The 2nd Iranian empire, the Parthians
Arash Monzavi-Kia
Alexander’s empire lasted but ten short years, and after his death, was broken into many small kingdoms under his feuding generals (the Seleucids). Seleucids controlled most of Iran for the next 100 years, but their power declined with civil wars and uprisings.
Figure 14: Seleucid gold coin from Eastern Iran
An Eastern Iranian tribe (the Parthians) prevailed upon the Seleucids, from 240 BC on, and created the Arsacid dynasty. Finally the Arsacid king Mithridates struck the final blow to the Mesopotamian Seleucids, capturing their prosperous cities and establishing Ctesiphon as his winter capital.
Figure 15: Largest extend of the Parthian Empire
At the same time, the Roman Empire was inflicting mortal wounds on the weakened Greco-Seleucid kingdoms and by capturing the whole of Greece and Asia Minor, became neighbors with the Parthians. Rome with 500 years of glorious civilization and militancy, considered the Arsacids as barbarians that had to be brutally suppressed, in order to annex the Mesopotamia to the Roman realm. However, the Parthians established both a formidable cavalry and a strategic alliance with the Greek populace that was fleeing the Roman subjugation.
Figure 16: Depiction of ancient Rome
The most famous Roman-Parthian war occurred in 53 BC, when the mighty Roman Council Crassus led an invasion of Mesopotamia. The Roman army’s most formidable force was their infantry (Legion), while the most versatile Parthian contingent was the horse archers (Parting Shots). At the Battle of Carrhae, Crassus was defeated by the Parthians under their general Surena. Crassus and his son were killed and most of his forces were massacre or captured as slaves. This battle was the worst Roman defeat since Hannibal had decimated their armies, 160 years before.
Figure 17: Parthian horse archer versus Roman legionary
Unfortunately, the Parthian nobility were in constant rivalry with one another, and for example their great general Surena was killed by the suspicious king, soon after the Carrhae victory. The unrelenting battle against the Romans also weakened the Arsacids dynasty, preparing Iran for the take over by the second Persian dynasty of Sassanians.