Gotarzes II

This article is about the sixteenth King of Pars. For the sixth King, see Gotarzes I.

Gotarzes II
Name
Japanese:	ゴタルゼス 二世
Romaji:	Gotaruzesu Nisei
Biographical Information
Titles:	King of Pars
Language:	Parsian
Birth:	P.E. 240
Rule:	unknown - P.E. 301
Death:	P.E. 301 (aged 61)
Family
House:	House of Kaykhusraw
Parentage:	Yazdegerd II, father
Children:	Osroes V, Andragoras III and Hilmes
Physical Description
Gender:	Male

Gotarzes II was the sixteenth King of Pars and the father of Osroes V, Andragoras III and Hilmes.

Personality

Gotarzes was a man of justice and courage, fair to the nobles and merciful to the slaves. However, he also was too superstitious, which worsened in his later years.

History

When Gotarzes was young, he received a prophecy about his royal bloodline, which stated, that the bloodline would be cut off by the son of Gotarzes. To counter this, he gave the name "Osroes" to his first son and "Andragoras" to his second son, since in Parsian history, Andragoras II reigned after Osroes IV. So, even if Osroes V died early, his younger brother Andragoras III could ascend the throne. And things just went as he predicted.

However, Gotarzes did not give up, as Andragoras had no younger brother. Then, another prophecy was brought to him: if the wife of his eldest son, Osroes, gave birth to a son, he could succeed Andragoras as the king of Pars. But it would have to be the son of Gotarzes. And so it happened. Hilmes was born to Gotarzes II and Osroes V's wife, thus being the half-brother of Osroes and Andragoras.

Gotarzes died in the year 301, at the age of 61, and was succeeded by his son Osroes V.

Etymology

Gotarzes is the Hellenized form of Parthian Gōtarz and means "ox-crusher." Its Persian form is Gudarz.

Genealogy

Ohrmazd

Yazdegerd II

GOTARZES II 240 - 301

Osroes V 274 - 304 †

Tahamine b. 284

Andragoras III 276 - 321 †

Hilmes 293 - 325 †

Irina d. 324 †

Arslan 306 - 325 †

daughter unknown