Tiridates III of Parthia
Tiridates III of Parthia (Persian: تيرداد سوم), ruled the Parthian Empire briefly in 35–36. He was the grandson of Phraates IV. He was sent to Rome as a hostage and was educated there.[1]
In about 36, when the Parthian nobility rebelled against Artabanus II of Parthia, they applied to the Roman emperor Tiberius for a king of the race of Phraates. Tiberius sent Tiridates to the east, and ordered Lucius Vitellius (the father of the emperor Vitellius) to restore Roman authority there.[1] By very dexterous military and diplomatic operations Vitellius succeeded completely. Artabanus was deserted by his followers and fled.
However, Tiridates, who was proclaimed king, could not maintain himself,[1] because he appeared to be a vassal of the Romans. Artabanus soon returned from Hyrcania with a strong army of Scythian (Dahan) auxiliaries, and was again acknowledged by the Parthians. Tiridates left Seleucia and fled to Syria.
The Roman historian Tacitus writes that the Parthian court official Abdagaeses, who exerted political control over Tiridates, spared Tiridates from danger by preventing him from visiting the Parthian tribes.[2] This policy kept the distrustful clans from uniting against Tiridates in the meantime. However, when the situation became untenable, it was Abdagaeses who advised Tiridates to retreat west to Mesopotamia where strategic defensive locations were suitable. This move was viewed as an act of cowardice by the Parthian tribes, which led to Tiridates' ousting from his seat of power.
Notes
- ^ a b c Meyer 1911.
- ^ Bunson, 1.
References
- Meyer, Eduard (1911). "Tiridates s.v. Tiridates III." . In Chisholm, Hugh (ed.). Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 26 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 1010. This work in turn cites:
- Dio Cassius, lviii, 26.
- Tacitus, Annals, vi. 32.
- Bunson, Matthew (1994). Encyclopedia of the Roman Empire. New York: Facts on File Inc.
Tiridates III of Parthia | ||
Preceded by | King of the Parthian Empire 35–36 | Succeeded by |
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- Arsaces I (247–217 BC)
- Arsaces II (217–191 BC)
- Priapatius (191–170 BC)
- Phraates I (170–165/64 BC)
- Mithridates I (165/4–132 BC)
- Phraates II (132–127 BC)
- Artabanus I (127–124 BC)
- Mithridates II (124–91 BC)
- Gotarzes I (91–87/80 BC)
- Mithridates III§ (87–80 BC)
- Orodes I (80–75 BC)
- Sinatruces (75–69 BC)
- Phraates III (69–57 BC)
- Mithridates IV (57–54 BC)
- Orodes II (57–38 BC)
- Pacorus I (39 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 AD)
- Vonones I (6–12 AD)
- Artabanus II (12–35 AD)
- Tiridates III (35–36 AD)
- Artabanus II (36–38/41 AD)
- Vardanes I (40–46 AD)
- Gotarzes II (40–51 AD)
- Meherdates§ (49–51 AD)
- Vonones II (51 AD)
- Vologases I (51–78 AD)
- Vardanes II§ (55–58 AD)
- Pacorus II (78–110 AD)
- Vologases II§ (78–80 AD)
- Artabanus III§ (79–81 AD)
- Osroes I§ (109–129 AD)
- Vologases III (110–147 AD)
- Parthamaspates§ (116–117 AD)
- Sinatruces II§ (116 AD)
- Mithridates V§ (129–140 AD)
- Vologases IV (147–191 AD)
- Osroes II§ (191 AD)
- Vologases V (191–208 AD)
- Vologases VI (208–228 AD)
- Artabanus IV (213–224 AD)