Osroes I

Osroes I 𐭇𐭅𐭎𐭓𐭅
King of Kings
Silver coin of Osroes I, Ecbatana mint
King of the Parthian Empire
1st Reign	109–116
Predecessor	Pacorus II
Successor	Parthamaspates
2nd Reign	117–129
Predecessor	Parthamaspates
Successor	Vologases III
Died	129
Issue	Parthamaspates
House	Arsacid dynasty
Religion	Zoroastrianism

Osroes I (also spelled Chosroes I or Khosrow I; Parthian: 𐭇𐭅𐭎𐭓𐭅 Husrōw) was a Parthian contender, who ruled the western portion of the Parthian Empire from 109 to 129, with a one-year interruption. For most of his reign he contended with the rival king Vologases III (r. 110–147) who was based in the eastern provinces. In 116, Osroes I was briefly ousted from his throne at Ctesiphon during an invasion by Roman emperor Trajan (r. 98–117), who installed Osroes' son, Parthamaspates. After Trajan's death the following year, Osroes I's rule was reinstated by the Parthian nobility. In 129, he was removed from power by Vologases III.

In 109, Osroes I revolted against Parthian king Pacorus II (r. 78–110) in order to claim the throne for himself.^[1] During the reign of Pacorus II's son Vologases III (r. 110–147), Osroes I managed to seize the western part of the empire, including Mesopotamia, while Vologases III ruled in the east.^[2][3] In 113, Osroes I violated the Treaty of Rhandeia with the Romans by deposing Vologases III's brother Axidares and appointing the latter's brother Parthamasiris as the king of Armenia.^[2][4] This gave the Roman emperor Trajan (r. 98–117) the pretext to invade the Parthian domain and take advantage of the ongoing civil war between Vologases III and Osroes I.^[2][3] In 114, Trajan conquered Armenia and turned it into a Roman province.^[4] In 116, Trajan captured Seleucia and Ctesiphon, the capitals of the Parthians.^[5] Trajan even reached as far as the Persian Gulf, where he forced the Parthian vassal ruler of Characene, Attambelos VII, to pay tribute.^[6][7] Fearing a revolt by the Parthians, Trajan installed Osroes I's son Parthamaspates on the throne at Ctesiphon.^[6][8] During his expedition, Trajan captured a daughter of Osroes I, who remained a Roman captive until the peace treaty concluded between the two powers in 129.^[9]

The gains of Trajan were short-lived. Revolts occurred in all the conquered territories, with the Babylonians and Jews pushing the Romans out of Mesopotamia, and the Armenians under Sanatruk causing the Romans problems.^[10] After Trajan's death in 117, the Parthians removed Parthamaspates from the throne and reinstated Osroes I.^[6] Trajan's successor, Hadrian (r. 117–138) renounced the remnants of Trajan's conquests in the east, and acknowledged the Treaty of Rhandeia, with the Parthian prince Vologases becoming the new king of Armenia.^[11] The weakened state of the western part of the Parthian Empire gave Vologases III (whose eastern domains were untouched) the opportunity to regain lost territory seized by Osroes I.^[3] In 129, Vologases III finally managed to remove Osroes I from power.^[1][12]

On the obverse of his silver coins, Osroes I is portrayed with his hair in bunches, whilst wearing a diadem.^[13] On his bronze coins, however, he is portrayed with a tiara with hooks and a horn on the side.^[13] The coins of Osroes I closely resembles that of his namesake, the Elymais ruler Osroes, which has led to scholars to suggest that they might have been the same person.^[14][15] Another possibility is that the Elymais ruler Osroes copied the coinage of Osroes I of Parthia.^[14][15]

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