Pacorus II of Parthia

Who was Pacorus II of Parthia?

Pacorus II of Parthia, was a Parthian Prince who ruled the Parthian Empire from about 78 to 105. Pacorus II was a monarch of Iranian and Greek ancestry. Pacorus II was born from a Greek concubine as being the eldest son of Vonones II. Pacorus II was born and raised during his father’s kingship of Media Atropatene. Pacorus II was the namesake of his relative, a previous ruling Parthian King Pacorus I of Parthia.

When his father died in 51, his brother Vologases I succeeded his father as Parthian King. Vologases I had given Pacorus II their paternal dominion the Kingdom of Media Atropatene to rule as King. He ruled as King of Media Atropatene from 51 until 78 and little is known on his reign. After the death of Vologases I, Pacorus II revolted against his nephew Vologases II who was his father’s successor. After Pacorus II defeated Vologases II, he deposed of him.

According to the Roman Historian Cassius Dio, Pacorus II sold the kingdom of Osroene to Abgar VII and according to Ammianus Marcellinus he enlarged the Parthian capital Ctesiphon and built its walls. In 101, Pacorus II sent an embassy to the Han Dynasty of China, the latter which recorded Parthia as the Anxi kingdom.