Artabanus III (of Parthia)

Artabanus III
"King of kings of Iran"
Coin of Artabanus III.
Reign	AD 10 – 35 (first reign) 36 – 38 (second reign)
Predecessor	Vonones I (predecessor) Tiridates III (usurper)
Successor	Vardanes I
Born	Unknown
Died	AD 38
Dynasty	Arsacid dynasty
Father	Darius II of Media Atropatene
Mother	Unnamed Parthian princess
Religion	Zoroastrianism

Artabanus III of Parthia (Persian: اردوان سوم‎‎), flourished second half of 1st century BC – AD 38) was a Prince of Iranian and Greek ancestry. Artabanus III served as a King of Media Atropatene and later as King of Parthia.

Artabanus III was a son born to an unnamed Arsacid Parthian Princess who was a relation to the King Vonones I of Parthia and her husband, the Median Atropatenian Prince, Darius. His known grandparents which were his paternal ones were the Monarchs Artavasdes I of Media Atropatene and his wife, Athenais. Artabanus III had a younger brother who also served as King of Media Atropatene and Parthia, Vonones II. Artabanus III was the namesake of the previous ruling Parthian monarchs of this name. A daughter of Artabanus III was married to Mithridates, the Parthian general who attacked Asineus and Anileus and the Babylonian Jews on the Sabbath.

Although Artabanus III was born and raised in the Parthian Empire, he spent his youth living among the Dahae nomads. However this may refer to Artabanus III’s exile in a period when Rome dominated the Kingdoms of the Caucasus area.

In AD 6 after the death of his paternal first cousin Artavasdes II, who served as Artavasdes III, as King of Media Atropatene and Armenia from 4 to 6, Artabanus III succeeded his cousin as King of Media Atropatene. He served as King from 6 until 10 and little is known about his reign.

In AD 10, Artabanus III abdicated his throne of Media Atropatene to become King of Parthia. His kingship of Media Atropatene was succeeded by his brother Vonones II. Artabanus III ruled the Parthian Empire from around 10 to 38. He was raised to the throne by the Parthian grandees, who would not acknowledge Vonones I, whom the Roman emperor Augustus had sent from Rome (where he lived as a hostage) as successor of his father Phraates IV.