Atropatene: Map & History
Atropatene, also known as Atropatia or Atropatian Media, was an ancient Iranian kingdom established in c.
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Atropatene, also known as Atropatia or Atropatian Media, was an ancient Iranian kingdom established in c. 323 BC by the Persian satrap Atropates. The kingdom, mostly centered around the present-day Azerbaijan region in northwestern Iran, was ruled by Atropates' descendants until the early 1st-century AD, when the Parthian Arsacid dynasty supplanted them. It was conquered by the Sasanians in 226, and turned into a province governed by a marzban ("margrave"). Atropatene was the only Iranian region to remain under Zoroastrian authority from the Achaemenids to the Arab conquest without interruption, aside from being briefly ruled by the Macedonian king Alexander the Great.
Modern Countries Once Part of Atropatene
At its mapped extent, Atropatene covered territory in 1 present-day country. The period shown is when the mapped borders include that country, and the note says how much of it.
Largest Present-Day Cities in Its Territory
Each opens on the live map inside Atropatene's borders of that time.
Derived by testing mapped cities against this polity's dated territorial polygons, so the list is indicative and follows the borders in the source dataset.
Atropatene in Depth
History
In 331 BC, during the Battle of Gaugamela between the Achaemenid ruler Darius III and Alexander the Great, Medes, Albans, Sakasens, Cadusians fought alongside the army of the Achaemenid Great King in the army of Atropates. After this war, which resulted in the victory of Alexander the Great and the fall of the Achaemenid Empire, Atropates expressed his loyalty to Alexander. In 328-327 BC, Alexander appointed him governor of Media. Following the death of Alexander the Great in 323 BC, the Macedonian's conquests were divided amongst the diadochi at the Partition of Babylon. The former Achaemenid satrapy of Media was divided into two states: The greater (southern) part – Media Magna was assigned to Peithon, one of Alexander's bodyguards.
Legacy
Atropatene was the only Iranian region to remain under Zoroastrian authority from the Achaemenids to the Arab conquest without any interruption, aside from being briefly ruled by the Macedonian king Alexander the Great (r. 336–323 BC). Under the Atropatids, the region successfully managed to gain a dominant place in Zoroastrianism, which would continue into the Sasanian period, whose monarchs favored Median traditions over that of the Parthians. Moreover, Atropatene also served as a stronghold of Iranian culture.
Sections adapted from Wikipedia: Atropatene (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Atropatene: Key Facts
| Capitals | Ganzak, Ardabil |
|---|---|
| Official language | Atropatenian |
| Form of government | monarchy |
| Founded | 323 BCE |
| Dissolved | 226 CE |
Succeeded by
- Azerbaijan (Iran)
Facts from Wikidata Q260437 (CC0).
Atropatene Map Over Time
Dated world maps on which Atropatene appears, with the other states of the time.
Atropatene Timeline
Key historical inflections from foundation to peak territorial expansion
Expansion to peak recorded area of 147,253 km² in 208 BCE.
Atropatene: Frequently Asked Questions
When did Atropatene exist?
Atropatene is dated to 307 BCE – 165 BCE, in the Classical Antiquity era.
What was the capital of Atropatene?
The capital of Atropatene was Ganzak.
How large was Atropatene at its peak?
At its peak in 208 BC Atropatene covered about 147,253 km².