Osroes I

Osroes I
Hero information
Introduced in	Age of Empires: Return of Rome
Hero type	Heavy Horse Archer
Statistics
Hit points	140
Regeneration	30 hit points per minute
Pierce attack	10
Reload time	1.5
Range	7
Melee armor	0
Pierce armor	2
Armor class	Mounted units Archers Hero
Speed	2.2
Line of Sight	9
Ability	Cannot be converted

“	We are not too dissimilar, Trajan! Were you not Roman and I not Parthian, we may have been friends – but fate delights in setting ambitious men at each other’s throats.	”
—Dialogue in An Old Enemy

Osroes I is a hero unit in Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition - Return of Rome. He has the appearance of a Heavy Horse Archer, and like them he too is mounted and ranged.

History

Osroes I (also spelled Khosrow I; Parthian: 𐭇𐭅𐭎𐭓𐭅 Husrōw) was a Parthian contender, who ruled the western portion of the Parthian Empire from 109 to 129, with a one-year interruption. For most of his reign he contended with the rival king Vologases III (reign 110–147) who was based in the eastern provinces. In 116, Osroes I was briefly ousted from his throne at Ctesiphon during an invasion by Roman emperor Trajan, who installed Osroes' son, Parthamaspates. After Trajan's death the following year, Osroes I's rule was reinstated by the Parthian nobility. In 129, he was removed from power by Vologases III.

He ascended to the throne during a tumultuous period in Parthian history and faced numerous challenges during his reign. Osroes I is also remembered for his patronage of the arts and his support of the Zoroastrian religion. Despite his accomplishments, his reign was marred by internal conflicts and power struggles, which ultimately led to his overthrow.

Trivia

• In the Russian version, the unit was awkwardly translated into Khosrov. The latter name was borne by several Armenian kings who lived long after the reign of Osroes and his war against Trajan.

Gallery

Osroes as depicted in the Trajan campaign

Coin of Osroes I

The Shami statue seems to have directly inspired Osroes's profile