Editing Mithridates I of Parthia (section)

== Background ==
Mithridates was the son of [[Priapatius]], the great-nephew of the first Arsacid king, [[Arsaces I of Parthia|Arsaces I]] ({{reign|247|217|era=BC}}). Mithridates had several brothers, including [[Artabanus I of Parthia|Artabanus]] and his older brother [[Phraates I]], the latter succeeding their father in 176 BC as the Parthian king. According to Parthian custom, the reigning ruler had to be succeeded by his own son. However, Phraates I broke tradition and appointed his own brother Mithridates as his successor.{{sfn|Dąbrowa|2012|p=169}} According to the 2nd-century Roman historian [[Justin (historian)|Justin]], Phraates I had made his decision after noticing Mithridates' remarkable competence.<ref name="JUS">Justin, {{usurped|1=[https://archive.today/20120530143413/http://www.forumromanum.org/literature/justin/english/trans41.html xli. 41]}}.</ref>