62), Phraates lost his life.

He was assassinated by his two sons, Mithridates and Orodes; for what cause we are not told.

Mithridates, the elder of the two, succeeded him (about B.C.

60); and, as all fear of the Romans had now passed away in consequence of their apparently peaceful attitude, he returned soon after his accession to the policy of his namesake, Mithridates II., and resumed the struggle with Armenia from which his father had desisted.
The object of the war was probably the recovery of the lost province of Gordyene, which, having been delivered to the elder Tigranes by Pompey, had remained in the occupation of the Armenians.

Mithridates seems to have succeeded in his enterprise.