and Sanatroeces; it is possible, on the other hand, that he had successors and predecessors, whose names have altogether perished.
The expression used by the epitomizer of Trogus, and a few words dropped by Plutarch, render it probable that about this time there were contentions between various members of the Arsacid family which issued in actual civil war.

Such contentions are a marked feature of the later history; and, according to Plutarch, they commenced at this period.

We may suspect, from the great age of two of the monarchs chosen, that the Arsacid stock was now very limited in number, that it offered no candidates for the throne whose claims were indisputable, and that consequently at each vacancy there was a division of opinion among the "Megistanes," which led to the claimants making appeal, if the election went against them, to the arbitrament of arms.
The dark time of Parthian history is terminated by the accession--probably in B.C.

76--of the king above mentioned as known by the three names of Sanatroeces, Sinatroces, and Sintricus.

The form, Sanatroeces, which appears upon the Paithian coins, is on that account to be preferred.