At an unknown date in the 20 BCs, Ariobarzanes II succeeded his relative Asinnalus as king of Media Atropatene and little is known on his reign.
The Armenian monarchs of the Artaxiad dynasty, Tigranes IV and Erato, instigated war with the aid of King Phraates V of Parthia.
[9] Ariobarzanes II served as a loyal Roman client king and was used as a key element in Augustus’ Asian policy.
[10] Ariobarzanes II made Artagira his capital city when he ruled Armenia and Media Atropatene together.
[5] The Armenians eventually came to respect Ariobarzanes II as their king because of his noble personality, spirit[3] and his physical beauty.