Artabanus II of Parthia

Artabanus II 𐭍𐭐𐭕𐭓
King of Kings
Coin of Artabanus II, minted at Seleucia in 27 AD
King of Media Atropatene
Reign	???–12 AD
Predecessor	Artavasdes II
Successor	Vonones II
King of the Parthian Empire
Reign	12–38/41 AD[note 1]
Predecessor	Vonones I (predecessor) Tiridates III (rival king)
Successor	Vardanes I
Born	30–25 BC Dahistan
Died	38/41 AD
Issue	Arsaces I Orodes Vardanes I Artabanus Gotarzes II (adopted)
Dynasty	Arsacid dynasty
Father	unnamed Dahae prince
Mother	unnamed daughter of Phraates IV
Religion	Zoroastrianism

Artabanus II (also spelled Artabanos II or Ardawan II; Parthian: 𐭍𐭐𐭕𐭓 Ardawān), incorrectly known in older scholarship as Artabanus III,^[1] was King of Kings of the Parthian Empire from 12 to 38/41 AD, with a one-year interruption. He was the nephew and successor of Vonones I (r. 8–12). His father was a Dahae prince, whilst his mother was a daughter of the Parthian King of Kings Phraates IV (r. 37–2 BC).

Before his ascension to the Parthian crown, Artabanus had ruled as king of Media Atropatene, which later served as his base of attacks against the Roman-supported Parthian king Vonones I. Artabanus eventually defeated Vonones I, who fled to Armenia and became its king. Artabanus' efforts to replace Vonones I with his son were blocked by the Romans, who eventually reached an agreement with the Parthians to appoint Artaxias III the new king of Armenia and renounce their support of Vonones I.

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