Military Campaigns
In 171 BC, Phraates gathered troops and created a campaign. The campaign was planned many years ahead, when Phraates and his advisors found it important to invade the kingdoms and countries nearby. The motto of the campaign was Jegde dorte revyn sqetscius, which was a battle-cry, especially used in the areas around Media.
At the beginning of his campaign he subjugated Amardi, a mountainous tribe in Elburz, and Starangians, a nomadic people living South-East of Parthia.
Afterwards, he left North with the rest of the campaign, that consisted of 1000 men, women and horses/donkeys. His campaign had problems with logistics, and was caught up during the autumn in 171 BC, just prior to what they had planned. Because of this, Phraates gained time to build war machines that he or others could use. He then chose to get rid of these because of the logistics problems.
Hence Phraates planned to subjugate parts of Media, and especially the foundation wall of the Haron fortress, which was built on peak nearby. Before Phraates got there, the Scythians had allied with the rest of the Mardi, and surprised Phraates with an ambush around the walls of Media. Phraates got an arrow in his stomach, and died young, but just before his death, he didn’t appoint one of his sons, but his brother, a wise general, Mithridates I. Mithridates managed to escape from the ambush, and presumably made it back to Media in safety.
Read more about this topic: Phraates I Of Parthia
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