Hyspaosines

Hyspaosines
Coin of Hyspaosines as King, minted at Charax Spasinu in 126/5 BC
King of Characene
Reign	c. 141–124 BC
Successor	Apodakos
King of Babylon
Reign	127 BC
Predecessor	Artabanus I
Successor	Artabanus I
Born	c. 209 BC
Died	11 June 124 BC (aged 85)
Spouse	Thalassia
Father	Sagdodonacus

Hyspaosines (also spelled Aspasine) was the founder of Characene, a kingdom situated in southern Mesopotamia. He was originally a Seleucid satrap installed by king Antiochus IV Epiphanes (r. 175 – 164 BC), but declared independence in 141 BC after the collapse and subsequent transfer of Seleucid authority in Iran and Babylonia to the Parthians. Hyspaosines briefly occupied the Parthian city of Babylon in 127 BC, where he is recorded in records as king (šarru). In 124 BC, however, he was forced to acknowledge Parthian suzerainty. He died in the same year, and was succeeded by his juvenile son Apodakos.