Page:Political History of Parthia.pdf/57

Rh ak (near Kuchan in the upper Atrek River valley) in Astauene. For the first years of the new kingdom, if such it might be called, the rulers were busy with warfare, in the course of which Arsaces must have lost his life. Not long after the succession of Tiridates to the throne he invaded and conquered Hyrcania.

The death of Diodotus calmed any fears which Tiridates may have had, and an alliance with the Bactrian's son, also called Diodotus, gave the Parthian ruler additional strength. Through fear of the elder Diodotus and of Seleucus II Callinicus (247–226 ), Tiridates had built a formidable military force, the value of which he was to appreciate later. The situation had become extremely serious for Seleucus. Laodice his mother and her friends had