Phraates IV (59 BC-2 BC) was King of Parthia from 37 BC to 2 BC, succeeding Orodes II and preceding Phraates V and Musa of Parthia.
Biography[]
Phraates was the second son of Orodes II and Laodice of Parthia and the younger brother of Pacorus I. In 37 BC, he became the new heir to the throne after his brother died in battle, and he took power that year after killing his own parents. In 36 BC, he was defeated by Mark Antony in Media Atropatene and lost the greater part of his army. When war with Octavian broke out in 31 BC, Antony was distracted, so Phraates recovered Media Atropatene; his cruelty led to Tiridates II seizing power in 32 BC, but Phraates was restored by the Scythians, and Tiridates fled into Syria. In 20 BC, the Roman emperor Augustus made peace with Phraates, who recognized Roman dominion over Armenia and gave back Roman prisoners and Roman battle standards from the Battle of Carrhae. He was murdered by Musa of Parthia in 2 BC.