Attambelos IV of Characene was a first century ruler of the state of Characene, [1] [2] [3] centered on the northern end of the Persian Gulf. His capital was probably Charax.
He ruled from 54/55-64/65; but he is known only from coins he minted. [4] [5]
Phraates I was king of the Arsacid dynasty from 170/168 BC to 165/64 BC. He subdued the Mardians, conquered their territory in the Alborz mountains, and reclaimed Hyrcania from the Seleucid Empire. He died in 165/64 BC, and was succeeded by his brother Mithridates I, whom he had appointed his heir.
Vologases III was king of the Parthian Empire from 110 to 147. He was the son and successor of Pacorus II.
Vologases IV was King of Kings of the Parthian Empire from 147 to 191. He was the son of Mithridates V. Vologases spent the early years of his reign re-asserting Parthian control over the Kingdom of Characene. From 161 to 166, he waged war against the Roman Empire; although initially successful, conquering Armenia and Syria, he was eventually pushed back, briefly losing control of the Parthian capitals of Seleucia and Ctesiphon to the Romans. The Romans suffered heavy losses from a plague erupting from Seleucia in 166, forcing them to withdraw. The war ended soon afterward, with Vologases losing most of northern Mesopotamia to the Romans. He died in 191 and was succeeded by his son Vologases V.
Characene, also known as Mesene (Μεσσήνη) or Meshan, was a kingdom founded by the Iranian Hyspaosines located at the head of the Persian Gulf mostly within modern day Iraq. Its capital, Charax Spasinou, was an important port for trade between Mesopotamia and India, and also provided port facilities for the city of Susa further up the Karun River. The kingdom was frequently a vassal of the Parthian Empire. Characene was mainly populated by Arabs, who spoke Aramaic as their cultural language. All rulers of the principality had Iranian names. Members of the Arsacid dynasty also ruled the state.
Charax Spasinu, also called Charax Spasinou, Charax Pasinu, Spasinu Charax, Alexandria or Antiochia in Susiana, was an ancient port at the head of the Persian Gulf in modern day Iraq, and the capital of the ancient kingdom of Characene.
Meshan was a province of the Sasanian Empire. It consisted of the Parthian vassal kingdom of Characene and reached north along the Shatt al-Arab river and then the lower Tigris to Madhar and possibly further. Its inhabitants included Babylonians, Arabs, Iranians, and even some Indians and Malays. The province was very fertile, the best place for barley according to Strabo, and contained many date palms. It was also an important trading province along the Persian Gulf.
Abinergaos I, also known as Abinerglus, was the king of Characene starting in the second decade of the Christian era.
Hyspaosines was an Iranian prince, and the founder of Characene, a kingdom situated in southern Mesopotamia. He was originally a Seleucid satrap installed by king Antiochus IV Epiphanes, but declared independence in 141 BC after the collapse and subsequent transfer of Seleucid authority in Iran and Babylonia to the Parthians. Hyspaosines briefly occupied the Parthian city of Babylon in 127 BC, where he is recorded in records as king (šarru). In 124 BC, however, he was forced to acknowledge Parthian suzerainty. He died in the same year, and was succeeded by his juvenile son Apodakos.
Attambelos I was a king of Characene, a Parthian vassal state and important trading port and emporium on the Persian Gulf. His rule was from 47/46 to 25/24BC.
Attambelos II was a king of Characene, a Parthian vassal state and important trading port on the Persian Gulf. His rule was from 17/16 to 9/8BC.
Attambelos VII was a king of Characene, a vassal state of the Parthians and important trading port. His short reign lasted from 113/4 to 116/7 AD and was spent mostly contending with the Roman invasion under Trajan.
Maga was a King of Characene a vassal state of the Parthian Empire and important trading city in the Persian Gulf.
Attambelos may refer to the following kings of the Parthian vassal state of Characene:
Meredates was a Parthian prince who ruled the state of Characene, a vassal of the Parthian Empire and important trading port, which he ruled from c. 131 to 150/151.
Attambelos III of Characene was a king of Characene who ruled from approximately 37/38 to 44/45AD. His rule is known only by the coins he minted. The presence of these coins as far afield as Oman and southern Arabia indicates that his rule saw a time of extensive trade.
Attambelos V of Characene was a ruler of the state of Characene who ruled from 64/65–73/74 but who is known only from the coins he minted.
Attambelos VI of Characene was a ruler of the state of Characene, who ruled from approximately 101/02-105/06 and is known only from the coins he minted.
Theonesios III of Characene was a king of Characene who ruled from approximately 52AD. His rule is known only by the coins he minted.
Wahbarz, known in Greek sources as Oborzos, was a dynast (frataraka) of Persis in the 1st half of the 2nd century BC, ruling from possibly c. 205 to 164 BC. His reign was marked by his efforts to establish Persis as a kingdom independent from Seleucid authority. He was able to reign independently for three decades, and even expanded to the west, seizing the Seleucid province of Characene. In 164 BC, the Seleucids repelled Wahbarz's forces from Characene, forcing him to re-submit as a Seleucid vassal. He was succeeded by Baydad.
Sagdodonacus was an Iranian officer, who served as the governor of Characene from c. 184 BC to 164 BC under suzerainty of the Frataraka rulers of Persis. He was the father of Hyspaosines.