Orodes I of Parthia

Coin of the Parthian King Orodes I

Orodes I of Parthia (Persian: ارد يکم‎) ruled the Parthian Empire from c. 85 to 80 BC in succession to Gotarzes I and Mithridates III. He reigned during the "Parthian Darkage," which was a period of internal turmoil and civil war for the Parthian Empire. Coins bearing Orodes' likeness were issued from the Median mints of the cities of Ecbatana and Rhagae.

The history of Parthia is quite obscure during this period, but Orodes' reign seems to have ended, as it had begun, in civil war with an unknown claimant. The name of his successor, Arsaces XVI, is also unknown, and it is only with the beginning of the reign of Sanatruces, c. 77 BC, that the line of Parthian rulers can again be reliably traced.

Orodes is mentioned as king of kings of the Arsacid dynasty in a Babylonian report of the lunar eclipse of 11 April 80 BC.

Sources

Toumanoff, Cyril (1986). "Arsacids". Encyclopaedia Iranica, Vol. II, Fasc. 5. Cyril Toumanoff. pp. 525–546.

Orodes I of Parthia Arsacid dynasty Born: Unknown Died: 80 BC
Preceded by Gotarzes I	Great King (Shah) of Parthia 90–80 BC	Succeeded by Unknown ruler ... Sanatruces (77 BC)

Rulers of the Parthian Empire (247 BC – 224 AD)

Arsaces I (250–246/211 BC) Tiridates I (246–211 BC) Arsaces II (211–191 BC) Phriapatius (191–176 BC) Phraates I (176–171 BC) Mithridates I (171–138 BC) Phraates II (138–127 BC) Artabanus II (127–124 BC) Mithridates II (124–88 BC) Gotarzes I (95–90 BC) Orodes I (90–80 BC) Sanatruces (77–70 BC) Phraates III (70–57 BC) Mithridates III (57–54 BC) Orodes II (57–38 BC) Pacorus I^§ (51 BC) Phraates IV (37–2 BC) Tiridates II^§ (32 BC) Musa (2 BC–4 AD) Phraates V (2 BC–4 AD) Orodes III (4–6) Vonones I (6–12) Artabanus III (10–35) Tiridates III (35–36) Artabanus III (36–38) Vardanes I (40–47) Gotarzes II (40–51) Vonones II (51) Vologases I (51–78) Vardanes II^§ (55–58) Vologases II (77–80) Pacorus II (78–105) Artabanus IV^§ (80–90) Vologases III (105–147) Osroes I (109–116) Parthamaspates^§ (116–117) Sanatruces II^§ (116) Osroes I (117–129) Vologases III (129–140) Mithridates IV (129–140) Vologases IV (147–191) Osroes II^§ (191) Vologases V (191–208) Vologases VI (208–228) Artabanus V^§ (208–224)

^§ usurpers or rival claimants