Artabanus IV of Parthia

Who was Artabanus IV of Parthia?

Artabanus IV was a Parthian Prince of Iranian and possibly of Greek ancestry.

From surviving coins that he issued from his reign have some resemblance of the issued coins from the reign of Artabanus III. From this, Artabanus IV can be seen as a possible son of Artabanus III.

He was a rival for the crown of the Parthian Empire during the reign of Pacorus II of Parthia, against whom he revolted. His own reign as King extended from about 80 to 90. On coinage, he is known as Arsaces Artabanus. Artabanus IV was strong enough at one point to support the Roman Terentius Maximus, a pretender to the Roman Empire who rose in Anatolia under the name of the Roman emperor, Nero. However Artabanus IV couldn’t maintain himself against Pacorus II.