v16_0115 - ROYAUME PARTHE - OSROÈS Ier Tetrachalkoi (4 chalques)

PARTHIAN KINGDOM - OSROES I

(109-129)

Osroes I is probably a brother-in-law of Pacorus II. Rival of Vologèse III, he managed to stay in power for two decades in the western part of the Parthian empire. From 114, it was he who had to face the Roman invasion of Trajan. He began the Parthian campaign by invading Armenia. He drove out the king, a son of Osroes. The following year, Trajan invaded Mesopotamia, descended the Euphrates and seized Ctesiphon, the treasure of the Arsacids, the throne and the daughter of the king of kings. Winner, Trajan had to face a general revolt from the East which forced him to retreat, while the Parthians regained the initiative. After the death of Trajan in 117, his successor, Hadrian, abandoned the idea of conquering the Arsacid kingdom and organized the defense of the limes in this region..