Frataraka

[8] Several rulers have been identified as belonging to Fratarakā dynasty (from the title prtrk' zy alhaya, or "governor of the gods" on their coins): bgdt (Baydād), rtḥštry (Ardaxšīr I), whwbrz (Vahbarz, who is called Oborzos in Polyenus 7.40), and wtprdt (Vādfradād I).

This event is often used to describe some kind of adversary relationship between the ruler of Persis and the Seleucid Empire during the 3rd or 2nd centuries BCE, and possibly a fight for independence.

[19][5] Pliny writes: "Noumenios, who was made governor of Mesene by king Antiochos, while fighting against the Persians, defeated them at sea, and at low water, by land, with an army of cavalry, on the same day; in memory of which event he erected a twofold trophy on the same spot, in honour of Jupiter and Neptune"During an apparent transitional period, corresponding to the reigns of Vādfradād II and another uncertain king, no titles of authority appeared on the reverse of their coins.

171-138 BC) took control of Persis, he left the Persian dynasts in office and they were allowed to continue minting coins with the title of mlk ("King").

[4] It is during their rule that the Greek words "drachma" and "denanos" entered the Persian language, to become today's "dirham" and "denar".

[4] The honorific "of the gods" (Aramaic zy Thy) on their coinage may be related to the Seleucid practice of deifying their kings.

This interpretation suggest that the rulers in question were priest-kings, whose role was mainly to maintain the sacred fire in Persepolis.

[4] Alternatively the title may be derived from the Aramaic prlrk, used to designate an Achaemenid official in Egypt, a subordinate to a Satrap, equivalent to a "prefect, governor" who would have own his position to the Seleucids.

But Alram and historian Wiesehofer all pointed to later dating iconographically and epigraphically, and also based on the seamless continuation of their coinage from the first series to second and so on.

Some scholars such as Museler, Sarkhosh Curtis, Hoover, Engles and Mahdi TF Ahrabi believe they have started ruling by 3rd century BC, and there is plenty of evidence produced by researchers pointing to it.

The first date of 295 BCE corresponds to the destruction of Pasargadae, which marks the end of Seleucid coinage in Susa.

[23] On the contrary, various sources, such as the account of the visit of Antiochus III to the city of Antiochia in Persis in 205 BCE, as well as archaeological evidence, seem to suggest continuous Seleucid rule in the region.

Map of Persis
Bagadates I was the first recorded Frataraka . [ 9 ]
Drachm of Vahbarz / Oborzos , showing on the reverse an Achaemenid king slaying an armoured, possibly Greek or Macedonian, soldier. [ 5 ] [ 15 ] [ 16 ]
Vādfradād II (Autophradates II). A transitional ruler, sometimes using the Frataka inscription (as here), or no inscription at all, and not yet using the title of mlk ("King").
Frataraka dynasty ruler Vadfradad I (Autophradates I). 3rd century BC. Istakhr (Persepolis) mint. Head of ruler with mustache and earring, wearing diadem and kyrbasia / rtrk’ up outer left from bottom, br up inner left from bottom, wtprdt p in exergue, zy ’l’ down outer right. Fire temple of Ahura-Mazda; above, half-figure of Ahura-Mazda; to inner left, Vādfradād standing right; standard to inner right. [ 21 ] The headgear is a combination of a satrapal tiara , and the Hellenistic diadem of a ruler. [ 22 ]
Dārēv I (Darios I) used for the first time the title of mlk (King). 2nd century BC.
Faravahar on a coin of Vādfradād I (Autophradates I).