Tiridates III of Parthia

Tiridates III of Parthia (Persian: تيرداد سوم‎‎), ruled the Parthian Empire briefly in 35–36. He was the grandson of Phraates IV. He was sent to Rome as a hostage and was educated there.

In about 36, when the Parthian nobility rebelled against Artabanus III, they applied to the Roman emperor Tiberius for a king of the race of Phraates. Tiberius sent Tiridates to the east, and ordered Lucius Vitellius (the father of the emperor Vitellius) to restore the Roman authority there. By very dexterous military and diplomatic operations Vitellius succeeded completely. Artabanus was deserted by his followers and fled.

However, Tiridates, who was proclaimed king, could not maintain himself, because he appeared to be a vassal of the Romans. Artabanus soon returned from Hyrcania with a strong army of Scythian (Dahan) auxiliaries, and was again acknowledged by the Parthians. Tiridates left Seleucia and fled to Syria.

The Roman historian Tacitus writes that the Parthian court official Abdagaeses, who exerted political control over Tiridates, spared Tiridates from danger by preventing him from visiting the Parthian tribes.^[1] This policy kept the distrustful clans from uniting against Tiridates in the meantime. However, when situations became untenable, it was Abdagaeses who advised Tiridates to retreat west to Mesopotamia where strategic defensive locations were suitable. This move was viewed as an act of cowardice by the Parthian tribes, which led to Tiridates' ousting from his seat of power.

Notes

↑ Bunson, 1.

References

This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "^{article name needed}". Encyclopædia Britannica (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press.
Bunson, Matthew (1994). Encyclopedia of the Roman Empire. New York: Facts on File Inc.
Dio Cassius, lviii, 26.
Tacitus, Annals, vi. 32.

Tiridates III of Parthia Arsacid dynasty
Preceded by Artabanus III	Great King (Shah) of Parthia 35–36	Succeeded by Artabanus III

Rulers of the Parthian Empire (247 BC – 224 AD)

Arsaces I (250–246/211 BC) Tiridates I (246–211 BC) Arsaces II (211–191 BC) Phriapatius (191–176 BC) Phraates I (176–171 BC) Mithridates I (171–132 BC) Phraates II (132–126 BC) Artabanus II (126–124 BC) Mithridates II (124–88 BC) Gotarzes I (95–90 BC) Orodes I (90–80 BC) Sanatruces (77–70 BC) Phraates III (70–57 BC) Mithridates III (57–54 BC) Orodes II (57–38 BC) Pacorus I^§ (51 BC) Phraates IV (37–2 BC) Tiridates II^§ (32 BC) Musa (2 BC–4 AD) Phraates V (2 BC–4 AD) Orodes III (4–6) Vonones I (6–12) Artabanus III (10–35) Tiridates III (35–36) Artabanus III (36–38) Vardanes I (40–47) Gotarzes II (40–51) Vonones II (51) Vologases I (51–78) Vardanes II^§ (55–58) Vologases II (77–80) Pacorus II (78–105) Artabanus IV^§ (80–90) Vologases III (105–147) Osroes I (109–116) Parthamaspates^§ (116–117) Sanatruces II^§ (116) Osroes I (117–129) Vologases III (129–140) Mithridates IV (129–140) Vologases IV (147–191) Osroes II^§ (191) Vologases V (191–208) Vologases VI (208–228) Artabanus V^§ (208–224)

^§ usurpers or rival claimants

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