King of Kings of the Parthian Empire from 37 to 2 BC
Phraates IV 𐭐𐭓𐭇𐭕
Great King, King of Kings, Arsaces
Coin of Phraates IV, Mithradatkert mint
King of the Parthian Empire
Reign
37–2 BC
Predecessor
Orodes II
Successor
Phraates V and Musa
Died
2 BC
Spouse
Olennieire, Cleopatra, Baseirta, Bistheibanaps, Musa
Issue
Vonones I, Phraates, Seraspandes, Rhodaspes, Karen, Phraates V
Dynasty
Arsacid dynasty
Father
Orodes II
Religion
Zoroastrianism
Phraates IV (also spelled Frahad IV; Parthian: 𐭐𐭓𐭇𐭕Frahāt) was King of Kings of the Parthian Empire from 37 to 2 BC. He was the son and successor of Orodes II (r. 57–37 BC), and was given the throne after the death of his brother Pacorus I. Phraates IV soon murdered all his brothers, and also possibly his father. His actions alienated the Armenians and also some of his nobles, including the distinguished Monaeses, who fled to the Roman triumvir Mark Antony, but shortly returned and reconciled with Phraates IV.
Phraates IV was attacked in 36 BC by Mark Antony, who marched through Armenia into Media Atropatene, and was defeated and lost the greater part of his army. Antony, believing himself betrayed by Artavasdes II, king of Armenia, invaded his kingdom in 34 BC, took him prisoner, and concluded a treaty with Artavasdes I, king of Media Atropatene. But when the war with Octavian broke out, Antony could not maintain his conquests; Phraates IV recovered Media Atropatene and made Artaxias, the son of Artavasdes II, king of Armenia.
Around the same time, Phraates IV's throne was usurped by Tiridates II, but he quickly managed to reestablish his rule with the aid of Scythian nomads. Tiridates fled to the Romans, taking one of Phraates IV's sons with him. In negotiations conducted in 20 BC, Phraates IV arranged for the release of his kidnapped son. In return, the Romans received the lost legionary standards taken at Carrhae in 53 BC, as well as any surviving prisoners of war. The Parthians viewed this exchange as a small price to pay to regain the prince.
Along with the prince, Octavian (now known as Augustus) gave Phraates IV an Italian slave-girl named Musa, who quickly became queen and a favourite of Phraates IV, giving birth to Phraataces (Phraates V). Seeking to secure the throne for her son, Musa convinced Phraates IV to send his four first-born sons (Vonones, Phraates, Seraspandes and Rhodaspes) to Rome in order to prevent conflict over his succession. In 2 BC, Musa had Phraates IV poisoned and made herself along with Phraates V the co-rulers of the empire.
succession. In 2 BC, Musa had PhraatesIV poisoned and made herself along with Phraates V the co-rulers of the empire. Phraátēs (Φραάτης) is the Greek form...
favourite of PhraatesIV, giving birth to Phraataces (Phraates V) in c. 19 BC. It was reportedly under her influence, that PhraatesIV in 10/9 BC sent...
Roman Republic, while the Romans tried in turn to convince Phraates III to join them. Phraates III seemingly made promises to both parties but remained...
Persian: Farhad (فرهاد) Phraates I c. 176–171 BC Phraates II c. 132–127 BC Phraates III c. 69–57 BC PhraatesIV c. 38–2 BC Phraates V (Phraataces) c. 2 BC–AD...
IV, giving birth to Phraataces (Phraates V). In 2 BC, she had PhraatesIV poisoned and made herself, along with Phraates V, the co-rulers of the empire...
his mother, kings'. Name incompletely preserved (middle sign missing). Phraates II's rule in Babylon is last attested on 17 May 128 BC. Hyspaosines is...
son of PhraatesIV (r. 37–2 BC) and was sent to Rome as a hostage in 10/9 BC in order to prevent conflict over the succession of PhraatesIV's youngest...
(possibly even before enthronement) an Indo-Scythian princess, who bore Phraates (PhraatesIV). Orodes' eldest son Pacorus (Pacorus I) was also seemingly the...
have overstruck the coins of PhraatesIV of Parthia, secondly his coins are of good silver. This places him after PhraatesIV (40 BC) and before the debasement...
prince, whilst his mother was a daughter of the Parthian King of Kings PhraatesIV (r. 37–2 BC) Before his ascension to the Parthian crown, Artabanus had...
124–88 BC), whilst his mother was a daughter of the Arsacid King of Kings PhraatesIV (r. 37–2 BC). Vonones II's brother was the Parthian King Artabanus II...
founded by Arsaces I) until the defeat of the last Parthian king, Artabanus IV, at the Battle of Hormozdgan in AD 224. At the height of their power, the...
Farhād (فرهاد). Phraates was the eldest son of the Parthian monarch Priapatius (r. 191 – 176 BC), who was the nephew of Arsaces II. Phraates had three other...
of Parthia was set up by the Parthians against PhraatesIV in about 32 BC, but was expelled when Phraates returned with the help of the Scythians. Tiridates...
138–129 BC) attempted to regain the lands lost to Phraates' father. Initially unsuccessful in the conflict, Phraates II managed to gain the upper hand and defeated...
captured his father Artavasdes II), Artavasdes I of Media Atropatene and PhraatesIV of Parthia. In 33 BC, Alexander was engaged to his distant relative Iotapa...
and Phraates I (r. c. 176 – 171 BC) eventually ascended the Parthian throne. Phraates I ruled Parthia without further Seleucid interference. Phraates I...
Forum Augustum. Phraates V and his mother Musa become rulers of the Parthian Empire following the murder of PhraatesIV. Tigranes IV and Erato are restored...
when a certain Tiridates rebelled against PhraatesIV, probably with the support of the nobility that Phraates had previously persecuted. The revolt was...
grief of his son's death, appointed his younger son PhraatesIV as his successor. However, PhraatesIV assassinated Orodes II in late 38 BC, succeeding him...
meeting with Phraates on the bank of the Euphrates, in which a banquet was held to celebrate a peace treaty. It was here that Phraates, offended by Lollius...
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...
Forum Augustum. Phraates V and his mother Musa become rulers of the Parthian Empire following the murder of PhraatesIV. Tigranes IV and Erato are restored...
Phraates I of Parthia c. 176–171 BC Farhad II Phraates II of Parthia c. 138–127 BC Farhad III Phraates III of Parthia c. 70–57 BC Farhad IVPhraates IV...
Unknown king (probably the same Phraates I) c. 170–168 BC Phraates I c. 170–167 BC Mithridates I c. 167–132 BC Phraates II c. 132–127 BC Artabanus I c...
Mesopotamia : Ur excavations, Oxford University Press, 1927 Ur excavations IV: The Early Periods, Oxford University Press, 1927. Ur Excavations V: The Ziggurat...
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