Abgarid dynasty

The Abgarid dynasty was a dynasty of Nabataean Arab origin.^[1][2] Members of the dynasty, the Abgarids, reigned between 134 BC and 242 AD over Edessa and Osroene in Upper Mesopotamia.^[1] Some members of the dynasty bore Iranian names, while others had Arabic names, including Abgar itself.^[3] J.B. Segal notes that the names ending in "-u" are "undoubtedly Nabatean".^[3] The Abgarid dynasts spoke "a form of Aramaic".^[3]

Abgarid
Country	Edessa, Osroene
Founded	134 BC
Current head	Extinct
Final ruler	Abgar X Frahad (only in name)
Dissolution	242 AD

Following the Battle of Carrhae (53 BC), members of the dynasty pursued a broadly pro-Parthian policy for about two centuries.^[3] At the turn of the 2nd century AD, the Romans turned Osroene into a Roman client state.^[3] During Caracalla's reign (r. 198–217), most likely in 214, Abgar IX Severus was deposed and Osroene was incorporated as a Roman province (colonia).^[3] Thereafter, Abgarid dynasts only ruled in name.^[3] Abgar X Frahad, the last nominal Abgarid ruler, settled in Rome together with his wife.^[3]

Kings

Kings of Edessa/Osroene

King	Reign	Comments
Aryu	132–127 BC
Abdu, son of Maz'ur	127–120 BC
Fradasht, son of Gebar'u	120–115 BC
Bakru I, son of Fradasht	115–112 BC
Bakru II, son of Bakru	112–94 BC	Ruled alone
Bakru II and Ma'nu I	94 BC	Ruled together
Bakru II and Abgar I Piqa	94–92 BC	Ruled together
Abgar I	92–68 BC	Ruled alone
Abgar II, son of Abgar I	68–53 BC
Interregnum	53–52 BC
Ma'nu II	52–34 BC
Paqor	34–29 BC
Abgar III	29–26 BC
Abgar IV Sumaqa	26–23 BC
Ma'nu III Saflul	23–4 BC
Abgar V Ukkama, son of Ma'nu	4 BC–7 AD	1st tenure
Ma'nu IV, son of Ma'nu	7–13 AD
Abgar V Ukkama	13–50 AD	2nd tenure
Ma'nu V, son of Abgar	50–57 AD
Ma'nu VI, son of Abgar	57–71 AD
Abgar VI, son of Ma'nu	71–91 AD
Interregnum	91–109 AD
Abgar VII, son of Ezad	109–116 AD
Interregnum	116–118 AD
Yalur (Yalud) and Parthamaspates	118–122 AD	Ruled together
Parthamaspates	122–123 AD	Ruled alone
Ma'nu VII, son of Ezad	123–139 AD
Ma'nu VIII, son of Ma'nu	139–163 AD	First tenure
Wa'el, son of Sahru	163–165 AD	Installed by the Parthians
Ma'nu VIII, son of Ma'nu	165–177 AD	Second tenure
Abgar VIII the Great, son of Ma'nu	177–212 AD
Abgar IX Severus, son of Abgar	212–214 AD	Deposed by the Romans; Osroene incorporated as a Roman province (colonia)[4][3]
Ma'nu IX, son of Ma'nu	214–240 AD	Ruled only in name
Abgar X Frahad, son of Ma'nu	240–242 AD	Ruled only in name

References

1. Ramelli 2018.
2. Sartre 2005, p. 500.
3. Segal 1982, pp. 210–213.
4. Sartre 2005, p. 508.

Sources

• Ramelli, Ilaria L.E. (2018). "Abgarids". In Hunter, David G.; van Geest, Paul J.J.; Peerbolte, Bert Jan Lietaert (eds.). Brill Encyclopedia of Early Christianity Online.
• Sartre, Maurice (2005). "The Arabs and the desert peoples". In Bowman, Alan K.; Garnsey, Peter; Cameron, Averil (eds.). The Cambridge Ancient History: Volume 12, The Crisis of Empire, AD 193-337. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-0521301992.
• Segal, J.B. (1982). "ABGAR". In Yarshater, Ehsan (ed.). Encyclopædia Iranica, Volume I/2: ʿAbd-al-Hamīd–ʿAbd-al-Hamīd. London and New York: Routledge & Kegan Paul. pp. 210–213. ISBN 978-0-71009-091-1.