The Abgarid dynasty was a dynasty of Nabataean Arab origin. Members of the dynasty, the Abgarids, reigned between 134 BC and AD 242 over the city of Edessa and the Kingdom of Osroene in Upper Mesopotamia. Some members of the dynasty bore Iranian names, while others had Arabic names, including Abgar itself. J.B. Segal notes that the names ending in "-u" are "undoubtedly Nabatean". The Abgarid dynasts spoke "a form of Aramaic".
Following the Battle of Carrhae (53 BC), members of the dynasty pursued a broadly pro-Parthian policy for about two centuries. At the turn of the 2nd century AD, the Romans turned Osroene into a Roman client state. During Caracalla's reign (198–217), most likely in 214, Abgar IX Severus was deposed and Osroene was incorporated as a Roman province (colonia). Thereafter, Abgarid dynasts ruled either only in name or over a limited territory of their former kingdom.
Kings +Kings of Edessa/OsroeneKing Reign CommentsAryu132–127 BC Abdu, son of Maz'ur 127–120 BC Fradasht, son of Gebar'u 120–115 BCBakru I, son of Fradasht 115–112 BC Bakru II, son of Bakru 112–94 BC Ruled aloneBakru II and Ma'nu I94 BC Ruled togetherBakru II and Abgar I Piqa 94–92 BC Ruled togetherAbgar I 92–68 BCRuled aloneAbgar II, son of Abgar I 68–53 BCInterregnum 53–52 BC Ma'nu II 52–34 BC Paqor 34–29 BC Abgar III 29–26 BC Abgar IV Sumaqa 26–23 BC Ma'nu III Saflul 23–4 BC Abgar V Ukkama, son of Ma'nu 4 BC–7 AD 1st tenureMa'nu IV, son of Ma'nu 7–13 AD Abgar V Ukkama 13–50 AD 2nd tenureMa'nu V, son of Abgar 50–57 AD Ma'nu VI, son of Abgar 57–71 AD Abgar VI, son of Ma'nu 71–91 AD Interregnum 91–109 AD Abgar VII, son of Ezad 109–116 AD Interregnum 116–118 AD Yalur (Yalud) and Parthamaspates 118–122 AD Ruled togetherParthamaspates 122–123 AD Ruled aloneMa'nu VII, son of Ezad 123–139 AD Ma'nu VIII, son of Ma'nu 139–163 AD First tenureWa'el, son of Sahru 163–165 AD Installed by the ParthiansMa'nu VIII, son of Ma'nu 165–177 AD Second tenureAbgar VIII the Great, son of Ma'nu 177–212 AD Abgar IX Severus, son of Abgar 212–214 AD Deposed by the Romans; Osroene incorporated as a Roman province (colonia)Ma'nu IX, son of Abgar (?) 214–240 AD Maybe ruled only in nameAbgar X Frahad, son of Ma'nu 240–242 AD Maybe ruled only in name
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