What is Atropatene?
{{Infobox country |conventional_long_name = Atropatene<br />Ātṛpātakāna |common_name = Atropatene |era = [[ancient history|Antiquity]] |status = |status_text = |empire = |government_type = Monarchy |year_start = c. 323 BC |year_end = 3rd century AD |event_start = |date_start = |event_end = |date_end = |event1 = |date_event1 = |event_pre = |date_pre = |event_post = |date_post = |p1 = Macedonian Empire |flag_p1 = |s1 = Parthian Empire |flag_s1 = |image_flag = |flag = |flag_type = |image_coat = |symbol = |symbol_type = |image_map = AtropateneHistoryofIran.png |image_map_caption = Map of Media Atropatene and neighboring countries in 1st century BC |capital = [[Ganzak]] |national_motto = |national_anthem = |common_languages = |religion = |currency = |leader1 = |leader2 = |year_leader1 = |year_leader2 = |title_leader = King }} '''Atropatene''' was an ancient [[kingdom]] that existed in part of what is now Iran. It existed with [[Darius III of Persia]] and [[Alexander the Great]]. It started in the 4th century BCE, in what is now northern Iran. Its capital was Ganzak. It ended as a [[Vassal state|vassal]] kingdom of the [[Parthian Empire|Parthian empire]]. In 226, the [[Sasanian empire]] conquered it. At that time it was probably more of a province of the Parthian empire than a kingdom, even though its rulers were kings. Today, many people see it as a predecessor of the modern state of [[Azerbaijan]]. [[Category:History of Iran]] [[Category:Former countries in the Midd