Research Notes:

The second century of Arsacid rule in Armenia saw the continuation of the Roman-Parthian rivalry and periodic threats from the Iberians and Alans. The nakharars, aided by the mountainous terrain, kept their regions well defended and, together with Parthian assistance, kept Armenia autonomous. After Vagharsh, a number of Roman and Persian candidates ruled Armenia. In 186, another Parthian prince named Vagharsh became King of Armenia (Vagharsh II). In 191 he left Armenia to assume the throne of Persia [sic] and named his son Khosrov as King of Armenia (Khosrov I). ¹

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Once the scions of Parthian Arsacids had consolidated their hold over Armenia in the 2nd century AD, their branch replaced the Pharnabazids in Iberia. According to the Georgian chronicles, this happened when the nobles staged a revolt against Amazaspus (II) (r. 185–189) and with help of the king of Armenia, probably Vologases II (r. 180–191), who is reported to have been married to Amazasp’s sister, deposed and killed their monarch. Vologases installed his son and Amazasp’s nephew, Rev (I) (r. 189–216) on the throne of Iberia, inaugurating the local Arsacid dynasty. ²

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During his rule in Armenia, he managed in 189 to impose his son Rev I (whose mother was the sister of the Pharnavazid ruler Amazasp) on the Iberian throne. Vologases, after the death of his father, ascended the Parthian throne, and appointed his son Khosrov I as the ruler of Armenia. Vologases' succession, however, was not uncontested; a rival King, Osroes II (190), had already set himself up in Media before the death of the previous ruler, but Vologases V appears to have quickly put him down.

Vologases V was attacked by the Roman emperor Septimius Severus (193–211) in 195. Severus advanced into Mesopotamia, occupied Nisibis and plundered the Parthian capital Ctesiphon in 199, capturing many Parthians and selling them into slavery. He attempted in vain to conquer the Arabic fortress at Hatra. In 202, peace was restored, leaving the Roman Empire in effective control of the whole of Mesopotamia. ³