In main, the chronologies of Frye [The History of Ancient Iran (1984), pp. 209ff, 360] and Sellwood [An Introduction to the Coinage of Parthia, 1980, 2nd ed.] are followed with some modification. Specific changes include revisions to the early kings following Koshelenko's theory of descent based on information found in the Parthian ostraca of Nisa. [Koshelenko (1976), "Genealogia Pervykh Arshakidov", p. 34]. Koshelenko reconciles Justin (Trogus) with Arrian, based on archaeological evidence. Olson's study of Greek letterforms (1973) and additional numismatic evidence have been considered. The revised father-son relationship between Mithradates IV and Vologases IV is established by the inscription on the bronze Herakles [W. I. al-Salihi, Sumer 43 (1984), p. 219, and J. Black, ibid., p. 230]. Tiridates III was added at the end of the genealogy following Sellwood's clarification of a numismatic inscription in "The End of the Parthian Dynasty" (1990).
Also see the rulers index for alternate names and usages, and the genealogy chart of Parthian rulers. For a comparison of coin attributions by the principal numismatists, see the attribution correlation chart. For a list of names attested in ancient inscriptions or texts, see the attested names of Parthian rulers page.
Click on links to view additional information:
| Reign | Principal Line of Succession |
Joint Rulers | Rival Claimants |
|---|---|---|---|
| (c. 247 - 211 B.C.) | Arsaces I | ||
| (c. 211 - 191 B.C.) | Arsaces II | ||
| (c. 191 - 176 B.C.) | Phriapatius | ||
| (c. 176 - 171 B.C.) | Phraates I | ||
| (c. 171 - 138 B.C.) | Mithradates I | ||
| (c. 138 - 127 B.C.) | Phraates II | ||
| (c. 127-125 B.C.) | Interregnum | ||
| (c. 127 - 124 B.C.) | Artabanus I | ||
| (c. 123 - 88 B.C.) | Mithradates II | ||
| (c. 95 - 90 B.C.) | Gotarzes I | ||
| (c. 90 - 80 B.C.) | Orodes I | ||
| (c. 80 B.C.) | Unknown King (I) | ||
| (c. 80 - 70 B.C.) | Unknown King (II) | ||
| (c. 77 - 70 B.C.) | Sinatruces | ||
| (c. 70 - 57 B.C.) | Phraates III | ||
| (c. 70 B.C.) | Darius of Media Atropatene | ||
| (c. 57 - 54 B.C.) | Mithradates III | ||
| (c. 57 - 38 B.C.) | Orodes II | ||
| (c. 39 B.C.) | Pacorus I | ||
| (c. 38 - 2 B.C.) | Phraates IV | ||
| (c. 29 - 26 B.C.) | Tiridates I | ||
| Queen Musa | |||
| (c. 2 B.C. A.D. 4) | Phraataces | ||
| (c. A.D. 6) | Orodes III | ||
| (c. A.D. 8 - 12) | Vonones I | ||
| (c. A.D. 10 - 38) | Artabanus II | ||
| (c. A.D. 35 - 36) | Tiridates II | ||
| (c. A.D. 40 - 47) | Vardanes I | ||
| (c. A.D. 40 - 51) | Gotarzes II | ||
| (c. A.D. 50 - 65) | Sanabares | ||
| (c. A.D. 51) | Vonones II | ||
| (c. A.D. 51 - 88) | Vologases I | ||
| (c. A.D. 55 - 58) | Vardanes II | ||
| (c. A.D. 77 - 80) | Vologases II | ||
| (c. A.D. 78 - 105) | Pacorus II | ||
| (c. A.D. 80 - 90) | Artabanus III | ||
| (c. A.D. 105 - 147) | Vologases III | ||
| (c. A.D. 109 - 129) | Osroes I | ||
| (c. A.D. 116) | Parthamaspates | ||
| (c. A.D.129 - 140) | Mithradates IV | ||
| (c. A.D. 140) | Unknown King (III) | ||
| (c. A.D. 147 - 191) | Vologases IV | ||
| (c. A.D. 190) | Osroes II | ||
| (c. A.D. 191 - 208) | Vologases V | ||
| (c. A.D. 208 - 226) | Vologases VI | ||
| (c. A.D. 216 - 224) | Artabanus IV | ||
| (c. A.D. 224 - 228?) | Tiridates III |
This page last updated 26 Feb 2021
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