Charax-Spasinu mint
Dated SE 189 (124/3 BCE)
AR Tetradrachm 31mm, 16.20 g, 12h
Diademed head right /
Herakles seated left on rock, holding club on knee; monogram to outer left, ΘΠP (date) in exergue.
Assar fig. 13; Alram 491 var. (date); Sunrise 463; cf. DCA 479 (for type; date unlisted)
The Characene Kingdom was founded by Hyspaosines, who gradually achieved independence from the Seleukids. By ancient kingdom standards, it had a long life until it was conquered by the Parthians in 222 CE.
Hyspaosines declares independence from the Seleukids and founds the Characene Kingdom.
June 11
Death of Hyspaosines. His queen’s juvenile son Apodakos continues the Characene Kingdom.
Last Characene coinage attributed to Apodakos. We don’t know what happened in terms of succession.
Coinage commences from Tiraios I of Characene. We only know him from coins.
Termination of coinage of Tiarios I. We know nothing of the Characene succession.
Beginning of Characene coinage of Tiraios II, who is known only from his coins.
Cessation of Characene coinage of Tiraios II.
Rule of Artabazos of Characene for one year. Attambelos I then becomes king.
Theonesios I, likely a son of Attambelos I, ascends the throne as a co-ruler of Characene.
The rules of Attambelos I and Theonesios I of the Characene kingdom are interrupted by a foreign ruler.
Attambelos II becomes king of the Characene kingdom.
Completion of rule of Attambelos II of the Characene kingdom. Abinergaos I takes power during roughly this time.
Last attested mention of Abinergaos I of the Characene Kingdom.
First coins of Attambelos III of the Characene Kingdom appear.
End of reign of Attambelos III of the Characene Kingdom.
Theonesios II reigns for a few months in the Characene Kingdom.
Beginning of rule of Theonesios III of the Characene Kingdom.
End of rule of Theonesios III of the Characene Kingdom. Beginning of rule of Attambelos IV.
End of rule of Attambelos IV of the Characene Kingdom. Beginning of rule of Attambelos V.
Presumed death of Attambelos V of the Characene Kingdom. Orabazes II becomes king.
End of rule of Orabazes II of the Characene Kingdom. Beginning of rule of Pakoros II, who is the first historically attested king since Apodakos I.
Death of Pakoros II of the Characene Kingdom. His son Vologases III is now the sole king.
Death of Vologases III of the Characene Kingdom. The son of Mithridates V, Vologases IV becomes king.
End of reign of Vologases IV of the Characene Kingdom. His son Vologases V becomes king.
Death of Vologases V of the Characene Kingdom. His son Vologases VI succeeds him.
The Characene Kingdom is occupied by the Sasanids.