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Phraates III

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Phraates III
𐭐𐭓𐭇𐭕
Great King,King of Kings,Arsaces
Phraates III's portrait on the obverse of a coin, showing him with a beard and adiademon his head. Minted atEcbatanainc. 62
King of theParthian Empire
Reign69 – 57 BC
PredecessorSinatruces
SuccessorMithridates IV
Died57 BC
SpousePiriustana,
Teleuniqe
IssueMithridates IV
Orodes II
unnamed daughter
DynastyArsacid dynasty
FatherSinatruces
ReligionZoroastrianism

Phraates III(also spelledFrahad III;Parthian:𐭐𐭓𐭇𐭕Frahāt), wasKing of Kingsof theParthian Empirefrom 69 BC to 57 BC. He was the son and successor ofSinatruces(r. 75–69 BC).

At Phraates III's accession, his empire could no longer be considered the supreme power in theNear East,because of the ascendancy ofArmeniaunderTigranes the Great(r. 95–55 BC) andPontusunder his allyMithridates VI Eupator(r. 120–63 BC). Phraates III's reign was thus marked by his efforts to restore his empire to its former position. To the west of his empire, war had engulfed the area. Tigranes and Mithridates VI urged him to join their war against theRoman Republic,while the Romans tried in turn to convince Phraates III to join them. Phraates III seemingly made promises to both parties but remained passive. He awaited the outcome of the war to take advantage of it at the right moment for the Parthians.

In 65 BC, Phraates III and his new son-in-lawTigranes the Younger(who was Tigranes the Elder's son) led an expedition into Armenia. Initially successful, their efforts were halted by a long siege atArtaxata.This led Phraates III to put Tigranes the Younger in charge of the Armenian expedition, reinforcing him with some Parthian soldiers. Tigranes the Younger, however, was ultimately defeated by his father, leading him to desert Phraates III and join the Roman commanderPompeyinstead. Tigranes the Elder soon submitted to the Romans who kept him as king. They appointed Tigranes the Younger the ruler ofSophene.However, he quickly fell out with Pompey and was sent as a prisoner toRome.This was contested by Phraates III but to no avail.

Around the same time—in late 65 BC—Phraates III reconqueredAdiabene,Gordyeneandnorthern Mesopotamiafrom Tigranes. However, a Roman attack under the generalsAulus GabiniusandLucius Afraniusas far as theTigrisresulted in Phraates III losing Gordyene, which was restored to Tigranes by the Romans. At the start of 64 BC, while Pompey was focusing on his expedition against Mithridates VI, Phraates III invaded Armenia, and ultimately reached an accord with Pompey and Tigranes; Mesopotamia and Adiabene were confirmed as Parthian territory, while Gordyene was confirmed as Armenian. Furthermore, a peace treaty was concluded between Phraates III and Tigranes.

Inc. 57 BCPhraates III wasmurderedby his two sons,Orodes IIandMithridates IV,with the latter ascending the throne. A civil war between the two brothers soon erupted and Orodes II emerged victorious.

Name

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Phraátēs(Φραάτης) is theGreekform of theParthianFrahāt(𐭐𐭓𐭇𐭕), itself from theOld Iranian*Frahāta-( "gained, earned" ).[1]TheModern Persianversion isFarhād(فرهاد).[2]

Background

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Phraates III was a son ofSinatruces(r. 75–69 BC),[3]who was presumably a son of the Parthian rulerMithridates I(r. 171–132 BC).[4]The name of theArsacidbranch established by Sinatruces on the Parthian throne has been coined by the modern historian Marek Jan Olbrycht as the "Sinatrucids", which ruled the Parthian Empire from 78/77 BC to 12 AD.[5]After the death ofMithridates II(r. 124–91 BC) the Parthian Empire fell into a state of turmoil and decline; the authority of the crown had declined, while the empire lost lands to its neighbours.[6]TheArtaxiadking ofArmenia,Tigranes the Great(r. 95–55 BC), took advantage of the Parthians' weakness and retook the "seventy valleys" he had previously ceded to Mithridates II. He also went on to conquer the Parthian colonies ofMedia Atropatene,Gordyene,Adiabene,Osroene,andnorthern Mesopotamia.[7]Tigranes had also fought campaigns in other kingdoms, addingSyria,CiliciaandCoele-Syriato his vast kingdom.[8]

Reign

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Photograph of the obverse and reverse of a coin of Tigranes the Great
Coin ofTigranes the Great,theArtaxiadking ofArmenia(r. 95–55 BC)

When Phraates III came to the throne in 69 BC, he inherited an empire that could no longer be considered the supreme power in theNear East,because of the ascendancy of Armenia under Tigranes andPontusunder the latter's allyMithridates VI Eupator(r. 120–63 BC).[8]However, this began to change; in the same year, theRomancommanderLuculluspushed Tigranes out of Syria and Cilicia, forcing him to retreat to Armenia, where Mithridates VI took refuge with him.[9]Lucullus then marched towards Armenia, where he was likewise successful, forcing Tigranes and Mithridates VI to withdraw to the northern part of the country. From there they implored Phraates III to aid them in exchange for the lost Parthian lands of Gordyene, Adiabene, and northern Mesopotamia.[10]

This was not the first time the two allies had attempted to persuade the Parthians into an alliance against the Romans. A few years earlier (72 BC), Mithridates VI had asked Phraates III's father Sinatruces to join him; he declined, preferring to remain neutral.[11]At the same time, Phraates III was in correspondence with Lucullus, who proposed an alliance between the two powers, seemingly with the guarantee that he would acknowledge Parthian demands against Tigranes.[12]Although Lucullus had been successful in his war against the two monarchs initially, their forces remained a threat to the Romans and still possessed the strength to repel him.[13]Phraates III seemingly made promises to both parties but remained passive to await the outcome of the war. He could then take advantage of it at the right moment for the Parthians.[14]

Photograph of the obverse and reverse of a coin of Mithridates VI Eupator
Coin ofMithridates VI Eupator,the king ofPontus(r. 120–63 BC)

In 66 BC, Phraates III entered into negotiations with Lucullus' successorPompey,who possibly offered Roman acknowledgement of Parthian authority over Mesopotamia, Adiabene, and Gordyene in exchange for military aid.[13]Around the same time, Tigranes' namesake son and heir,Tigranes the Younger,fell out with his father and fled to the court of Phraates III. He agreed to help Phraates III take the Armenian throne in return for marrying his daughter.[15]This marriage, which took place in 66/65 BC, gave Phraates III the opportunity to involve himself in the affairs of Armenia, including preventing Pompey from putting Parthian interests in jeopardy.[16]Phraates III, together with Tigranes the Younger, led an expedition into Armenia. Initially successful, their efforts were halted by a long siege atArtaxata,which led Phraates III to put Tigranes the Younger in charge of the Armenian expedition, reinforcing him with some Parthian soldiers.[17]Ultimately, Tigranes the Younger was defeated by his father, however, leading him to desert Phraates III and join Pompey instead.[18]Tigranes the Elder soon surrendered to Pompey, who chose to allow him to retain his crown.[19]Instead, Tigranes the Younger was made the ruler ofSophenewith the assurance that he would ascend to the Armenian throne after his father's death.[20]

However, after a brief reign, Tigranes the Younger was imprisoned and deported toRome.The reason behind this is disputed. According to Rahim M. Shayegan, it was because he remained an ally of Phraates III, with whom he still conspired with to overthrow Tigranes the Elder, whilstMichał Marciakstates it was due to his dispute with Pompey over Sophene's treasury.[21]In the spring of 65 BC, Phraates III protested the arrest of his son-in-law but to no avail.[22]Around the same time—in late 65 BC—Phraates III reconquered Adiabene, Gordyene and northern Mesopotamia.[23]However, a Roman attack under the generalsAulus GabiniusandLucius Afraniusas far as theTigrisresulted in Phraates III losing Gordyene, which was restored to Tigranes by the Romans.[24]

Phraates III protested against the Romans for the second time—again to no avail. After the Roman forces pulled out of Mesopotamia in the winter of 65/4 BC, and Pompey resumed his war against Mithridates VI, Phraates III took advantage of the situation and invaded Armenia at the start of 64 BC.[25]Phraates III ultimately reached an accord with Pompey and Tigranes; Mesopotamia and Adiabene were confirmed as Parthian territory, while Gordyene was confirmed as Armenian.[26]Furthermore, a peace treaty was established between Phraates III and Tigranes.[27]

Coinage and Imperial ideology

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Photograph of the obverse and reverse sides of a coin of Phraates III shown wearing a tiara
Coin of Phraates III wearing atiara
Photograph of the obverse and reverse sides of a coin of Phrates III shown wearing a diadem
Coin of Phraates III wearing adiadem

Phraates III was the penultimate Parthian king to use the legend of "King, God" in hiscoinage(the first Parthian to use it being Mithridates I), an uncommon title amongst the Parthian monarchs. The last Parthian ruler to use the title was Mithridates IV.[28]Other titles used by Phraates III wereEpiphanes,TheopatorandEupator.According to the modern historian Edward Dąbrowa, these titles were seemingly used by the Parthians as a method to back their claims to the throne, "through their close relation to the divine ancestor, or by their own divine status."[29]Phraates III also used the titles ofKing of KingsandGreat King.[30][a]Like the rest of the Parthian kings, he used the title ofArsaces—the name of the first Parthian rulerArsaces I(r. 247 – 217 BC)—on his coinage. This had become a royal honorific among the Parthian monarchs out of their admiration for his achievements.[32]

On the obverse of his coins, Phraates III used two types of headgear; atiaradecorated with a line ofstags,[33][b]and a uniquediademinspired by theHellenisticdiadem.[35]After his death, the tiara does not appear on Parthian coinage for some time.[36]The coinage of Phraates III influenced the Parthian vassal kingdom ofPersis;its king,Pakor I,adopted the same hairstyle used on the obverse of Phraates III's coins.[37]

On the reverse of Phraates III'stetradrachms,an altered version of the traditional seated archer-figure is depicted; instead of a sleeved coat, he is now wearing the same open-necked tunic worn by Phraates III on the obverse of his coins.[38]According to the modern historian Vesta Sarkhosh Curtis, "The archer on the reverse is now clearly the same person as the king on the obverse."[39]A bird similar to the eagle of the Greek godZeushas also been added on the hand of the seated figure.[39]In the Parthian era, Iranians used Hellenistic iconography to portray their divine figures,[40][41]thus the eagle can be associated with theAvestanVerethragna,the royal falcon.[42][43]

Death and succession

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Inc. 57 BC,Phraates III wasmurderedby his two sons,Orodes IIandMithridates IV.Orodes II at first supported his elder brother Mithridates IV, but eventually decided to revolt.[44]With the support of theSurenclan, Orodes II defeated his brother and established himself as the sole ruler of the Parthian Empire in 55 BC.[45]

Legacy

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Phraates III was the first Parthian monarch who vigorously attempted to restore the Parthian realm to its former international position after the death of Mithridates II in 91 BC—an attempt that would take up much of his reign.[46]He was partially successful in his efforts to regain lost land, such as northern Mesopotamia and Adiabene.[26]He was unsuccessful in his ambitions towards Armenia, which would be continued by his son Orodes II after the death of Tigranes and the succession of the latter's sonArtavasdes IIin 55 BC.[47]

Family

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Marriages

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Phraates III's wives are all known from records onBabyloniantablets:[48]

  • Piriustana
  • Teleuniqe

Issue

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Notes

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  1. ^However, the regular usage of the title ofKing of Kingsbegan once again underPhraates IV(r. 37–2 BC); the last Parthian monarch to use it regularly wasMithridates II(r. 124–91 BC).[31]
  2. ^Phraates III's father and predecessor,Sinatruces,also portrayed himself with the same tiara on his coinage.[34]

References

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  1. ^Schmitt 2005.
  2. ^Kia 2016,p. 160.
  3. ^Kia 2016,p. 195;Dąbrowa 2012,p. 169;Olbrycht 2015,p. 363
  4. ^Olbrycht 2016,p. 23.
  5. ^Olbrycht 2016,p. 3.
  6. ^Dąbrowa 2012,p. 171.
  7. ^Garsoian 2005;Shayegan 2011,pp. 245, 320;Dąbrowa 2012,p. 171
  8. ^abShayegan 2011,p. 316.
  9. ^Shayegan 2011,pp. 316, 318–319.
  10. ^Shayegan 2011,p. 319.
  11. ^Dąbrowa 2018,p. 78;Dąbrowa 2012,p. 171
  12. ^Shayegan 2011,p. 320.
  13. ^abShayegan 2011,p. 322.
  14. ^Shayegan 2011,pp. 320–322.
  15. ^Dąbrowa 2018,p. 79;Shayegan 2011,p. 323
  16. ^abDąbrowa 2018,p. 79.
  17. ^Dąbrowa 2018,p. 79;Shayegan 2011,p. 323
  18. ^Dąbrowa 2018,p. 79;Shayegan 2011,p. 323
  19. ^Dąbrowa 2018,p. 79;Shayegan 2011,p. 323
  20. ^Shayegan 2011,p. 323;Marciak 2017,p. 131
  21. ^Shayegan 2011,p. 323;Marciak 2017,pp. 95–96
  22. ^Shayegan 2011,p. 323.
  23. ^Shayegan 2011,p. 245.
  24. ^Shayegan 2011,pp. 323–324;Marciak 2017,pp. 244–245
  25. ^Shayegan 2011,p. 324.
  26. ^abShayegan 2011,pp. 324, 326.
  27. ^Dąbrowa 2012,p. 172.
  28. ^Curtis 2012,p. 68.
  29. ^Dąbrowa 2010,p. 228.
  30. ^Shayegan 2011,pp. 225, 235.
  31. ^Shayegan 2011,p. 225;Dąbrowa 2012,p. 179
  32. ^Dąbrowa 2012,p. 169;Kia 2016,p. 23;Shayegan 2011,p. 235
  33. ^Curtis 2012,p. 70.
  34. ^Olbrycht 2015,p. 363.
  35. ^Dąbrowa 2007,p. 127.
  36. ^Olbrycht 2016,p. 24.
  37. ^Rezakhani 2013,p. 776.
  38. ^Curtis 2012,pp. 68, 70–71.
  39. ^abCurtis 2012,p. 71.
  40. ^Curtis 2012,p. 76–77.
  41. ^Boyce 1984,p. 82.
  42. ^Curtis 2012,pp. 71–72, 77.
  43. ^Curtis 2007,p. 423.
  44. ^Kia 2016,p. 196.
  45. ^Olbrycht 2016,p. 23;Kia 2016,p. 196;Shayegan 2011,p. 238
  46. ^Dąbrowa 2013,p. 56.
  47. ^Dąbrowa 2018,p. 80.
  48. ^Shayegan 2011,p. 235.
  49. ^abDąbrowa 2018,p. 391.

Sources

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Phraates III
Died:57 BC
Preceded by King of the Parthian Empire
69–57 BC 		Succeeded by
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