GOTARZES II

died AD 51 king of Parthia (reigned c. AD 38-51). Gotarzes killed his brother Artabanus, but a second brother, Vardanes, was able to expel him to the province of Hyrcania. Although fear of the nobles reconciled the two for a time, they soon renewed their fighting, which continued until Vardanes' murder (c. 47). Thereafter Gotarzes ruled unopposed. Later, another rival, the Roman nominee Meherdates, was defeated near Karafto in Kurdistan. Not long afterward, however, Gotarzes died either by assassination or of disease.