Editing Mithridates II of Parthia (section)

== Death and succession ==
Mithridates II's last years of rule took place in a period coined in scholarship as the "[[Parthian Dark Age]]", which refers to a period of three decades in the history of Parthian Empire starting from the death (or last years) of Mithridates II. It is referred to as a "Dark Age" due to the lack of clear information on the events of this period in the empire, except a series of, apparently overlapping, reigns.<ref>{{harvnb|Shayegan|2011|pp=188–189}}; {{harvnb|Sellwood|1976|p=2}}; {{harvnb|Mørkholm|1980|p=33}}</ref> It is only with the beginning of the reign of [[Orodes II]] in {{circa|57 BC}}, that the line of Parthian rulers can again be reliably traced.{{sfn|Sellwood|1976|p=2}} Coins, reliefs and [[Babylonian astronomical diaries]] label [[Gotarzes I|Gotarzes]] as the son and heir of Mithridates II.{{sfn|Shayegan|2011|p=225}}{{sfn|Rezakhani|2013|p=770}} According to a heavily damaged relief at [[Mount Behistun|Behistun]], Gotarzes had served as "satrap of satraps" under his father.{{sfn|Shayegan|2011|p=225}}{{sfn|Rezakhani|2013|p=770}} After the death of Mithridates II in 91 BC, Gotarzes was proclaimed king at [[Babylon]].{{sfn|Assar|2006|p=62}}