Phraates II (also spelled Frahad II; Frahāt) was king of the Parthian Empire from 132 BC to 127 BC. He was the son and successor of Mithridates I (). Because he was still very young when he came to the throne, his mother Rinnu initially ruled on his behalf. His short reign was mainly marked by his war with the Greek Seleucid Empire, who under king Antiochus VII Sidetes () attempted to regain the lands lost to Phraates' father. Initially unsuccessful in the conflict, Phraates II managed to gain the upper hand and defeated Antiochus VII's forces, with the Seleucid himself dying in battle or committing suicide. Phraates II afterwards rushed to the east to repel an invasion by nomadic tribes—the Saka and Yuezhi, where he met his end. He was succeeded by his uncle Artabanus I. Name Phraátēs () is the Greek form of the Parthian Frahāt (𐭐𐭓𐭇𐭕), itself from the Old Iranian *Frahāta- ("gained, earned"). The Modern Persian version is Farhād (). Background Phraates II was born in ; he was the son of Mithridates I, the fifth Parthian king, and a noblewoman named Rinnu, who was the daughter of a Median magnate. Early reign and policy Phraates succeeded his father in 132 BC; due to still being a minor, his mother ruled with him for a few months. Around this period, Phraates gave Darayan I kingship over the southern Iranian region of Persis. Furthermore, he also defeated and captured the Elymais ruler Tigraios and appointed Kamnaskires the Younger on the Elymais throne as a Parthian vassal. Continuing his fathers plan, Phraates II had intentions to conquer Syria, and planned to use his captive—the former Seleucid king (basileus) Demetrius II Nicator—as an instrument against his brother—the new Seleucid king Antiochus VII Sidetes (). According to the 2nd-century Roman historian Justin, Demetrius attempted to escape captivity twice, both times during the reign of Phraates. The first attempt occurred after Mithridates I's death, with the second attempt happening a few years after; War with Antiochus VII Antiochus, well-aware of Phraates II's plans to use his brother against him, invaded the Parthian realm in 130 BC to thwart it. He was reportedly well-received by many magnates, who joined him. After three battles he reclaimed Babylonia. At the same time, the eastern Parthian frontier was invaded by nomads. Antiochus' forces wintered in Parthian territory; before spring, he entered into negotiations with Phraates