Tiridates I of Parthia
Encyclopedia
Tiridates, or Teridates is a Persian name, given by Arrian
in his Parthica to the brother of Arsaces I
, the founder of the Parthia
n kingdom, whom he is said to have succeeded in about 246 BC. But Arrian’s account seems to be quite unhistorical and modern historians believe that Arsaces continued to rule Parthia until 211 BC.
In Arrian's account, Tiridates maintained himself for a short time in Parthia, during the dissolution of the Seleucid empire
by the attacks of Ptolemy III in 246 BC and the following years. Tiridates was defeated and expelled by Seleucus II
in about 238 BC. But when Seleucus was forced, by the rebellion of his brother, Antiochus Hierax
, to return to the west, Tiridates came back and defeated the Macedon
ians. Tiridates adopted the name of his brother Arsaces, and after him all the other Parthian kings.
Arrian
Lucius Flavius Arrianus 'Xenophon , known in English as Arrian , and Arrian of Nicomedia, was a Roman historian, public servant, a military commander and a philosopher of the 2nd-century Roman period...
in his Parthica to the brother of Arsaces I
Arsaces I of Parthia
Arsaces I was the founder of the Arsacid dynasty, and after whom all 30+ monarchs of the Arsacid empire officially named themselves. A celebrated descent from antiquity begins with Arsaces.A 1st century AD tradition casts Arsaces as descending from the 5th-century BC Achaemenid monarch...
, the founder of the Parthia
Parthia
Parthia is a region of north-eastern Iran, best known for having been the political and cultural base of the Arsacid dynasty, rulers of the Parthian Empire....
n kingdom, whom he is said to have succeeded in about 246 BC. But Arrian’s account seems to be quite unhistorical and modern historians believe that Arsaces continued to rule Parthia until 211 BC.
In Arrian's account, Tiridates maintained himself for a short time in Parthia, during the dissolution of the Seleucid empire
Seleucid Empire
The Seleucid Empire was a Greek-Macedonian state that was created out of the eastern conquests of Alexander the Great. At the height of its power, it included central Anatolia, the Levant, Mesopotamia, Persia, today's Turkmenistan, Pamir and parts of Pakistan.The Seleucid Empire was a major centre...
by the attacks of Ptolemy III in 246 BC and the following years. Tiridates was defeated and expelled by Seleucus II
Seleucus II Callinicus
Seleucus II Callinicus or Pogon , was a ruler of the Hellenistic Seleucid Empire, who reigned from 246 to 225 BC...
in about 238 BC. But when Seleucus was forced, by the rebellion of his brother, Antiochus Hierax
Antiochus Hierax
Antiochus Hierax , or Antiochus III, , so called from his grasping and ambitious character, was the younger son of Antiochus II and Laodice I and separatist leader in the Hellenistic Seleucid kingdom, who ruled as king of Syria during his brother's reign.On the death of his father, in 246 BCE,...
, to return to the west, Tiridates came back and defeated the Macedon
Macedon
Macedonia or Macedon was an ancient kingdom, centered in the northeastern part of the Greek peninsula, bordered by Epirus to the west, Paeonia to the north, the region of Thrace to the east and Thessaly to the south....
ians. Tiridates adopted the name of his brother Arsaces, and after him all the other Parthian kings.
See also
- Tiridates II of ParthiaTiridates II of ParthiaTiridates II of Parthia was set up by the Parthians against Phraates IV in about 32 BC, but expelled when Phraates returned with the help of the Scythians...
is called "Tiridates I" in accounts that miss out the earlier Tiridates.