Meharaspes, also written as Mebarsapes or Mehrasp, was the Parthian Empire client king of Adiabene in the early 2nd century CE; he was also the last king of an independent Adiabene.[ Abel, Danielle (2005). Early Syro-Mesopotamian Christian Writers, Jews and Judaism: Influence and Reaction (with a Study of a Selection of Aphrahat's Demonstrations) (PhD thesis). University of Manchester.] He was defeated by Trajan in 116; Adiabene was incorporated into the short-lived Roman province of Mesopotamia.
Defeat by Trajan
Mebarsapes' stronghold was in
Adenystrae (suggested as medieval Kızıltepe, though geographically unlikely given the position of the Tigris)
and was besieged by Trajan's forces.
Within the city was a Roman
centurion named Sentius, sent by Trajan as an envoy, who had been jailed by Mebarsapes following his failed diplomatic mission.
Sentius convinced his fellow prisoners to aide in his escape; together, they killed the commander of the stronghold and opened the gates for the besieging Romans, ending what would have otherwise been a lengthy campaign.
The fall of Adenystrae was the final blow for Meharaspes, losing his kingdom. Following the defeat of Adiabene with a single division, a second Roman column continued, unopposed, down the
Tigris to the ruins of the city of
Babylon.
