Arsacid dynasty

Arsacid dynasty
(247 BC–AD 224) Persian dynasty.

It was founded by Arsaces (r. с 250–211? BC) of the Parni tribe, which originally dwelt east of the Caspian Sea and entered Parthia after the death of Alexander the Great (323 BC), gradually extending control southward. Arsacid power reached its peak under Mithradates I (r. 171–138 BC). The government was influenced by that of the Seleucid dynasty and tolerated the formation of vassal kingdoms. The dynasty legitimized its rule over former Achaemenian territories by claiming descent from the Achaemenian king Artaxerxes II. It controlled trade routes between Asia and the Greco-Roman world and used its resultant wealth to erect many buildings. The dynasty was overthrown in 224 by the Sāsānian dynasty.

* * *

▪ ancient Iranian dynasty
also called  Arshakuni 

      (247 BC–AD 224), ancient Iranian dynasty that founded and ruled the Parthian empire. The progenitors of the dynasty were members of the Parni tribe living east of the Caspian Sea. They entered Parthia (q.v.) shortly after the death of Alexander the Great (323 BC) and gradually gained control over much of Iran and Mesopotamia until, in AD 224, they were overthrown by the Sāsānians, an Iranian dynasty founded by Ardashīr I.

      The first Arsacid to gain power in Parthia was Arsaces (reigned c. 250–c. 211 BC), but the Iranian plateau was not conquered in its entirety until the time of Mithradates I (reigned 171–138 BC). Two of the dynasty's most powerful rulers were Mithradates II (reigned 123–88 BC) and Phraates III (reigned 70–58/57 BC).

      During the time of the Parthian empire the Arsacids claimed descent from the Achaemenian king Artaxerxes II, probably to legitimize their rule over the former Achaemenian territories; in fact, in many of its outward forms the Parthian empire was a revival of Achaemenian rule. The empire's governmental organization, however, was based on that developed by the Hellenistic Seleucids. The Arsacids encouraged the development of Hellenistic cities and tolerated the formation of vassal kingdoms. Because the Arsacids and their vassals controlled almost all the trade routes between Asia and the Greco-Roman world, they became very wealthy, with the result that the Parthian period was one of intense building activity.

* * *


Universalium. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужно сделать НИР?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Arsacid Dynasty — The Arsacid Dynasty may refer to:*Arsacid Dynasty of Armenia *Arsacid dynasty of Iberia *Arsacid Dynasty of Caucasian Albania *Parthia …   Wikipedia

  • Arsacid dynasty of Armenia — Kingdom of Armenia under the Arshakuni Dynasty, 150 History of Armenia …   Wikipedia

  • Arsacid Dynasty of Armenia — The Arsacid Dynasty (Arshakuni Dynasty) ruled the Kingdom of Armenia from 54 to 428. Formerly a branch of the Parthian Arsacids, they became a distinctly Armenian dynasty. [cite book | last = Olson |first = James | title = An Ethnohistorical… …   Wikipedia

  • Arsacid Dynasty of Caucasian Albania — The Arsacid Dynasty was the dynasty of Parthian origin, which ruled the kingdom of Caucasian Albania in the 1st 5th century A.D. They were a branch of the Parthian Arsacid dynasty and together with the Arsacid rulers of the neighboring Armenia… …   Wikipedia

  • Arsacid dynasty of Iberia — The Iberian Arsacids ( ka. არშაკიანი, Aršakiani , or არშაკუნიანი, Aršakuniani ), a branch of the eponymous Parthian dynasty, ruled the ancient Georgian kingdom of Iberia from c. 189 until 284 A.D., when they were succeeded by the Chosroid Dynasty …   Wikipedia

  • Dynasty — A dynasty is a succession of rulers who belong to the same family for generations. A dynasty is also often called a house , e.g. the House of Saud or House of Habsburg . In the histories of Europe, much of Asia and some of Africa, ruling and… …   Wikipedia

  • Arsacid Empire — Infobox Former Country native name = Ashkâniân (اشکانیان) conventional long name = Parthian Empire common name = Parthia| continent = Asia region = Middle East, Central Asia, and Western Asia country = Iran era = Classical antiquity status =… …   Wikipedia

  • dynasty — dynastic /duy nas tik/; Brit. also /di nas tik/, dynastical, adj. dynastically, adv. /duy neuh stee/; Brit. also /din euh stee/, n., pl. dynasties. 1. a sequence of rulers from the same family, stock, or group: the Ming dynasty …   Universalium

  • Arsacidæ — • It was under the Dynasty of the Arsacids, who ruled the Persian empire from the year 256 B.C. to A.D. 224, that Christianity found its way into the countries watered by the Euphrates and the Tigris Catholic Encyclopedia. Kevin Knight. 2006 …   Catholic encyclopedia

  • Arsacid — Ar·sa·cid (ärʹsə sĭd, är sāʹ ) adj. Of or relating to the Parthian dynasty that ruled Persia and parts of Asia Minor from c. 250 B.C. until its overthrow in A.D. 224. n. A member or subject of this dynasty.   [AfterArsaces (fl. 250 B.C.), founder …   Universalium

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”