11 Facts About Hyspaosines

Hyspaosines was the founder of Characene, a kingdom situated in southern Mesopotamia.

Hyspaosines died in the same year, and was succeeded by his juvenile son Apodakos.

Hyspaosines had served the local dynasts of Persis, who had been able to reign independently for three decades from Greek Seleucid authority, and even briefly seize the region of Characene.

The menace and proximity of the Parthians caused Hyspaosines to declare independence.

Hyspaosines took advantage of the situation by seizing Babylon, which is attested in Babylonian records, where he is recorded as king.

Regardless, Hyspaosines' troops continued to plunder the Babylonian region as late as 126 BC.

In 124 BC Hyspaosines accepted Parthian suzerainty, and continued to rule Characene as a vassal.

Hyspaosines corresponded with the Parthian general of Babylonia, informing him of the defeat of Elymais by the Parthian monarch Mithridates II.

Hyspaosines returned the wooden throne of Arsaces to the Parthians as a gift to the god Bel.

Hyspaosines's age is reported by 2nd century Roman historian Lucian, who provided a list of rulers who died in a very old age.

Hyspaosines was succeeded by his and queen Thalassia's juvenile son Apodakos.