Editing Atropatene

{{Short description|Ancient Iranian kingdom (c. 323 BC – 226 AD)}}
{{redirect-for|Ancient Azerbaijan|the ancient Caucasian state on whose territory the present-day Republic of Azerbaijan was founded|Caucasian Albania}}
{{For|the Sasanian province of the same name|Adurbadagan}}
{{Infobox country
|conventional_long_name = Atropatene<br />''Ātṛpātakāna''
|common_name            = Atropatene
|era                    = [[ancient history|Antiquity]]
|status                 = Autonomous state, frequently a vassal of the [[Parthian Empire]] (148/7 BC–226 AD)
|status_text            =
|empire                 =
|government_type        = Monarchy
|year_start             = c. 323 BC
|year_end               = 226 AD
|event_start            =
|date_start             =
|event_end              =
|date_end               =
|event1                 =
|date_event1            =
|event_post             =
|date_post              =
|p1                     = Macedonian Empire
|flag_p1                =
|s1                     = Adurbadagan
|flag_s1                =
|image_flag             =
|flag                   =
|flag_type              =
|image_map              = Atropatene as a vassal of Seleucids.png
|image_map_caption      = Atropatene as a vassal of [[Seleucids]] in 221 BC
|capital                = [[Ganzak]]
|common_languages       = [[Old Azeri]], [[Median language]]
|religion               = [[Zoroastrianism]]{{sfn|Boyce|Grenet|1991|p=71}}
|currency               =
|leader1                =
|leader2                =
|year_leader1           =
|year_leader2           =
|title_leader           = King
}}
{{History of Iran}}
'''Atropatene''' ({{langx|peo|Ātṛpātakāna}}; {{langx|pal|Ādurbādagān}}; {{langx|grc|Ἀτροπατηνή}}), also known as '''Media Atropatene''', was an ancient [[Iranian peoples|Iranian]] kingdom established in {{circa|323 BC}} by the Persian [[satrap]] [[Atropates]] ({{langx|peo|*Ātṛpāta}}).{{sfn|Mayrhofer|1973|page=157, no. 8.491}} The kingdom, centered in present-day [[Azerbaijan (Iran)|Azerbaijan]] region in northwestern [[Iran]], was ruled by Atropates' descendants until the early 1st-century AD, when the Parthian [[Arsacid dynasty]] supplanted them.<ref>{{harvnb|Olbrycht|2014|p=96}}; {{harnvb|Gregoratti|2017|p=138}}; {{harnvb|Schippmann|1987|pp=221–224}}</ref> It was conquered by the [[Sasanians]] in 226, and turned into a province governed by a ''[[marzban]]'' ("[[margrave]]").{{sfn|Schippmann|1987|pp=221–224}} Atropatene was the only Iranian region to remain under [[Zoroastrian]] authority from the [[Achaemenids]] to the [[Muslim conquest of Persia|Arab conquest]] without interruption, aside from being briefly ruled by the [[Macedonia (ancient kingdom)|Macedonian]] king [[Alexander the Great]] ({{reign|336|323|era=BC}}).

The Old Persian name Ātṛpātakāna is the direct ancestor of the name of the historic [[Azerbaijan (Iran)|Azerbaijan]] region in Iran.<ref name=Yarshater1983 >{{citation |last=Yarshater |first=Ehsan |year=1983 |title=The Cambridge history of Iran |publisher=Cambridge University Press |isbn=978-0-521-20092-9 |page=1408  |quote=Atropatene see Azarbaijan }}</ref>

== Name ==
According to [[Strabo]], the name of Atropatene derived from the name of Atropates, the commander of the [[Achaemenid Empire]]. As he writes in his book “Geography”: "Media is divided into two parts. One part of it is called Greater Media, of which the metropolis is [[Ecbatana]]. The other part is Atropatian Media, which got its name from the commander Atropates, who prevented also this country, which was a part of Greater Media, from becoming subject to the Macedonians".<ref>{{Cite web|title=Strabo, Geography, Book 11|url=https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:abo:tlg,0099,001:11#note-link133|website=www.perseus.tufts.edu|access-date=2020-04-30}}</ref>{{sfn|de Planhol|1987|pp=205–215}}

From the name of Atropates, different forms of the name of this country such as Atropatene, Atropatios Mēdia, Tropatene, Aturpatakan, Adarbayjan were used in different sources. Nevertheless, medieval Arab geographers suggested another version associating this name with Adorbador (the name of a priest) that means “guardian of the fire”.{{sfn|de Planhol|1987|pp=205–215}}

==History==
[[File:Transcaucasia 2nd BC.jpg|left|thumb|300x300px|Atropatene and neighbouring countries in 2nd century B.C.]]
In 331 BC, during the [[Battle of Gaugamela]] between the [[Achaemenid]] ruler [[Darius III]] and [[Alexander the Great]], [[Medes]], [[Caucasian Albanians|Albans]], [[Sakasene|Sakasens]], [[Cadusians]] fought alongside the army of the Achaemenid [[Great King]] in the army of Atropates. After this war, which resulted in the victory of Alexander the Great and the fall of the Achaemenid Empire, Atropates expressed his loyalty to Alexander. In 328-327 BC, Alexander appointed him governor of Media. Following the death of Alexander the Great in 323&nbsp;BC, the Macedonian's conquests were divided amongst the [[diadochi]] at the [[Partition of Babylon]]. The former Achaemenid satrapy of [[Media (region)|Media]] was divided into two states: The greater (southern) part – ''Media Magna'' was assigned to [[Peithon]], one of Alexander's bodyguards.

The smaller (northern) region, which had been the sub-satrapy of [[Matiene]], became ''[[Media Atropatene]]'' under [[Atropates]], the former Achaemenid governor of all Media, who had by then become father-in-law of [[Perdiccas]], regent of Alexander's designated successor.{{sfn|Chaumont|1987|pp=17–18}}<ref>{{Cite web|title=Strabo, Geography, Book 11, chapter 13, section 1|url=https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:1999.01.0198:book=11:chapter=13:section=1|website=www.perseus.tufts.edu|access-date=2020-04-30}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last=Cheshire|first=Keyne|title=Alexander the Great|publisher=Cambridge University|year=2009|isbn=9780521707091|pages=73}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last=F. Mirwaisi|first=Hamma|title=Return of the Medes: An Analysis of Iranian History|publisher=Wheatmark|year=2010|isbn=9781604944495|pages=123}}</ref> Shortly thereafter, Atropates refused to pay allegiance to [[Seleucus I Nicator|Seleucus]], and made Media Atropatene an independent kingdom. In 223 BCE, [[Antiochus III the Great|Antiochus III]] came to power in the [[Seleucid Empire]], one of the [[Hellenistic]] states that had emerged following the death of Alexander. Antiochus attacked Atropatene, resulting in a victory.

Consequently, the king of Atropatene, [[Artabazanes]], accepted the ascendency of Seleucids and became dependent on it; on the other hand, interior independence was preserved. At the same time, the Roman Empire came into sight in the Mediterranean basin and was trying to spread its power in the East, and in 190 B.C., its army met and defeated the Seleucids' army in the [[battle of Magnesia]]. [[Parthia]] and Atropatene subsequently considered Rome a threat to their independence and allied themselves in the struggle against Rome.

After the battle between Rome and the [[Parthians]] in 38 BC, the Romans won and the Roman general Antony attacked Fraaspa (36 BC), one of the central cities of Atropatene. The city was surrounded by strong defenses. After a long blockade, Antony receded, losing approximately thirty-five thousand soldiers. In the face of Parthian attempts to annex Atropatene, Atropatene began to draw closer to Rome, thus, Ariobarzan II, who came to power in Atropatene in 20 BC, lived in Rome for about ten years. The dynasty Atropates founded would rule the kingdom for several centuries, first independently, then as vassals of the [[Parthian Empire|Arsacids]] (who called it 'Aturpatakan'). It was later supplanted by a line of the [[Arsacids]].{{sfn|Schippmann|1987|pp=221–224}}

During the late Parthian era, the empire was declining, resulting in the weakening of hold over western Iran.{{sfn|Ghodrat-Dizaji|2007|p=87}} The [[Iranologist]] [[Touraj Daryaee]] argues that the reign of the Parthian monarch [[Vologases V]] ({{reign|191|208}}) was "the turning point in Arsacid history, in that the dynasty lost much of its prestige."{{sfn|Daryaee|2010|p=249}} The people of Atropatene (both nobility and peasantry) allied themselves with the Persian [[Sasanian Empire|Sasanian]] prince [[Ardashir I]] ({{reign|224|242}}) during his wars against Vologases V's son and second successor [[Artabanus IV of Parthia|Artabanus IV]] ({{reign|216|224}}).{{sfn|Ghodrat-Dizaji|2007|pp=87–88}}{{sfn|Schippmann|1987|pp=221–224}} In 226, Atropatene submitted with little resistance to Ardashir I after he had defeated and killed Artabanus IV at the [[Battle of Hormozdgan]].{{sfn|Schippmann|1987|pp=221–224}} Ardashir I and his son and heir [[Shapur I]] ({{reign|240|270}}) are depicted in a [[rock relief]] near [[Salmas]], possibly a testimonial to the Sasanian conquest of Atropatene.{{sfn|Ghodrat-Dizaji|2007|pp=87–88}}{{sfn|Schippmann|1987|pp=221–224}} The nobility of Atropatene most likely allied themselves the Sasanians due to a desire for a strong state capable of maintaining order. The priesthood, who may have felt alienated by the easy-going Arsacids, probably also supported the Sasanian family, due to its association with [[Zoroastrianism]].{{sfn|Ghodrat-Dizaji|2007|p=88}}

== Zoroastrianism ==
The oldness of Zoroastrianism led to lack of knowledge about the geography of the [[Avesta]], and also uncertainty about the birthplace of its prophet, [[Zoroaster]].{{sfn|Boyce|Grenet|1991|p=71}} As a result local claims emerged quite easily, and with the appropriate support, even gained acceptance. This resulted in the birthplace of Zoroaster being placed in Atropatene, rather than the east, where he originated.{{sfn|Boyce|Grenet|1991|pp=71–72}}{{sfn|Malandra|2009}}{{sfn|Hutter|2009}}

==Capital==
The main Achaemenid hub in Atropatene was [[Ganzak]] (from [[Median language|Median]]: ''Ganzaka'', meaning "treasury"), which presumably served as the capital of Atropates and his successors.{{sfn|Boyce|Grenet|1991|p=70}}{{sfn|Boyce|2000|pp=289–290}} The city was situated in a fertile area near [[Lake Urmia]], close to the modern town of [[Miandoab]].{{sfn|Boyce|Grenet|1991|p=70}} The city and its surroundings probably hosted a large Iranian population, whereas much of the Atropatenian population had most likely not been completely Iranianized yet by the 3rd-century BC.{{sfn|Boyce|Grenet|1991|pp=69–70}}

== Legacy ==
Atropatene was the only Iranian region to remain under Zoroastrian authority from the Achaemenids to the [[Muslim conquest of Persia|Arab conquest]] without any interruption, aside from being briefly ruled by the [[Macedonia (ancient kingdom)|Macedonian]] king [[Alexander the Great]] ({{reign|336|323|era=BC}}).{{sfn|Boyce|Grenet|1991|p=86}} Under the Atropatids, the region successfully managed to gain a dominant place in Zoroastrianism, which would continue into the Sasanian period, whose monarchs favored Median traditions over that of the Parthians.{{sfn|Boyce|Grenet|1991|p=86}} Moreover, Atropatene also served as a stronghold of Iranian culture.{{sfn|Olbrycht|2021|p=38}}

==List of rulers==
Albeit the kings of Atropatene ruled for several centuries, only some of them are known. The dates of their reign are uncertain.

{| class=wikitable
!Name !! Reign
|-
|colspan="10" align=center style="background-color:Lightgreen" |House of Atropates
|-
|[[Atropates]] ||{{flourished|323 BC}}
|-
|[[Artabazanes]] ||{{flourished|221 BC}}
|-
|[[Mithridates I of Media Atropatene|Mithridates I]] ||{{flourished|67 BC}}
|-
|[[Darius I of Media Atropatene|Darius I]] ||{{flourished|65 BC}}
|-
|[[Ariobarzanes I of Media Atropatene|Ariobarzanes I]] ||{{flourished|59 BC}}
|-
|[[Artavasdes I of Media Atropatene|Artavasdes I]] ||{{flourished|???–30 BC}}
|-
|[[Asinnalus of Media Atropatene|Asinnalus]] ||{{flourished|30 BC}}
|-
|[[Ariobarzanes II of Atropatene|Ariobarzanes II]] ||{{reign|28/20 BC|4 AD}}
|-
|[[Artavasdes IV|Artavasdes II]] ||{{reign|4|6}}
|-
|colspan="10" align=center style="background-color:Lightgreen" |[[Arsacid dynasty]]
|-
|[[Artabanus II of Parthia|Artabanus]] ||{{reign|???|12}}
|-
|[[Vonones II|Vonones]] ||{{reign|12|51}}
|-
|[[Pacorus of Media Atropatene|Pacorus]] ||{{reign|51|???}}
|-
|}

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}

== Bibliography ==
=== Ancient works ===
* [[Strabo]], ''[[Geographica]]''.

=== Modern works ===
{{Refbegin}}
* {{citation|last=Bosworth|first=C.E.|chapter=Azerbaijan IV: Islamic History to 1941|title=Encyclopaedia Iranica|volume=3|year=1989|issue=1|location=London|publisher=Routledge & Kegan Paul|chapter-url=http://www.iranicaonline.org/articles/azerbaijan-iv}}
* {{cite book |last1=Boyce |first1=Mary |author-link1=Mary Boyce|last2=Grenet |first2=Frantz |editor1-last=Beck |editor1-first=Roger |title=A History of Zoroastrianism, Zoroastrianism under Macedonian and Roman Rule |date=1991 |publisher=Brill |location=Leiden|isbn=978-9004293915}}
* {{Encyclopaedia Iranica | last = Boyce | first  = Mary | title = Ganzak | url = https://www.iranicaonline.org/articles/ganzak- | volume = 10 | fascicle = 3 | pages = 289–290 }}
* {{Encyclopaedia Iranica | title = Atropates | last = Chaumont | first = M. L. | url = http://www.iranicaonline.org/articles/atropates-aturpat-lit | volume = 3 | fascicle = 1 | pages = 17–18 }}
* {{cite journal |last1=Daryaee|first1=Touraj| title=Ardashir and the Sasanians' Rise to Power |date=2010|pages=236–255|journal=Anabasis: Studia Classica et Orientalia|volume=1|publisher=University of California|url=https://www.academia.edu/949575|url-access=registration}}
* {{Encyclopaedia Iranica | title = Azerbaijan i. Geography | last = de Planhol | first = X. | author-link = Xavier de Planhol | url = http://www.iranicaonline.org/articles/azerbaijan-i | volume = 3 | fascicle = 2 | pages = 205–215 }}
* {{cite journal |last1=Ghodrat-Dizaji |first1=Mehrdad |title=Administrative Geography of the Early Sasanian Period: The Case of Ādurbādagān |journal=Iran: Journal of the British Institute of Persian Studies |date=2007 |volume=45 |issue=1 |pages=87–93 |doi=10.1080/05786967.2007.11864720|s2cid=133088896 }}
* {{cite journal |last1=Ghodrat-Dizaji |first1=Mehrdad |title=Ādurbādagān during the Late Sasanian Period: A Study in Administrative Geography |journal=Iran: Journal of the British Institute of Persian Studies  |date=2010 |volume=48 |issue=1|pages=69–80|doi=10.1080/05786967.2010.11864774|s2cid=163839498 }}
* {{cite journal |last1=Ghodrat-Dizaji|first1=Mehrdad|title=Disintegration of Sasanian Hegemony over Northern Iran |journal= Iranica Antiqua|date=2011  |volume=46 |pages=153–302|doi=10.2143/IA.46.0.2084424}}
* {{cite book|first=M.|last=Mayrhofer|title=Onomastica Persepolitana|url=https://archive.org/details/OnomasticaPersepolitana/page/n78/mode/1up|location=Vienna|language=de|year=1973}}
* {{cite book |first=Leonardo |last=Gregoratti |editor1-last=Daryaee |editor1-first=Touraj |title=King of the Seven Climes: A History of the Ancient Iranian World (3000 BCE - 651 CE) |date=2017 |publisher=UCI Jordan Center for Persian Studies |chapter=The Arsacid Empire|pages=1–236|isbn=9780692864401|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=unTjswEACAAJ}}
* {{Encyclopædia Iranica Online | last = Hutter| first  = Manfred | title = Zoroaster iii. Zoroaster in the Avesta | url = https://www.iranicaonline.org/articles/zoroaster-iii-zoroaster-in-the-avesta | year = 2009 }}
* {{cite encyclopedia |last1=Kia |first1=Mehrdad |title=The Persian Empire: A Historical Encyclopedia |date=2016 |publisher=[[ABC-CLIO]]|isbn=978-1610693912 }} (2 volumes)
* {{Encyclopædia Iranica Online | last = Malandra | first  = W. W. | title = Zoroaster ii. General Survey | url = https://www.iranicaonline.org/articles/zoroaster-ii-general-survey | year = 2009 }}
* {{cite book |last=Olbrycht|first=Marek Jan|year=2021|title=Early Arsakid Parthia (ca. 250-165 B.C.)|publisher=Brill|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OHkxEAAAQBAJ|isbn=978-9004460751}}
* {{cite journal |last1=Olbrycht|first1=Marek Jan| title=The Genealogy of Artabanos II (AD 8/9–39/40), King of Parthia |date=2014|pages=92–97|journal=Miscellanea Anthropologica et Sociologica|volume=15|issue=3|doi=10.5604/20842937.1134333 |doi-broken-date=1 November 2024 |url=https://www.academia.edu/9955926|url-access=registration}}
* {{Encyclopaedia Iranica | title = Azerbaijan III. Pre-Islamic History | last = Schippmann | first = K. | url = http://www.iranicaonline.org/articles/azerbaijan-iii | volume = 3 | fascicle = 2 | pages = 221–224 }}
{{Refend}}

{{Authority control}}

{{Coord|37|48|dim:400km|display=title}}

[[Category:3rd-century disestablishments]]
[[Category:Former monarchies of Iran]]
[[Category:States and territories established in the 4th century BC]]
[[Category:States and territories disestablished in the 3rd century]]
[[Category:Former countries in West Asia]]
[[Category:Rulers of Atropatene| ]]
[[Category:History of Azerbaijan (Iran)]]
[[Category:Dynasties in Persia and Iran]]
[[Category:Atropatene| ]]
[[Category:Former kingdoms]]