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Rh Phraates soon turned his arms against the peoples who dwelt in the Elburz range, south of the Caspian Sea. The Mardians in particular he deported and settled in Charax near the Caspian Gates. Not long after this victory Phraates died and left the throne to his brother Mithradates, for whom he cherished a special affection, although he had several sons presumably of age. If we follow the traditional date, Mithradates came to the throne about 171 ; with his accession we enter one of the greatest periods of Parthian history.

About 175 the usurper Eucratides wrested control of Bactria from Demetrius, who was more inter­ested in his conquests in the Punjab. Taking advantage of Bactrian weakness which had doubtless resulted from continued warfare, Mithradates may have invaded Tapuria and Traxiana at this time.