Pacorus of Armenia
Pacorus | |
---|---|
King of Armenia | |
Reign | 161–163 |
Predecessor | Sohaemus |
Successor | Sohaemus |
Dynasty | Arsacid dynasty |
Father | Vologases IV |
Religion | Zoroastrianism |
Pacorus, also known as Aurelius Pacorus or Bakur[1] (Latinized: Bacurius, Aurelius Pacorus Greek: Αύρήλιος Πάκορος) was a Parthian Prince who served as one of the Kings of Armenia in the 2nd century.
Pacorus was a son of the Parthian monarch Vologases IV (r. 147–191).[2] He is known from a Greek funeral inscription[3] in Rome[4] as a dedication from him in honoring the memory of his brother Aurelius Merithates.[5] In the inscription dedication Pacorus describes himself as:
- Αύρήλιος Πάκορος βασιλεύς μεγάλης Άρμενίας[6]
or from the Greek translation
- Aurelius Pacorus King of Greater Armenia[7]
From the inscription it is evident that Pacorus' brother lived and died in Rome.[8] The inscription also shows that Pacorus lived for a time in Rome and had friends in Rome.[9] The name Aurelius points to a close connection with the imperial house[10] of the Nerva–Antonine dynasty. At some point Pacorus and his brother received Roman citizenship[11] from an emperor of the Nerva–Antonine dynasty, perhaps from Lucius Verus[12] either before or after Pacorus' Armenian Kingship.[13]
Pacorus is known to have ruled Armenia in the second century and is the only Pacorus to be appointed as King of Armenia by a ruling King of Parthia who was removed by Lucius Verus.[14] During the Roman Parthian War of 161-166, Vologases IV of Parthia in 161/162 entered the Roman Client Kingdom of Armenia, expelled the Roman Client Armenian King Sohaemus and installed Pacorus as a Parthian Client King of Armenia.[15][16]
Pacorus served as an Armenian King from 161 until 163 when Lucius Verus arrived with the Roman Army in Armenia.[17] Pacorus was dethroned by the Romans when they captured Armenia and the Armenian capital.[18] After Pacorus was dethroned, Sohaemus was reinstalled to his Armenian Kingship.[19] Pacorus' fate is unknown afterwards, however he may have been brought to live in Rome by Lucius Verus.[20]
References
- ↑ Hovannisian, The Armenian People From Ancient to Modern Times, Volume I: The Dynastic Periods: From Antiquity to the Fourteenth Century, p.70
- ↑ Russell 1987, p. 161.
- ↑ De Jong, Traditions of the Magi: Zoroastrianism in Greek and Latin Literature, p.315
- ↑ Hovannisian, The Armenian People From Ancient to Modern Times, Volume I: The Dynastic Periods: From Antiquity to the Fourteenth Century, p.70
- ↑ Hovannisian, The Armenian People From Ancient to Modern Times, Volume I: The Dynastic Periods: From Antiquity to the Fourteenth Century, p.70
- ↑ Van Den Hout, A Commentary on the Letters of M. Cornelius Fronto, p.302
- ↑ Hovannisian, The Armenian People From Ancient to Modern Times, Volume I: The Dynastic Periods: From Antiquity to the Fourteenth Century, p.70
- ↑ Van Den Hout, A Commentary on the Letters of M. Cornelius Fronto, p.302
- ↑ Van Den Hout, A Commentary on the Letters of M. Cornelius Fronto, p.302
- ↑ Van Den Hout, A Commentary on the Letters of M. Cornelius Fronto, p.302
- ↑ Braund, Rome and the Friendly King: The Character of the Client Kingship, p.p.43&45
- ↑ Braund, Rome and the Friendly King: The Character of the Client Kingship, p.p.43&45
- ↑ Braund, Rome and the Friendly King: The Character of the Client Kingship, p.p.43&45
- ↑ Braund, Rome and the Friendly King: The Character of the Client Kingship, p.43
- ↑ Van Den Hout, A Commentary on the Letters of M. Cornelius Fronto, p.302
- ↑ Birley, Marcus Aurelius, p.121
- ↑ Van Den Hout, A Commentary on the Letters of M. Cornelius Fronto, p.302
- ↑ Van Den Hout, A Commentary on the Letters of M. Cornelius Fronto, p.302
- ↑ Braund, Rome and the Friendly King: The Character of the Client Kingship, p.43
- ↑ Braund, Rome and the Friendly King: The Character of the Client Kingship, p.45
Sources
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- D. Braund, Rome and the Friendly King: The Character of the Client Kingship, Taylor & Francis, 1984
- A. De Jong, Traditions of the Magi: Zoroastrianism in Greek and Latin Literature, BRILL, 1997
- M.C. Fronto & M.P.J. Van Den Hout, A Commentary on the Letters of M. Cornelius Fronto, BRILL, 1999
- A. Birley, Marcus Aurelius, Routledge, 2000
- R.G. Hovannisian, The Armenian People From Ancient to Modern Times, Volume I: The Dynastic Periods: From Antiquity to the Fourteenth Century, Palgrave Macmillan, 2004