Overview of all Parthian Rulers

This page presents a complete chronological overview of every monarch who ruled the Parthian Empire, from Arsaces I to Artabanus IV. Spanning nearly five centuries of Iranian history, it lists each ruler with their reign dates and a concise summary of their political, military, and cultural legacy.

Title	Date	Excerpt
Arsaces I and the Arsacid Dynasty: Founding Parthian Rule in Iran	c. 250/247–217 BC	Arsaces I established the Arsacid dynasty by transforming a tribal confederation into a territorial monarchy in Parthia during the mid third century BC, laying the foundations for a dynasty that ruled for over four centuries and shaped Iranian political identity.
Arsaces II and the Arsacid Dynasty: Early Parthian Leadership and State Formation	c. 217–191 BC	Arsaces II ruled Parthia during a critical early period, navigating challenges from the Seleucid Empire and laying foundations for the Arsacid dynasty's survival and future expansion.
Priapatius and the Arsacid Dynasty: Foundations of Parthian Sovereignty	c. 191–176 BC	Priapatius ruled Parthia from 191 to 176 BC, restoring Arsacid autonomy by resuming coinage and adopting royal titles, setting the stage for Parthia's later expansion under his successors.
Phraates I and the Arsacid Kingdom: Early Parthian Statecraft and Expansion	c. 176–171 BC	Phraates I ruled the early Arsacid kingdom in the mid-2nd century BC, initiating military and administrative actions that strengthened Parthia’s territorial core and paved the way for its rise as a major power in Iran.
Mithridates I: Architect of the Parthian Empire’s Rise	c. 142–132 BC	Mithridates I transformed Parthia from a regional kingdom into a dominant power by expanding its territory, shifting its political center to Mesopotamia, and establishing royal traditions that linked the Arsacid dynasty to ancient Iranian imperial heritage.
Phraates II and the Arsacid Empire: Shaping Parthian Power in the Hellenistic Near East	c. 132–127 BC	Phraates II ruled the Parthian Empire from 132 to 127 BC, securing Parthian control over Mesopotamia by defeating the Seleucids and confronting new threats from Central Asian nomads, events that influenced the region's political landscape and tested the empire's resilience.
Artabanus I of Parthia: A Transitional Arsacid King in the 2nd Century BCE	c. 127–124/123 BC	Artabanus I ruled the Parthian Empire during a turbulent period marked by external nomadic threats and internal challenges, playing a crucial role in maintaining the dynasty's continuity and setting the stage for its later resurgence under his son Mithridates II.
Mithridates II and the Parthian Empire	c. 123–91 BC	Mithridates II ruled the Parthian Empire from 124 to 91 BC, restoring its territorial reach from the Euphrates to Central Asia and establishing early diplomatic ties with Rome and Han China, shaping the political and cultural landscape of the region.
Gotarzes I: Parthian King and His Role in Ancient Iranian History	91–87(?) BC	Gotarzes I ruled the Parthian Empire in the late first century BCE, exemplifying the blend of Iranian imperial traditions and regional power dynamics that shaped the Arsacid state during a period of political complexity and territorial challenges.
Orodes I: A Transitional Parthian King in Arsacid History	87–79(?) BC	Orodes I ruled the Parthian Empire briefly from 80 to 75 BC, maintaining royal continuity and reasserting control over rebellious provinces during a period of political uncertainty and dynastic change.
Sinatruces	c. 78–70 BC	Sinatruces ruled the Parthian Empire around 75 to 69 BC, illustrating the complex alliances between Parthian nobility and Central Asian nomads. His reign established a lasting Arsacid branch and highlights the evolving political dynamics of the late Hellenistic Near East.
Phraates III	70–57 BC	Phraates III ruled the Parthian Empire from 69 to 57 BC, working to restore lost territories and strengthen royal authority through diplomacy, military action, and cultural initiatives. His reign influenced Parthian relations with Rome and neighboring kingdoms, leaving a lasting impact on the region's political and cultural landscape.
Mithridates III and the Arsacid Parthian Dynasty: Insights from History and Numismatics	57–54 BC	Mithridates III is a debated ruler of the Arsacid Parthian dynasty around 87–80 BCE, known mainly through coins and sparse records. His alleged reign reflects a turbulent period of Parthian succession struggles and influence over the declining Seleucid territories, highlighting the complexities of ancient Near Eastern power dynamics.
Orodes II and the Parthian Empire	57–37 BC	Orodes II ruled the Parthian Empire from 57 to 37 BCE, overseeing its rise as a major eastern rival to Rome through military victories, strategic marriages, and diplomatic maneuvers that shaped the region's political landscape.
Phraates IV: Ruler of the Parthian Empire and His Historical Impact	37–32(?) BC (1st reign); 31–28(?) BC (2nd reign); 26(?)–2 BC (3rd reign)	Phraates IV governed the Parthian Empire during a critical era marked by military defense against Rome, diplomatic negotiations, and internal dynastic struggles that shaped the region's political landscape.
Tiridates II: A Parthian Usurper and Roman Diplomatic Figure	32–31(?) BC (1st reign); 28–26(?) BC (2nd reign)	Tiridates II briefly contested the Parthian throne in the late first century BC, illustrating the era's dynastic struggles and the complex interplay between Parthian factions and Roman diplomacy.
Phraates V and the Parthian Empire: Diplomacy and Dynastic Politics in the Arsacid Monarchy	2 BC – AD 4(?)	Phraates V ruled the Parthian Empire from 2 BC to AD 4 during a critical period of Roman-Parthian rivalry. His reign highlights the complex interplay of foreign diplomacy, internal legitimacy, and dynastic power struggles that shaped the late Arsacid state.
Musa of Parthia: Queen and Co-Ruler of the Arsacid Empire	2 BC – AD 4(?)	Musa of Parthia was an Italian-born woman who rose from servitude to become queen and co-ruler of the Arsacid Empire from 2 BC to AD 4, marking a rare instance of female sovereignty in ancient Iran and illustrating the complex interplay of dynastic politics and foreign influence in Parthian history.
Orodes III and the Parthian Empire: Insights from the Arsacid Dynasty	4(?)–6/7	Orodes III's brief reign in the early first century AD reveals the dynamics of Parthian political power, highlighting the influence of noble families, fragile royal authority, and external pressures from Rome during a period of dynastic uncertainty.
Vonones I: Arsacid Prince and King in Roman-Parthian Relations	6/7–11/12	Vonones I was an Arsacid prince whose reigns in Parthia and Armenia during the early first century AD reveal the complex dynamics of Roman-Parthian diplomacy, cultural conflict, and dynastic rivalry that shaped the region's political landscape.
Artabanus II: Parthian King and Diplomatic Leader in Early 1st Century AD	11/12–38	Artabanus II ruled Parthia from about 12 to 38 AD, restoring Arsacid authority and shaping relations with Rome through diplomacy and regional power consolidation. His reign influenced the political landscape of Armenia, Mesopotamia, and Central Asia amid internal challenges and external pressures.
Gotarzes II: Parthian King and Defender of Arsacid Authority	38–51	Gotarzes II ruled the Parthian Empire from 40 to 51 CE, navigating internal rivalries and Roman interference to maintain Arsacid sovereignty. His reign featured military conflict, political purges, and efforts to legitimize his rule through monuments and coinage, reflecting the complexities of Parthian succession and governance.
Vardanes I: Parthian King and Arbiter of Imperial Power	39–45/46	Vardanes I ruled the Parthian Empire in the early first century AD, striving to restore central authority over rebellious cities and provinces while managing internal family rivalries and external pressures from Rome. His reign reveals the complexities of Parthian monarchy and its fragile balance between royal power and aristocratic influence.
Vonones II: Dynastic Ruler of the Parthian Empire	51	Vonones II governed Media Atropatene for four decades before briefly becoming king of the Parthian Empire in 51 AD. His reign highlights the family-centered politics and regional governance of the Arsacid dynasty during the first century AD.
Vologases I: Parthian King and Architect of Cultural and Political Identity	51–78	Vologases I ruled the Parthian Empire from 51 to the late 70s, shaping its political landscape through diplomacy, military action, and cultural reforms that reinforced Parthian identity and economic strength.
Pacorus II: King of Kings of the Parthian Empire and Eurasian Diplomatic Connector	78–79 (1st reign); 81–115 (2nd reign)	Pacorus II ruled the Parthian Empire from 78 to 110 CE, strengthening dynastic authority and fostering trade and diplomatic relations that linked Iran with Central Asia, South Asia, and Han China. His reign is noted for stabilizing internal rivalries, promoting economic networks, and evolving royal imagery reflecting Arsacid ideology.
Artabanus III: A Parthian Contender and the Dynamics of Arsacid Kingship	79–81	Artabanus III briefly contested the Arsacid throne around 79 to 81 CE, illustrating the fragile nature of dynastic succession and the influence of regional elites in Parthian politics. His reign, though short and limited in scope, offers insight into the political complexities of the late first century Parthian empire and its interactions with the Roman world.
Parthamaspates: Rome’s Client King and Buffer Ruler in the Near East	116–117	Parthamaspates was a Parthian prince installed by Rome as a client king during Trajan’s campaign, later ruling the buffer kingdom of Osroene. His reign illustrates the complexities of Roman-Parthian relations, exile politics, and frontier commerce in the early second century AD.
Osroes I and the Arsacid Dynasty: Parthian Rule and Roman Conflict	117–128	Osroes I ruled the western Arsacid realm from 109 to 129, shaping Parthian politics through dynastic rivalry and provoking a major Roman campaign under Emperor Trajan. His reign highlights the challenges of succession disputes and regional power in second-century Parthia.
Mithridates IV: The Parthian Arsacid King and His Role in Dynastic Struggles	128–148	Mithridates IV was a Parthian Arsacid king whose brief reign between 57 and 54 BC highlights the complex dynamics of royal succession, aristocratic rivalries, and foreign influence in late Arsacid Persia. His efforts to assert authority through provincial control, coinage, and alliances with Rome provide valuable insights into the political landscape of the period.
Vologases III and the Parthian Empire: Governance and Challenges in the Arsacid Era	148–191	Vologases III ruled the Parthian Empire from 110 to 147, navigating internal rivalries and external threats from Rome and the Kushan state. His reign restored unity and maintained economic stability through trade, while balancing diplomacy and military challenges across diverse frontiers.
Vologases IV	191–207	Vologases IV ruled the Arsacid Empire from 147 to 191 CE, restoring central authority after internal strife, engaging in a major conflict with Rome, and fostering cultural exchanges that linked East and West.
Vologases V: Last Arsacid King of Kings and His Role in Parthian History	207–213	Vologases V ruled the Parthian Empire from 191 to 208, overseeing the final phase of Arsacid dominance in the Caucasus amid rising Roman conflicts and internal challenges that paved the way for the Sasanian dynasty.
Artabanus IV of Parthia: The Last Arsacid King and His Role in Iranian History	213–224	Artabanus IV was the final ruler of the Arsacid dynasty, whose efforts to maintain Parthian unity and resist Roman advances delayed the empire's fall. His reign ended with the rise of the Sasanian dynasty, marking a pivotal transition in Iranian history.