consisting of his own subjects, and engaged Vonones, to whom in his
difficulties the bulk of the Parthian people had rallied. The engagement
resulted in the defeat of the Median monarch, who returned to his own
country, and, having collected a larger army, made a second invasion.
This time he was successful. Vonones fled on horseback to Seleucia with
a small body of followers; while his defeated army, following in his
track, was pressed upon by the victorious Mede, and suffered great
losses. Artabanus, having entered Ctesiphon in triumph, was immediately
proclaimed king. Vonones, escaping from Seleucia, took refuge among
the Armenians; and, as it happened that just at this time the Armenian
throne was vacant, not only was an asylum granted him, but he was made
king of the country. It was impossible that Artabanus should tamely
submit to an arrangement which would have placed his deadly enemy in
a position to cause him constant annoyance. He, therefore, at once
remonstrated, both in Armenia and at Rome. As Rome now claimed the
investiture of the Armenian monarchs, he sent an embassy to Tiberius,
and threatened war if Vonones were acknowledged; while at the same time
he applied to Armenia and required the surrender of the refugee. An
important section of the Armenian nation was inclined to grant his
demand; Tiberius, who would willingly have supported Vonones, drew back
before the Parthian threats; Vonones found himself in imminent danger,
and, under the circumstances, determined on quitting Armenia and
betaking himself to the protection of the Roman governor of Syria. This
was Creticus Silanus, who received him gladly, gave him a guard, and
allowed him the state and title of king. Meanwhile Artabanus laid claim
to Armenia, and suggested as a candidate for the throne one of his own
sons, Orodes.

Under these circumstances, the Roman Emperor, Tiberius, who had recently
succeeded Augustus, resolved to despatch to the East a personage of
importance, who should command the respect and attention of the Oriental
powers by his dignity, and impose upon them by the pomp and splendor
with which he was surrounded. He selected for this office Germanicus,
his nephew, the eldest son of his deceased brother, Drusus, a prince of
much promise, amiable in his disposition, courteous and affable in his
manners, a good soldier, and a man generally popular. The more to
strike the minds of the Orientals, he gave Germanicus no usual title or
pro