Arsaces II of Parthia

Arsaces II of Parthia
"King of Parthia"
Coin of Arsaces II.
Reign	211–185 BC
Predecessor	Arsaces I of Parthia
Successor	Phriapatius of Parthia
Born	Unknown
Died	185 BC
Dynasty	Arsacid dynasty
Religion	Zoroastrianism

Arsaces II, also Artabanus I (Persian: ارشک يکم‎‎), of the Arsacid dynasty was King of Parthia between 211 BC and 185 BC. Greek 'Arsaces' appears as 'Artabanus' in Latin sources, and both forms appear in history books.

Due to a confusion of names, the line of succession is equally unclear. Artabanus's uncle, Arsaces I, had founded the dynasty around 247 BC. Arsaces I may then have been directly succeeded by his brother Tiridates I, who however - like all other Arsacid dynasts also - adopted the name Arsaces upon his coronation. Subject then to which genealogy is followed (neither is epigraphically assured), Artabanus (a.k.a. Arsaces II) succeeded either his uncle Arsaces I or his father Tiridates I (a.k.a. Arsaces II).

In 209 BC, the Seleucid King Antiochus III recaptured Parthia, which had been previously seized from the Seleucids by the Arsaces I and the Parni around 247 BC. Arsaces II sued for peace following his defeat on the battlefield at Mount Labus. Prior to this, Antiochus had already occupied the Parthian capital at Hecatompylos, pushing forward to Tagae near Damghan. Following the defeat of Arsaces II at Mount Labus, Antiochus turned westwards into Hyrcania where he occupied Tambrax. Syrinx was then taken by siege.

In the terms of peace, Arsaces accepted feudatory status and from then onwards ruled Parthia and Hyrcani as a vassal state of the Seleucids. Antiochus in turn withdrew his troops westwards, where he would subsequently be embroiled in wars with Rome and so would leave the fledgling Parthian kingdom to its own devices.

Arsaces II was succeeded by his son (or cousin) Phriapatius in 185 BC.