Phraates II of Parthia

Phraates II was a Parthian king, who reigned 138-128 BC.

Phraates II was the son of Mithridates I. Since he was very young when he ascended the throne, initially ruled his mother Ri - ' nu for him. 130 BC, the Parthian Empire was attacked from the east and west. The Seleucid king Antiochus VII attacked in the west to conquer the lost territory back straight, which he managed in three battles, Babylonia and Media recapture. Then offered peace negotiations. Antiochus VII agreed to this and asked Mesopotamia and much of Iran's back. The Parthian Empire should be limited to its core area. There were also high demands tribute. However, these high demands could not accept Phraates II and so he declined the offer. The following winter Antiochus VII and his army at Ecbatana quartered, but he brought the local population against them, because on the one hand, the soldiers needed food and to ensure the local population had to pay, on the other hand, there was apparently also to attacks by the soldiers. Then Phraates II attacked the Winterquartierte the Seleucid army, the local population supported him. Antiochus VII was defeated and killed or committed suicide. Phraates II was able to capture the son of the ruler Seleucus. Phraates II had Antiochus VII get a royal funeral and transfer the corpse to Syria. Phraates II had also Demetrius II, who was in Parthian captivity for years, free, this ruler of the Seleucid Empire was the second time. What the Parthian side certainly hoped more influence on Syria to win. Phraates II even married a daughter of the king, whose name was not passed down.

Syria, which was now the core area of the Seleucid Empire, was without military protection and Phraates II planned to invade apparently there. On the eastern front, however, nomadic tribes penetrated to the borders of the empire before, destroyed the Greek kingdom of Bactria and threatened the Parthians. The ruler therefore had to rush to the eastern front and sat Himeros as governor of Babylon, who, however, gave birth there as a tyrant. Phraates II himself was in a defensive campaign by Greek traders, which he had captured, killed. His uncle Artabanus I. succeeded him as ruler.