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POLITICAL HISTORY OF PARTHIA

in Hyrcania had now reached such a stage as to be utterly hopeless or Vologases considered that this invasion of Adiabene was of sufficient importance to warrant his departure from the Hyrcanian front. Murmurs in Parthia from discontented nobles were encouraged by Tiridates, deposed king of Armenia, who felt that his brother, Vologases of Parthia, had not assisted him sufficiently. Monobazus, ruler of invaded Adiabene, contemplated surrender to the Romans rather than capture by Tigranes. Vologases called a council of the nobles and reaffirmed his brother's rights to Armenia. His own cavalry he turned over to Monaeses, a Parthian noble, with orders to co-operate with Monobazus and the forces of Adiabene in driving Tigranes from Armenia, while he planned to abandon the contest with Hyrcania and to threaten Syria with the main Parthian force.[1] Corbulo dispatched to Armenia under Severus Verulanus and Vettius Bolanus two legions,[2] perhaps the IV Scythica and the XII Fulminata, and placed on the Euphrates the III Gallica, the VI Ferrata, and the X Fretensis, all of which he augmented by levies. All the crossings were defended, and water supplies carefully guarded. In view of the serious situation, Corbulo requested of Nero that an additional commander be sent to take charge of Armenia.

Tigranes anticipated trouble with the Parthians

  1. Tac. Ann. xv. 2; Dio Cass. lxii. 20.
  2. Statius Silvae v. 2. 32 ff. mentions the activities of Bolanus.