(250 B.C.-228 A.D.)

B1.C. During the reign of the Seleucid king Antiochus II, Diodotus, viceroy of Bactria, seizes the northeastern provinces and assumes the title of king. The formation of this kingdom is not agreeable to the chiefs of the desert tribes who, under the Seleucid rule, have never felt direct control, and some of them migrate into Parthia. Among them are two brothers, Arsaces and Tiridates, of the Parnians. In a quarrel which arises between them and Pherecles, presumably satrap of Astauene, the latter is slain and Arsaces is proclaimed king in Asaak, northwest of Parthia.

2250 Foundation of an independent monarchy by =Arsaces I=. Antiochus, on account of civil and foreign wars, is unable to proceed against Arsaces.

3248 Death of Arsaces. His brother, =Tiridates=, succeeds, taking the name of Arsaces, which is also borne by all his successors as a throne name. They take the title of “king of kings.”

4242 After defeat of Seleucus Callinicus at Ancyra, Tiridates invades Parthia, slays the eparch Andragores, and takes possession of the province. He next seizes Hyrcania, and causes a large army to oppose Seleucus.

5238 Decisive victory of Tiridates over Seleucus. The latter is obliged to return to Antioch on account of civil war, and Tiridates is enabled to consolidate his kingdom.

6211 Death of Tiridates. His son, =Arsaces II=, sometimes, but incorrectly, called =Artabanus=, succeeds.

7209 Antiochus the Great wins a victory over Arsaces on the summit of Mount Labus. The Parthians retire to Sirynca and are besieged by Antiochus. Surrender of Sirynca, and treaty of peace. Arsaces retains Parthia, but is reduced to a vassal of Antiochus. Parthia remains undisturbed for some years.

8191 =Phriapatius= or =Arsaces (III) Philadelphus= succeeds his father. Owing to the decay of Seleucid power, he acts as protector of the Greeks in his kingdom.

9176 =Phraates I= or =Arsaces (IV) Theopator= succeeds his father. He conquers the Mardians.

10171 Phraates dies, leaving the throne to his brother, =Mithridates I= or =Arsaces (V) Epiphanes=, who at once annexes several satrapies of Bactria to his kingdom. He holds court in Hyrcania.

11155 At death of King Eucratides of Bactria, Mithridates continues the conquest of that country. The Hindu Kush becomes the eastern boundary of Parthia. Mithridates turns to the west.

12147 The province of Babylonia is wrested from the Seleucids. The East is finally lost to the Macedonians.

13139 Capture of Demetrius II of Syria, who has attempted to establish himself in Mesopotamia.

14138 Successful campaign in Elymais. Death of Mithridates. He has made Parthia a great power. His son, =Phraates II= or =Arsaces (VI) Euergetes=, succeeds. He adds Margiana to the kingdom. The seat of the kingdom is transferred to Media.

15130 Antiochus Sidetes begins a vigorous campaign against the Parthians, whom he defeats in a great battle on the Upper Zab. Babylon and Ecbatana are recovered.

16129 The Parthians make secret terms with the Medes and attack Antiochus, whose host is annihilated and he himself slain. Phraates compelled to attack the Scythians, whom he had invited to assist him against Antiochus. They have arrived too late, and, as Phraates refuses to pay them, they begin to ravage the country.

17128 Death of Phraates in a disastrous battle with the Scythians. His uncle, =Artabanus I= or =Arsaces (VII) Nicator=, son of Phriapatius, succeeds. The Scythians withdraw, content with their victory; Artabanus pays them tribute. There appear to have been rival kings in this and the following reign. Perhaps they are Scythians. The usurpers are suppressed. Artabanus dies (date unknown), after a short reign, in battle with the Tochari, and is succeeded by his son, =Mithridates (II) the Great= or =Arsaces (VIII) Theos Euergetes=. He wages many wars, and wins victories from the Scythians. Lost territory is recovered. The Euphrates is fixed as the western boundary of the kingdom.

1894 Mithridates puts Tigranes II on the disputed throne of Greater Armenia.

1992 Sulla, proprætor of Cilicia, meets the ambassador of Mithridates on the Euphrates, seeking the Roman alliance in some connection with the Parthian schemes against Syria. First contact of Parthia with Rome. Mithridates at war with Laodice, queen of Commagene.

2088 About this date Mithridates captures Demetrius III and his army, dies shortly afterwards, and is succeeded by =Artabanus II= or =Arsaces IX=. He is the last to bear title “king of kings,” which passes to Tigranes II of Armenia.

2177 =Sinatruces= or =Arsaces (X) Autocrator=, an exile living with the Scythian tribe of the Sacarances, is placed on the throne at the age of eighty. Continual wars with Tigranes, who conquers Media, ravages Arbela and Nineveh, and compels the cession of Adiabene and Nisibis.

2273 Mithridates of Pontus appeals in vain to both Sinatruces and Tigranes for help against Rome.

2370 =Phraates III= succeeds his father.

2469 Phraates declines to help Mithridates of Pontus, whom Tigranes has joined. Tigranes offers to restore his Median conquests to Phraates if he will assist. Phraates hesitates, but

2566 accepts overtures of Pompey, and, with the younger Tigranes, who has quarrelled with his father, prepares to invade Armenia. Phraates besieges Artaxarta, but leaves the younger Tigranes to continue. Defeat of Tigranes by his father. The former flees to Pompey. The elder Tigranes surrenders to Pompey, and the younger is put in chains. Phraates demands Tigranes’ deliverance, but it is refused. Phraates recovers Media and resumes title “king of kings.”

2664 While Pompey is in Syria, Phraates attacks and defeats the elder Tigranes. Pompey refuses to interfere, but sends umpires to settle the dispute.

2757 Murder of Phraates by his two sons, who divide the kingdom. =Orodes= or =Hyrodes I= takes Parthia, and =Mithridates III= takes Media. The latter is soon expelled for his cruelty, and Orodes reigns alone. Mithridates expects the Romans to restore him, but they are compelled to go to Egypt to restore Ptolemy