respects from the ordinary Parthian type. He
was perhaps even more cruel than the bulk of the Arsacidae, though his
treatment of Meherdates showed that he could be lenient upon occasion.
He was more prudent than daring, more politic than brave, more bent on
maintaining his own position than on advancing the power or dignity
of his country. Parthia owed little or nothing to him. The internal
organization of the country must have suffered from his long wars with
his brother and his nephew; its external reputation was not increased by
one whose foreign expeditions were uniformly unfortunate.

The successor of Gotarzes was a certain Vonones. His relationship to
previous monarchs is doubtful--and may be suspected to have been remote.
Gotarzes had murdered or mutilated all the Arsacidse on whom he could
lay his hands; and the Parthians had to send to Media upon his disease
in order to obtain a sovereign of the required blood. The coins of
Vonones II. are scarce, and have a peculiar rudeness. The only date
found upon them is one equivalent to A.D. 51; and it would seem that
his entire reign was comprised within the space of a few months. Tacitus
tells us that his rule was brief and inglorious, marked by no important
events, either prosperous or adverse. He was succeeded by his son,
Volagases I., who appears to have ascended the throne before the year
A.D. 51 had expired.

CHAPTER XVI.

_Reign of Volagases I. His first attempt on Armenia fails. His quarrel
with Izates. Invasion of Parthia Proper by the Dahce and Sacce. Second
attack of Volagases on Armenia. Tiridates established as King. First
expedition of Corbulo. Half submission of Volagases. Revolt of Vardanes.
Second expedition of Corbulo. Armenia given to Tigranes. Revolt of
Hyrcania. Third attack of Volagases on Armenia. Defeat of Paitus,
and re-establishment of Tiridates. Last expedition of Corbulo, and
arrangement of Terms of Peace. Tiridates at Rome. Probable time of the
Death of Volagases._

Vonones the Second left behind him three sons, Volagases, Tiridates, and
Paeorus. It is doubtful which of them was the eldest, but, on the whole,
most probable that that position belonged to Paeorus. We are told that
Volagases obtained the crown by his brothers yielding up their claim to
him, from which we must draw the conclusion that both of them were his
elders. These circumstances of his accession will account for much of
his subsequent conduct. It happened tha