| Artabanus II 𐭍𐭐𐭕𐭓 | |
|---|---|
| King of Kings | |
 Coin of Artabanus II, minted at Seleucia in 27 AD | |
| King of Media Atropatene | |
| Reign | ???–12 AD |
| Predecessor | Artavasdes II |
| Successor | Vonones II |
| King of the Parthian Empire | |
| Reign | 12–38/41 AD[note 1] |
| Predecessor | Vonones I (predecessor) Tiridates III (rival king) |
| Successor | Vardanes I |
| Born | 30–25 BC Dahistan |
| Died | 38/41 AD |
| Issue | Arsaces I Orodes Vardanes I Artabanus Gotarzes II (adopted) |
| Dynasty | Arsacid dynasty |
| Father | Dahae or Atropatid prince |
| Mother | unnamed daughter of Phraates IV |
| Religion | Zoroastrianism |
Artabanus II (also spelled Artabanos II or Ardawan II; Parthian: 𐭍𐭐𐭕𐭓 Ardawān), incorrectly known in older scholarship as Artabanus III,[1] was King of Kings of the Parthian Empire from 12 to 38/41 AD, with a one-year interruption. He was the nephew and successor of Vonones I (r. 8–12). His father has been variously identified as a Dahae or Atropatid prince, whilst his mother was a daughter of the Parthian King of Kings Phraates IV (r. 37–2 BC).
Before his ascension to the Parthian crown, Artabanus had ruled as king of Media Atropatene, which later served as his base of attacks against the Roman-supported Parthian king Vonones I. Artabanus eventually defeated Vonones I, who fled to Armenia and became its king. Artabanus' efforts to replace Vonones I with his son were blocked by the Romans, who eventually reached an agreement with the Parthians to appoint Artaxias III the new king of Armenia and renounce their support of Vonones I.
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- ^ Schippmann 1986, pp. 647–650.