Asian kings 6.0

Question 1

Who was Ardashir I, and what was his significance to Rome?

Answer 1

Founder of the Sassanid dynasty. He defeated the Parthian king Artabanus IV and began wars with Rome, capturing parts of Mesopotamia.

Question 2

How did Shapur I impact Roman history?

Answer 2

Captured Emperor Valerian in 260 AD, a major Roman humiliation. Expanded Sassanid territory by defeating the Romans and taking cities like Antioch.

Question 3

How did Bahram II interact with Rome?

Answer 3

Defended the empire against Roman attacks, particularly under Emperor Probus, but avoided major wars, maintaining relative peace.

Question 4

What is notable about Bahram III’s reign?

Answer 4

His reign lasted only a few months. He faced internal challenges, including a revolt, and had minimal interaction with Rome.

Question 5

How did Narses engage with Rome?

Answer 5

Narses fought against Emperor Galerius in the early 290s. His conflict with Rome was marked by a defeat of the Roman army, leading to a peace treaty with Galerius in 299 AD.

Question 6

How did Shapur II impact Roman history?

Answer 6

Shapur II waged multiple wars with Rome, including the capture of Roman cities like Amida (359 AD) and Nisibis (363 AD). He successfully resisted Roman invasions and gained significant territory.

Question 7

What was Yazdgard I’s relationship with Rome?

Answer 7

Known for peace with Rome, Yazdgard I signed a treaty with the Eastern Roman Empire (Byzantines) and focused on internal stability and reform.

Question 8

How did Bahram V interact with Rome?

Answer 8

Known for military victories over the Romans, particularly in Armenia. His successful campaigns helped solidify Sassanid power in the region.

Question 9

What role did Kavad I play in Roman-Persian relations?

Answer 9

Kavad I fought against the Eastern Roman Empire (Byzantines) over control of Armenia. His reign saw fluctuating peace and conflict, culminating in the 532 AD peace treaty.

Question 10

How did Chosroes I affect Rome?

Answer 10

Chosroes I waged a successful war against the Byzantine Empire, capturing key cities like Dara and emphasizing Persian dominance in the region. He negotiated a peace treaty with the Byzantines in 561 AD after significant victories.

Question 11

Mithridates II of Parthia (124–91 BC)

Answer 11

the first Parthian to establish friendly relations
with Rome. His envoy Orobazus met with Sulla when he was governor of Cilicia in the
90s BC.

Question 12

Phraates III (c. 70–57 BC)

Answer 12

restored order to Parthia and negotiated a treaty with Pompey
which Pompey reneged on, marking the first conflict between Rome and Parthia.

Question 13

Orodes II (57–37 BC)

Answer 13

was a Parthian king whose general Surena(s) defeated Crassus at
Carrhae in 53 BC. He, alongside his son Pacorus, fought against Antony’s general
Publius Ventidius Bassus at several battles. After Pacorus died at the Battle of Mount
Gindarus, Orodes relinquished his throne to his other son Phraates IV.

Question 14

Phraates IV (37–2 BC)

Answer 14

was the son and successor to Orodes II. His reign was marked by
a protracted war against a usurper named Tiridates II, who kidnapped a son of Phraates
and brought him to Rome as a prisoner. This allowed Tiberius (acting as envoy of
Augustus) to negotiate for the recovery of the legionary standards and captured prisoners
lost at Carrhae in 20 BC.

Question 15

Phraataces (AKA Phraates V, 2 BC–4 AD)

Answer 15

was the son and successor to Phraates IV. He
notably allowed Gaius Caesar to install Ariobarzanes on the Armenian throne in 1 BC.

Question 16

Artabanus II/III1 (12 AD–c.40 AD)

Answer 16

was an Arsacid ruler during the reigns of Augustus
and Tiberius. He tried to install his son on the Armenian throne following the death of
Artaxes III (35 AD), but was preoccupied when Tiberius sent Tiridates III of Parthia to
usurp his own throne. He managed to oust Tiridates, but was forced to accept Mithridates
as ruler of Armenia.

Question 17

Gotarzes (40–51 AD)

Answer 17

was the adopted son and successor to Artabanus II who reigned
briefly.

Question 18

Vologeses (51–78 AD)

Answer 18

succeeded Gotarzes after a brief crisis of succession. He installed
his brother Tiridates I on the Armenian throne, leading to Roman intervention. He fought
against Corbulo and Caesennius Paetus, eventually succeeding in appointing his brother
on the Armenian throne.

Question 19

Pacorus II (78–110 AD) Pacorus II (78–110 AD)

Answer 19

the son and successor to Vologeses I. He had a brother (?)
named Chosroes and two sons named Parthamasiris and Axidares. His younger son
Axidares was made king of Armenia and Chosroes succeeded him upon his death,
leading to a succession crisis (since Parthamasiris was overlooked).

Question 20

Chosroes (109–116, 117–129 AD)

Answer 20

a Parthian monarch in the second century AD.
When he deprived Parthamasiris of the Parthian throne, it sparked Trajan’s intervention
and campaigns towards the East. Trajan deposed him in favor of his son Parthamaspates,
though Chosroes deposed his son shortly thereafter.

Question 21

Parthamaspates (116–117 AD)

Answer 21

was the son of Chosroes who held a brief reign before his
father usurped the throne.

Question 22

Vologeses III2 (147–191 AD)

Answer 22

Parthian king who fought against Lucius Verus’s
generals Avidius Cassius and Statius Priscus.

Question 23

Vologeses IV3 (191–208 AD)

Answer 23

was a Parthian king who instigated a war with Septimius
Severus by aiding Pescennius Niger and attacking Osrhoene.

Question 24

Artabanus IV/V4 (213–224 AD)

Answer 24

refused when Caracalla proposed to marry his daughter.
This instigated Caracalla’s expeditions against Armenia and Parthia.

Question 25

Tigranes II (99–55 BC)

Answer 25

was a ruler of Armenia who married Cleopatra of Pontus, thereby
solidifying the alliance between Armenia and Pontus. He joined Mithridates VI in the
Third Mithridatic War.

Question 26

Artavasdes II (55–34 BC)

Answer 26

was the son and successor to Tigranes. He supported Marc
Antony, but withdrew troops and support at a critical point in 36 BC, causing Antony to
abandon his siege of Phraaspa and retreat West. Marc Antony, during his next expedition
to Armenia, captured Artavasdes and presented in a triumph at Alexandria (the
“Donations of Alexandria”), and he was subsequently executed by Cleopatra.

Question 27

Artaxes/Artaxias II (34–20 BC)

Answer 27

was the son and successor to Artavasdes II who avenged
his father’s death by massacring Roman citizens in Armenia. In 20 BC, the future
emperor Tiberius led an expedition to depose Artaxes in favor of his pro-Roman brother
Tigranes III.

Question 28

Tigranes III (20–c.6 BC)

Answer 28

was a son of Artavasdes II who grew up in Rome and was set up
as a Roman vassal in Armenia by Tiberius in 20 BC.

Question 29

Ariobarzanes of Armenia (1 BC–?)

Answer 29

was a king of Media who was installed as monarch of
Armenia by Gaius Caesar in 1 BC during the reign of Phraataces of Parthia.

Question 30

Artaxes/Artaxias III (18–35 AD)

Answer 30

was a king of Armenia whom Germanicus crowned in
person at Artaxata.

Question 31

Mithridates of Armenia (35–51? AD)

Answer 31

was an Iberian (from the Caucasus region,
modern-day Georgia) installed by Tiberius after the death of Artaxes III. Artabanus II of
Parthia made an attempt to depose him, but eventually accepted his appointment
following the usurpation of Tiridates III of Parthia. He was arrested and held in Rome for
no reason by Caligula, but Claudius managed to reinstate him.

Question 32

Radamistus (51–52 AD)

Answer 32

was the nephew of Mithridates who killed him and usurped his
throne for a brief time.

Question 33

Tiridates I (52–c. 58 AD)

Answer 33

was the brother of Vologeses I of Parthia who ruled Armenia
before the client king Tigranes V was installed in his place.

Question 34

Tigranes V (c. 58–c. 61 AD)

Answer 34

was a Roman client king installed by Corbulo following his
first Armenian expedition. He attacked Atropatene, leading to retaliation from Parthia.

Question 35

Tiridates I (62–88 AD)

Answer 35

was eventually allowed by Corbulo to ascend to the Armenian
throne on the proviso that he receive his crown from Nero in Rome.

Question 36

Axidares (110–113 AD)

Answer 36

was the brother of Parthamasiris and son of Pacorus. His father
made him king of Armenia, but he was driven out by his brother Parthamasiris.

Question 37

Parthamasiris (113–114 AD)

Answer 37

was the brother of Axidares who was deposed by Trajan,
leading to the annexation of Armenia as a province.

Question 38

Aurelius Pacorus (AKA Pacorus of Armenia, 161–163 AD)

Answer 38

was a son of Vologeses III
who was installed as king of Armenia, sparking the Avidius Cassius’s campaign East. He
was deposed by Statius Priscus, a general under Lucius Verus.

Question 39

Sohaemus (163–180)

Answer 39

was installed as king when the Romans ousted Aurelius Pacorus.

Question 40

Tiridates II (217–252 AD)

Answer 40

was a kinsman of Artabanus IV who was made king of
Armenia as a result of a treaty between Artabanus and Macrinus.

Question 41

Chosroes II of Armenia (252–258 AD)

Answer 41

was the son and successor to Tiridates II. He
allied himself with Severus Alexander during his triple invasion of Persia through
Armenia, Mesopotamia, and Babylonia. He was assassinated by Shapur I of Persia.

Question 42

Tiridates III (261–317 AD)

Answer 42

called Tiridates The Great. He received recognition by
Persia as a result of a treaty between Bahram II and Diocletian. He converted to
Christianity thanks to Gregory the Illuminator, making Armenia the first state to adopt
Christianity as its official state religion.

Question 43

Antiochus I (c. 69–c. 39 BC)

Answer 43

was a ruler of Commagene who safeguarded Roman
interests on the upper Euphrates. During the civil wars that followed, he switched sides
and joined his son-in-law Orodes II in his campaigns against Antony.

Question 44

Antiochus IV Epiphanes

Answer 44

a ruler of Commagene. After the province was annexed in
17 AD by Tiberius, he was briefly installed and deposed by Caligula. He was reinstated
by Claudius in 41 AD and ultimately deposed by Vespasian in 72 AD.

Question 45

Machares (died 65 BC)

Answer 45

was a son of Mithridates VI who rebelled against his father and
took over the Crimea for a brief time before being driven to suicide by his father.

Question 46

Mithridates VI (65–63 BC)

Answer 46

recovered the Crimea from his son Machares for a brief time
before being driven to suicide by Pharnaces II

Question 47

Pharnaces II (63–c. 45 BC)

Answer 47

attempted to expand his kingdom into Asia Minor during
Caesar’s Civil War, but was defeated at Zela and was left to rule the Crimea as a client
ruler. He is the mother of Dynamis, and he was killed in battle against Asander.

Question 48

Asander (c. 45–17 BC)

Answer 48

1was a subordinate of Pharnaces who married his daughter
Dynamis and led a brief usurpation before being dethroned by Caesar’s ally Mithridates
of Pergamum.

Question 49

Mithridates I of Pontus (AKA Mithridates of Pergamum, c. 45 BC

Answer 49

was an ally of Caesar
who briefly dethroned Asander.

Question 50

Asander (c. 45–17 BC)

Answer 50

came back and dethroned Mithridates of Pergamum, ruling
alongside his wife Dynamis until his death in 17 BC.

Question 51

Dynamis (c. 45–c. 8 AD)

Answer 51

was the daughter of Pharnaces who ruled, first alongside
Asander, then alongside Polemo, and finally as sole ruler of Crimea

Question 52

Polemo (17–8 BC)

Answer 52

was a client ruler of Pontus who married Dynamis and co-ruled
alongside her until his death