Phraates II.

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Coin of Phraates II.

Phraates II was a Parthian king who lived from 132 to 127 BC. Ruled.

Phraates II was. The son of Mithridates I . Since he was still very young when he ascended the throne, his mother Ri-'nu first ruled for him. 130 BC The Parthian Empire was attacked from the east and west. The Seleucid king Antiochus VII attacked in the west in order to recapture the newly lost state territory, in which he managed to recapture Babylonia and the Media in three battles . Phraates then offered peace negotiations. Antiochus VII agreed to this and demanded Mesopotamia and large parts of Iran back. The Parthian Empire should be limited to its core area. In addition, there were high demands for tribute. However, Phraates II could not accept these high demands and so he turned down this offer. The following winter, Antiochus VII and his army took up quarters in Ekbatana , but he turned the local population against him, because on the one hand the soldiers needed food and the local population had to pay for it, on the other hand there were apparently attacks by the soldiers. Then Phraates II attacked the winter quarters of the Seleucid army, with the local population supported him. Antiochus VII was beaten and killed or committed suicide. Phraates II was able to capture the son of the ruler Seleucus. Phraates II sent a royal funeral to Antiochus VII and brought the body to Syria. Phraates II also released Demetrios II , who had been in Parthian captivity for years, when he became ruler of the Seleucid Empire for the second time. Which the Parthian side certainly hoped to gain more influence over Syria. Phraates II even married a daughter of this king, but her name has not been passed down.

Syria, which was now the core area of ​​the Seleucid Empire, was without military protection and Phraates II apparently planned to invade there. On the eastern front, however, nomadic peoples penetrated to the borders of the empire, destroyed the Greek kingdom of Bactria and threatened the Parthians. The ruler had to rush to the eastern front and installed Himeros as governor in Babylon , who, however, gave birth there as Tyran. Phraates II himself was killed during a defensive campaign by Greek traders whom he had captured.

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Justin , 38, 10, 10
  2. ↑ Kay Ehling : Studies on the history of the late Seleucids. (164-63 BC). From the death of Antiochus IV to the establishment of the province of Syria under Pompey (= Historia. Individual writings . 196). Steiner, Stuttgart 2008, ISBN 978-3-515-09035-3 , p. 204.
  3. ↑ Justin. 39, 1, 6

literature

Web links

Commons : Phraates II.  - Collection of images
predecessor Office successor
Mithridates I. King of the Parthian Empire
132–127 BC Chr. 		Bagasis
personal data
SURNAME Phraates II.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION parthian king
DATE OF BIRTH 2nd century BC Chr.
DATE OF DEATH after 128 BC Chr.