Pharasmanes II of Iberia

Pharasmanes II relief

Pharasmanes II of Iberia was a king of Iberia (modern-day Georgia) who reigned in the 1st century AD. His reign is not extensively documented, but he is known to have been a member of the Pharnavazid dynasty, which was the first dynasty to rule the kingdom of Iberia. Pharasmanes II's rule is often characterized by his attempts to navigate the complex geopolitical tensions between the Roman Empire and the Parthian Empire, two dominant powers of the time whose interests frequently intersected in the South Caucasus region.

Reign

The exact dates of Pharasmanes II's reign are unclear, but he is believed to have ascended the throne in the mid-1st century AD. He succeeded his father, Pharasmanes I of Iberia, who had established a strong kingdom and had managed to maintain a degree of autonomy by skillfully balancing between Rome and Parthia. Pharasmanes II inherited a kingdom that was a significant player in the regional politics of the Caucasus, thanks to the diplomatic and military efforts of his predecessors.

During his reign, Pharasmanes II continued the policy of his father by trying to maintain good relations with both the Roman and Parthian Empires. This was a challenging task, as the two great powers were often in conflict, and their interests in the South Caucasus could lead to direct confrontations or proxy wars involving the smaller states in the region, including Iberia.

Legacy

Pharasmanes II's legacy is difficult to assess due to the scarcity of contemporary sources. However, his reign is generally seen as a period of continuity, during which Iberia maintained its position as a significant regional power through careful diplomacy. The kingdom of Iberia would continue to play a crucial role in the geopolitics of the South Caucasus, influenced by the policies and precedents set during the reigns of Pharasmanes II and his predecessors.

See Also

• History of Georgia
• Roman-Parthian Wars
• Caucasus