Arsacid dynasty

(247 BC–AD 224) Persian dynasty.

It was founded by Arsaces (r. с 250–211? BC) of the Parni tribe, which originally dwelt east of the Caspian Sea and entered Parthia after the death of Alexander the Great (323 BC), gradually extending control southward. Arsacid power reached its peak under Mithradates I (r. 171–138 BC). The government was influenced by that of the Seleucid dynasty and tolerated the formation of vassal kingdoms. The dynasty legitimized its rule over former Achaemenian territories by claiming descent from the Achaemenian king Artaxerxes II. It controlled trade routes between Asia and the Greco-Roman world and used its resultant wealth to erect many buildings. The dynasty was overthrown in 224 by the Sāsānian dynasty.

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▪ ancient Iranian dynasty

also called  Arshakuni 

      (247 BC–AD 224), ancient Iranian dynasty that founded and ruled the Parthian empire. The progenitors of the dynasty were members of the Parni tribe living east of the Caspian Sea. They entered Parthia (q.v.) shortly after the death of Alexander the Great (323 BC) and gradually gained control over much of Iran and Mesopotamia until, in AD 224, they were overthrown by the Sāsānians, an Iranian dynasty founded by Ardashīr I.

      The first Arsacid to gain power in Parthia was Arsaces (reigned c. 250–c. 211 BC), but the Iranian plateau was not conquered in its entirety until the time of Mithradates I (reigned 171–138 BC). Two of the dynasty's most powerful rulers were Mithradates II (reigned 123–88 BC) and Phraates III (reigned 70–58/57 BC).

      During the time of the Parthian empire the Arsacids claimed descent from the Achaemenian king Artaxerxes II, probably to legitimize their rule over the former Achaemenian territories; in fact, in many of its outward forms the Parthian empire was a revival of Achaemenian rule. The empire's governmental organization, however, was based on that developed by the Hellenistic Seleucids. The Arsacids encouraged the development of Hellenistic cities and tolerated the formation of vassal kingdoms. Because the Arsacids and their vassals controlled almost all the trade routes between Asia and the Greco-Roman world, they became very wealthy, with the result that the Parthian period was one of intense building activity.

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