The Self-Government of Greek Cities and the Local Administration of Parthian Empire

The Greek cities under Parthian rule inherited the legacy of local administration from the Seleucid Empire.Parthian King Mithridates I conquered the Mesopotamian region and the Iranian plateau.Due to factors such as ongoing conquests and political instability,the Greek cities were granted a special autonomous status.After the death of the Parthian king Mithridates Il,the Parthian nobility gained too much power which weakened the central authority,and intense struggles emerged between the elites and the populace within the Greek cities.The Parthian kings began to strengthen their control over the Greek cities by granting the title of“philoi” to local elites,making them the royal agent,thus establishing a relationship of trust.By efectively utilizing the Greek cities'autonomous tradition,the Parthian kings were able to flexibly adjust their relationship to these cities,which proved to be an important approach in improving local governance effectiveness.