About Abgar II
Lived 1000 BC – 53 BC. Abgar II was a sovereign.
Abgar II was the Abgarid king of Osroene from 68 to 53 BC. Plutarch describes Abgar as a chief of the Arabs. His name as transcribed in Arabic is , which means "one who has a large and prominent navel or stomach".
In 64 BC, he sided with the Romans helping Pompey's legate Lucius Afranius when the latter occupied northern Mesopotamia. However, it was alleged that in 53 BC he helped to betray Marcus Crassus by leading him out onto an open plain resulting in the Battle of Carrhae against the Parthians, which led to the destruction an entire Roman army. What is certain is that he gained no benefits from the battle since, shortly afterwards, he was deposed by Orodes II in a move which strengthened Parthian control over the region.
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Important facts
People in Abgar II's life
Named in this biography and alive at the same time
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped Abgar II's
Frequently asked questions
Who was Abgar II?
1st-century BC king of Osroene
When was Abgar II born?
Abgar II was born in 1000 BC.
When did Abgar II die?
Abgar II died in 53 BC.
What was Abgar II's occupation?
Abgar II was a sovereign.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Abgar II. https://biography.guide/abgar-ii/
MLA: "Abgar II." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/abgar-ii/.
Chicago: "Abgar II." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/abgar-ii/.
Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.
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