Artabanus III ( ''Ardawān''), incorrectly known in older scholarship as Artabanus IV, was a Parthian prince who competed against his brother Pacorus II () for the Parthian crown from 79/80 to 81. Artabanus III's claim to the throne seems to have little support in the Parthian Empire, with the exception of

Babylonia Babylonia (; , ) was an Ancient history, ancient Akkadian language, Akkadian-speaking state and cultural area based in the city of Babylon in central-southern Mesopotamia (present-day Iraq and parts of Kuwait, Syria and Iran). It emerged as a ...

. Artabanus III's most notable action was to give refuge to a

Pseudo-Nero After the emperor Nero committed suicide near the villa of his freedman Phaon (freedman), Phaon in June of 68 AD, various Nero impostors appeared between the autumn of 69 AD and the reign of the emperor Domitian. Most scholars set the number of Ner ...

named Terentius Maximus. Artabanus III initially agreed to lend military aid to Terentius Maximus to capture

Rome Rome (Italian language, Italian and , ) is the capital city and most populated (municipality) of Italy. It is also the administrative centre of the Lazio Regions of Italy, region and of the Metropolitan City of Rome. A special named with 2, ...

, until he found about the real identity of the impostor. Coin mints of Artabanus III disappear after 81, which suggests that Pacorus II had defeated him.

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* (2 volumes) * {{DEFAULTSORT:Artabanus 03 Of Parthia 1st-century Parthian monarchs 81 deaths 1st-century births 1st-century Iranian people