hoped to gain more influence in Syria. Phraates II even married one of the king's daughters, whose name is not recorded.
War in the East & death
Syria, which was now the Seleucid rump state, lacked military power and Phraates II apparently planned to invade it. But on the eastern front, various Turkic nomadic tribes already infiltrating and usurping the Saka and Tokhari destroyed the Greco-Bactrian Kingdom, penetrated to the borders of the realm in 129 BC, and threatened the Parthian kingdom. The king had to rush to the eastern front, installing Himeros as governor of Babylon, who quickly became a tyrant. Phraates II marched east, his army including a large force of captured Seleucid soldiers from the army of the late Antiochus VII Sidetes. These ultimately refused to fight for the Parthian king, and he was defeated and killed in battle.
Traditionally, it is assumed that Phraates' uncle, Artabanus I succeeded him as King. However, cuneiform and numismatic evidence suggests that his older uncle, Bacasis, reigned for less than a year in 126 BC before Artabanus took the throne.