Mithridates II of Parthia

Mithridates II of Parthia
"King of Kings of the Iranians"
Tetradrachm of Mithridates II minted at Seleucia. The portrait of the king shows strong Greek influence
Reign	121-91 BC
Predecessor	Artabanus II or Bacasis
Successor	Gotarzes I or Sinatruces
Born	Unknown
Died	Unknown
Dynasty	Arsacid dynasty
Religion	Zoroastrianism

Mithridates II (meaning "Gift of Mithra") was king of Parthian Empire from 121 to 91 BC. He was already known as "the Great" in antiquity. He is the first Parthian ruler to call himself "King of Kings" on his coinage and thereby attach himself to the Achaemenids. He also referred to himself on his coinage with the Greek titles Epiphanes ("God manifest") and Philellen ("Friend of the Greeks"). Mithridates II is counted as the greatest of the Parthian kings, under whom the empire reached its greatest extent.

Traditionally, it is believed that Mithridates II was the son of his predecessor Artabanus II, who died in battle against eastern enemies in ca 124 BC. However, new cuneiform and numismatic evidence suggests that Mithridates II was the youngest son of Phriapatius and succeeded Artabanus' young son, Arsaces X. At the time of his succession, the Parthian Empire was reeling from military pressures in the West and East. Several embarrassing defeats at the hands of eastern nomads had sapped the strength and prestige of the kingdom. However, Mithridates proved himself to be a capable king and was soon able to reincorporate Babylonia into the kingdom, which had been lost to Characene a short time before. As a sign of victory he had the coinage of Hyspaosines overstruck, although he had already died in 124 BC. The whole of Mesopotamia was taken in a rush and he reached Dura-Europus in 113 BC.

Mithridates II then attacked Armenia, then ruled by Artavasdes I and took hostage the Armenian king's son, the future Tigranes the Great. This was the first time that the Parthians actively interfered in Armenian politics.

In the east of the Empire, the situation seemed unsalvagable. Invading nomads (called Scythians in the Greek sources and Sakas in Indian sources) had destroyed the Greco-Bactrian Kingdom and greatly threatened the eastern borders of the empire. However, Mithridates was able to fend off the attacking nomads and reincorporate the provinces of Parthia and Aria back into the realm. He was able to make Sistan, which had come under the direct control of the nomads, a vassal at the very least.