Sykes' History of Persia - Heritage Institute

CH. XXXIII THE STRUGGLE FOR ARMENIA 403
of strength between the two great powers, when the situation
was entirely changed owing to the murder of Phraates
by his son Phraataces— the word is a diminutive of
Phraates— the child of his old age, whose mother was
an Italian slave called Musa. The parricide seized the
throne, and although Augustus at one time refused to
recognize him, it was ultimately arranged that he
should meet Caius on an island in the Euphrates. This
historical interview took place in a.d. i, and Phraataces,
whose position must have been particularly insecure, agreed
to withdraw entirely from the affairs of Armenia. On
these terms, which were loyally observed, a treaty was
made, and celebrated by a series of magnificent festivities.
Phraataces^ Vonones, and Artahanus III.— Phraataces
was hated by his subjects, partly at any rate owing to the
official honours paid to his mother, whose effigy was placed
on the coinage. Before long he was put to death, as
was also his successor Orodes, who was an Arsacid elected
to succeed to the throne. The Megistanes then applied to
Rome for Vonones, the eldest son of Phraates, who was
sent back to Parthia. At first he was warmly welcomed,
but his foreign habits and his foreign favourites, whom
he promoted to most of the high posts, brought him
unpopularity, which was increased by his dislike of hunting
and drinking bouts. A revolt soon broke out, on this
occasion in favour of an Arsacid, named Artabanus, who
was King of Media Atropatene. His first effort failed,
but at a second attempt he drove Vonones out of the
country. The refugee monarch fled to Armenia, where
the throne was vacant, and he was elected King ; but
Artabanus threatened war, and Vonones then quitted
Armenia and fled to Syria, where he was accorded Roman
protection.
Rome^ Parthia^ and Armenia^ a.d. 18-35.—Rome now
stepped in again to assert her suzerainty over Armenia,
and Germanicus, the nephew of Tiberius, was sent on an
extraordinary mission to the East, where he arrived in
A.D. 18. He at once marched with a large force to
Artaxata and there selected a foreign prince acceptable to
the Armenians, and proclaimed him King under the name