The Parthian Empire

**Cronos Impera** · 07-14-2005, 16:10

http://www.parthia.com/map_extent.htm

Parthia didn't include Campus Sakae - the province at the border with Scythia as we see in RTW. What provinces will compose Parthia in Europa Barbaroum? With respect, Cronos Impera.

**Steppe Merc** · 07-14-2005, 16:36

We will no longer be using the old map. And their starting position will reflect the Parni's holdings, not the Parthian Empire, as they had yet to invade the Selecuids.

**caesar44** · 07-14-2005, 19:53

Originally Posted by Steppe Merc

We will no longer be using the old map. And their starting position will reflect the Parni's holdings, not the Parthian Empire, as they had yet to invade the Selecuids.

Steppe , your post's show me again and again that your mod is a fine one . there was no Parthian empire in 280 or 270 bce !!! people tends to forget that . the Parni were a small tribe in those years , but if I am not wrong , they lived with in the Seleucid empire . ??

**Steppe Merc** · 07-15-2005, 00:26

I think on the edge. I'm not sure if they were actually part of the Selecuid Empire or not, or if they were one of the steppe tribes that served the Selecuids.
But they took most of their lands from the Selecuids by force, which corresponded roughly with Baktria's succesion.
I could find out more if you like...

**caesar44** · 07-15-2005, 13:40

Yes please

**Steppe Merc** · 07-15-2005, 23:39

Well it's from Wiki, but it corresponds from what I've read:

It was insufficient, however. In 245, the satrap of Parthia, a man named Andragoras, revolted from the young Seleucid king Seleucus II, who had just succeeded to the throne. In the confusion, the Parni attacked and seized the northern part of Parthia, a district known as Astavene, probably in 238. About 235, a Parnian prince with the name Tiridates (Modern Persian Tirdad, meaning 'Great archer') ventured further south and seized the rest of Parthia. A counter-offensive by king Seleucus ended in disaster, and Hyrcania was also subdued by the Parni.

From then on, the Parni were known as Parthians. In the years that followed, their kings recognized the Seleucid king as their superiors, but under Mithradates I (171-138) they conquered Media, Babylonia, and Elam from the Seleucids. The Parthian empire was to last until AD 224, when it was succeeded by the Sassanid empire.

So Parthia the province succededed, then the Parni came in and took it over. It seems that the Parni were not in actual Selecuid lands, or at least lands that they had any control over.

**The Wizard** · 07-18-2005, 01:05

Originally Posted by caesar44

Steppe , your post's show me again and again that your mod is a fine one . there was no Parthian empire in 280 or 270 bce !!! people tends to forget that . the Parni were a small tribe in those years , but if I am not wrong , they lived with in the Seleucid empire . ??

They were ostensibly under Seleukid suzerainity, in the sense that they were vassals to the Seleukid crown. However, as with Baktria, and in this case maybe even more so, the Parni were very independent in their actions.

What led to the establishment of the Parni in the old satrapies of Hyrkania and Parthia was interpreted by the Seleukids as a rebellion. Or was that the declaration of the Arsacids as being kings from there on? Regardless, there was more than enough reason for the Seleukids to attack them; Antiochos III's anabasis to the east, following his defeat at Raphia, was not only aimed at bringing satraps in Iran back into the fold and once again annexing Baktria, but also at reducing the slowly but steadily expanding Parthians back to the position of vassal once again.

~Wiz

**Cronos Impera** · 07-21-2005, 15:58

So the Parni was just a satelite of Selucia, that with skilled diplomacy managed to get independence and later drive out the Seleucids alltoghether. The Parthians had their state placed on the silk road and thus had contact with Chinease and Indian tradesman. Those Indians and Chinease could have acted as mercenaries. Through the Silk Road eastern culture and technology reached the Mediteranean.
See http://www.silkroadproject.org/silkroad/map.html

Ideea 1. The Parthian roads should be at least as good as Roman ones
2. Parthia shold have Indian and Chinease mercs.
3 Parthian uniforms should be more eastern

Good luck! I await your opinions on this.

**Steppe Merc** · 07-21-2005, 16:03

I don't think that the dress of the Parthians would have changed. I'm pretty sure that they continued to dress just as the other Iranian nomads did (though they were richer, of course).
Indian units, yes. Chinese, don't think so.