The year 129 marked a significant diplomatic rupture when Pharasmanes II, king of the Pharnavazid dynasty, formally refused to travel to meet the emperor Hadrian. This defiance set the tone for his reign over the Kingdom of Iberia, characterized by complex regional alliances, territorial expansion toward the Black Sea, and a notable, if fraught, relationship with neighboring powers.
Reign and Regional Authority
Professor Cyril Toumanoff dates his rule from 116 to 132. Although medieval Georgian annals suggest a diarchy alongside figures such as Pharasmanes Avaz, Rok, and Mihrdat, contemporary scholars largely dismiss these claims as lacking evidence. He was the son of his predecessor, Amazasp I, and maintained marriage ties to Ghadana, the daughter of Vologases I of Armenia.
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Pharasmanes employed the nomadic Alans to influence regional politics, facilitating their passage through his territories to raid neighboring provinces. This maneuver prompted the Armenian leadership to lodge formal complaints in international courts. Despite receiving gifts such as a war elephant and a detachment of fifty men from Hadrian, Pharasmanes remained a source of irritation to the emperor, who allegedly responded to the king's dismissive attitude by dressing criminals in gold-embroidered cloaks gifted by the monarch for display in the arena.
Death and Legacy
The Georgian royal annals recount that the end of his life was orchestrated by external interests. According to these records, a chef commissioned by the Persians was sent to the Iberian court with instructions to introduce a lethal substance into the king's food. This poisoning resulted in his death in 132 in Mtskheta, where he was subsequently buried.
Fast facts
- Born: 0050, Mtskheta
- Died: 0132, Mtskheta
- Dynasty: Pharnavazid
- Spouse: Ghadana
- Father: Amazasp I
- Reign period: 116–132
- Religion: Georgian mythology
Questions readers ask
How did Pharasmanes II die?
According to the Georgian royal annals, he was poisoned by a chef hired by the Persians.
What was his relationship with Hadrian?
The relationship was marked by tension; Pharasmanes refused to pay homage to Hadrian in 129 and facilitated Alan raids on Roman-aligned territories.
Achievements
- King of Iberia
