Mithridates IV of Parthia

Mithridates IV (also spelled Mithradates IV; Parthian: 𐭌𐭄𐭓𐭃𐭕 Mihrdāt) was a Parthian king from to 57 to 54 BC. He was the son and successor of Phraates III (r. 69–57 BC). Mithridates IV's reign was marked by a dynastic struggle with his younger brother, Orodes II, who eventually emerged victorious and had Mithridates IV executed, thus succeeding him.

Mithridates IV
𐭌𐭄𐭓𐭃𐭕
King of Kings, Arsaces, Great King
Coin of Mithridates IV
King of the Parthian Empire
Reign57 – 54 BC
PredecessorPhraates III
SuccessorOrodes II
Died54 BC
DynastyArsacid dynasty
FatherPhraates III
ReligionZoroastrianism

Etymology

Mithridates is the Greek attestation of the Iranian name Mihrdāt, meaning "given by Mithra", the name of the ancient Iranian sun god.[1] The name itself is derived from Old Iranian Miθra-dāta-.[2]

Biography

Mithridates IV was a son of Phraates III (r. 69–57 BC), whom he murdered in 57 BC, with the assistance of his younger brother Orodes.[3] However, the two brothers quickly fell out, and Orodes revolted with the support of the Suren clan.[4] They both assumed the title of King of Kings to demonstrate their claims of superiority over each other.[5][lower-alpha 1]

This changed the meaning of the title; originally being used as a symbol of political dominance over other realms, the title became known as a symbol of power and legitimacy for contenders in a royal family.[7] Mithridates IV was forced to flee from to Roman Syria. He took refuge with Aulus Gabinius, the Roman proconsul and governor of Syria.[8] Mithridates IV then returned to invade Parthia with Gabinius in support. The Roman proconsul marched with Mithridates IV to the Euphrates, but turned back to restore another ruler, Ptolemy XII Auletes of Egypt, to his throne.[8] Despite losing his Roman support, Mithridates IV advanced into Mesopotamia and managed to conquer Babylonia. He ousted Orodes and briefly restored his reign as king in 55 BC, minting coins in Seleucia until 54 BC.[8]

However, king Mithridates IV was besieged by Orodes' general, Surena, in Seleucia, and after a prolonged resistance, offered battle to Orodes' forces and was defeated.[8] Mithridates IV was afterwards executed in 54 BC by Orodes.[8]

Notes
  1. Besides the title of King of Kings, Mithridates IV also used the titles of Arsaces and Great King.[6]
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References
  1. Mayor 2009, p. 1.
  2. Schmitt 2005.
  3. Kia 2016, p. 196.
  4. Olbrycht 2016, p. 23; Kia 2016, p. 196; Shayegan 2011, p. 238
  5. Shayegan 2011, pp. 238, 246.
  6. Dąbrowa 2012, p. 169; Kia 2016, p. 23; Shayegan 2011, p. 239
  7. Shayegan 2011, p. 238.
  8. Bivar 1983, p. 49.

Sources
  • Bivar, A.D.H. (1983). "The Political History of Iran Under the Arsacids". In Yarshater, Ehsan (ed.). The Cambridge History of Iran, Volume 3(1): The Seleucid, Parthian and Sasanian Periods. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. pp. 21–99. ISBN 0-521-20092-X..
  • Dąbrowa, Edward (2012). "The Arsacid Empire". In Daryaee, Touraj (ed.). The Oxford Handbook of Iranian History. Oxford University Press. pp. 1–432. ISBN 0-19-987575-8. Archived from the original on 2019-01-01. Retrieved 2019-11-22.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • Kia, Mehrdad (2016). The Persian Empire: A Historical Encyclopedia [2 volumes]. ABC-CLIO. ISBN 978-1610693912.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • Mayor, Adrienne (2009). The Poison King: The Life and Legend of Mithradates, Rome's Deadliest Enemy. Princeton University Press. pp. 1–448. ISBN 9780691150260.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • Olbrycht, Marek Jan (2016). "Dynastic Connections in the Arsacid Empire and the Origins of the House of Sāsān". In Curtis, Vesta Sarkhosh; Pendleton, Elizabeth J.; Alram, Michael; Daryaee, Touraj (eds.). The Parthian and Early Sasanian Empires: Adaptation and Expansion. Oxbow Books. ISBN 9781785702082.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • Schmitt, Rüdiger (2005). "Personal Names, Iranian iv. Parthian Period". Encyclopaedia Iranica.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • Shayegan, M. Rahim (2011). Arsacids and Sasanians: Political Ideology in Post-Hellenistic and Late Antique Persia. Cambridge University Press. pp. 1–539. ISBN 9780521766418.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
Mithridates IV of Parthia
Arsacid dynasty
Preceded by
Phraates III		 King of the Parthian Empire
57 – 54 BC		 Succeeded by
Orodes II
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