Attambelos VII of Characene

Attambelos VII was a king of Characene, a vassal state of the Parthians and important trading port. His short reign was from 113/4AD to 116/7 and was spent mostly contending with the Roman invasion under Trajan.

Like most kings of Characene he is primarily known from numismatic sources,^[1] in his case from few a few bronze coins dated 113/114AD.

In 114 or 115 the Emperor Trajan took the Parthian capital city of Ctesiphon and then moved with a fleet of 50 ships to the Characene state on the Persian Gulf. Attambelos VII surrendered to Trajan around 116/17AD^[2] who received the temporary submission of Attambelos, as the ruling prince in Characene.^[3]

Despite the overwhelming victory, the Romans did not hold Mesopotamia for long, with the area being abandoned shortly after the death of Trajan. However, the fate Attambelos VII during this time is unknown. The next King of Characene is not until 131AD.^[4][5]

See also

• Trajan.

References

1. ↑ Richard Nelson Frye, The History of Ancient Iran, Volume 3, Part 7. C.H. Beck Publishers. page 277
2. ↑ Dio Cassius, 78.28
3. ↑ Cassius Dio 68, 22.
4. ↑ Cassius Dio, 68: 28, 3-29.
5. ↑ Monika Schuol, The Characene: A Kingdom Hellenistic times. Steiner, Stuttgart 2000, ISBN 3-515-07709-X, page. 231-232, 344-348.