Page:Political History of Parthia.pdf/215

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THE CONTEST FOR THE EUPHRATES
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which evidently belonged to Adiabene and hence to the kingdom of Gotarzes. By June, a.d. 42, Vardanes had again advanced to the neighborhood of Seleucia and under guidance of the aristocratic party, then apparently favorable to his candidacy for the throne, the city had voluntarily surrendered.[1] The revolt, which had lasted for seven years, was thus ended.

Philostratus reports that the governor of Syria sent an embassy to Vardanes regarding two villages (in Roman territory near a Zeugma) which the Parthians had recently seized. Because of their lack of importance they were apparently surrendered without a struggle. He states further that Megabates, a brother of the king, saw Apollonius in Antioch.[2]

The Iberian Mithradates, Roman appointee to the throne of Armenia, having proved unsatisfactory to the patron nation, was brought back, imprisoned, and then banished by Caligula.[3] Shortly after the latter's death in 41, his successor Claudius released Mithradates and sent him eastward to regain his kingdom, the throne of which had apparently been vacant for some time and then had been seized by the Parthians. Supported by Roman troops and by Iberians supplied by his brother Pharasmanes, Mithradates defeated the Armenians under Demonax with

  1. He at once began the issue of royal coinage; see McDowell, Coins from Seleucia, p. 189.
  2. Philostratus Vita Apoll. i 31 and 37.
  3. Dio Cass. lx. 8; Seneca De tranquillitate animi 11. 12; Tac. Ann. xi.