Tiridates III of Parthia

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Tiridates III of Parthia ruled the Parthian Empire briefly in 35–36. He was the grandson of Phraates IV. He was sent to Rome as a hostage and was educated there.

In about 36, when the Parthian nobility rebelled against Artabanus II, they applied to the Roman emperor Tiberius for a king of the race of Phraates. Tiberius sent Tiridates to the east, and ordered Lucius Vitellius (the father of the emperor Vitellius) to restore the Roman authority there. By very dexterous military and diplomatic operations Vitellius succeeded completely. Artabanus was deserted by his followers and fled.

However, Tiridates, who was proclaimed king, could not maintain himself, because he appeared to be a vassal of the Romans. Artabanus soon returned from Hyrcania with a strong army of Scythian (Dahan) auxiliaries, and was again acknowledged by the Parthians. Tiridates left Seleucia on the Tigris and fled to Syria.

The Roman historian Tacitus writes that the Parthian court official Abdagaeses, who exerted political control over Tiridates, spared Tiridates from danger by preventing him from visiting the Parthian tribes.^[1] This policy kept the distrustful clans from uniting against Tiridates in the meantime. However, when situations became untenable, it was Abdagaeses who advised Tiridates to retreat west to Mesopotamia where strategic defensive locations were suitable. This move was viewed as an act of cowardice by the Parthian tribes, which led to Tiridates' ousting from his seat of power.

Tiridates III of Parthia Arsacid dynasty
Preceded by Artabanus II	Great King (Shah) of Parthia 35 –36	Succeeded by Artabanus II

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[edit] References

• This article incorporates text from the Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition, a publication now in the public domain.
• Bunson, Matthew (1994). Encyclopedia of the Roman Empire. New York: Facts on File Inc.
• Dio Cassius, lviii, 26.
• Tacitus, Annals, vi. 32.