Bakur, also known as Aurelius Pacorus or Pacorus^[1] (Latinized: Bacurius, Aurelius Pacorus Greek: Αύρήλιος Πάκορος) was a Parthian Prince who served as one of the Kings of Armenia in the 2nd century.

Bakur was a son of the Parthian monarch Vologases IV (r. 147–191).^[2] He is known from a Greek funeral inscription^[3] in Rome^[4] as a dedication from him in honoring the memory of his brother Aurelius Merithates.^[5] In the inscription dedication Bakur describes himself as:

Αύρήλιος Πάκορος βασιλεύς μεγάλης Άρμενίας^[6]

or from the Greek translation

Aurelius Pacorus King of Greater Armenia^[7]

From the inscription it is evident that Bakur's brother lived and died in Rome.^[8] The inscription also shows that Bakur lived for a time in Rome and had friends in Rome.^[9] The name Aurelius points to a close connection with the imperial house^[10] of the Nerva–Antonine dynasty. At some point Bakur and his brother received Roman citizenship^[11] from an emperor of the Nerva–Antonine dynasty, perhaps from Lucius Verus^[12] either before or after Bakur's Armenian Kingship.^[13]

Bakur is known to have ruled Armenia in the second century and is the only Bakur to be appointed as King of Armenia by a ruling King of Parthia who was removed by Lucius Verus.^[14] During the Roman Parthian War of 161-166, Vologases IV of Parthia in 161/162 entered the Roman Client Kingdom of Armenia, expelled the Roman Client Armenian King Sohaemus and installed Bakur as a Parthian Client King of Armenia.^[15][16]

Bakur served as an Armenian King from 161 until 163 when Lucius Verus arrived with the Roman Army in Armenia.^[17] Bakur was dethroned by the Romans when they captured Armenia and the Armenian capital.^[18] After Bakur was dethroned, Sohaemus was reinstalled to his Armenian Kingship.^[19] Bakur's fate is unknown afterwards, however he may have been brought to live in Rome by Lucius Verus.^[20]