User:HistoryofIran/List of conflicts involving the Sassanid Empire

Hyspaosines was an Iranian prince, who founded the principality of Characene, ruling from 127 to 124 BC.

Name and background
Hyspaosines is a Hellenized name of Persian or Bactrian origin, possibly derived from the Old Iranian vispa-čanah ("who appreciates all [things]"). Hyspaosines' father, Sagdodonacus, seemingly had a Bactrian name and was presumably of Bactrian origin himself. He had served the local rulers (frataraka) of Persis, who had been able to reign independently for three decades from Seleucid authority, and even briefly seize the region of Characene. The Seleucid ruler Antiochus IV Epiphanes ((r. 175 – 164 BC)) eventually managed to re-establish Greek authority over Persis and Characene, and appointed his general Noumenios as the governor of Characene.

Biography
In 166/5 BC, Hyspaosines was appointed governor (eparch) of Anti­ochia (Charax Spasinu) by the Seleucid ruler Antiochus IV Epiphanes. His rise to power coincided with the weakening of the Parthian Empire. The Parthian king Phraates II had died fighting the invading nomads in the east of the empire. His successor, Artabanus I was also forced to fight the nomads—the Saka and Yuezhi, and was reportedly compelled to pay them tribute. Hyspaosines, who had recently created the principality of Characene in southern Mesopotamia, took advantage of the Parthian difficulties in the east by proclaiming his independence from Parthian suzerainty. He then went on to seize Babylon (c. 127 B.C), and by 125/4 BC, he controlled parts of Mesopotamia as indicated by coin mints of him.