For Vologeses, thinking that an opportunity
presented itself of invading
Armenia, which, though
the possession of his ancestors, was now through a monstrous crime held by a
foreign prince, raised an army and prepared to establish Tiridates on the
throne, so that not a member of his house
might be without kingly power. On the
advance of the Parthians, the Iberians dispersed without a battle, and the
Armenian cities,
Artaxata and
Tigranocerta, submitted to the yoke. Then a frightful
winter or deficient supplies, with pestilence arising from both causes,
forced Vologeses to abandon his present plans.
Armenia was thus again without a king, and was invaded
by Rhadamistus, who was now fiercer than ever, looking on the people as
disloyal and sure to rebel on the first opportunity. They however, though
accustomed to be slaves, suddenly threw off their tameness and gathered
round the palace in arms.
