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 that he was able at once to bestow a principality upon Paeorus, to whom he felt specially indebted; but in order adequately to reward his other benefactor, he found it necessary to conquer a province and then make its government over to him.  Hence his frequent attacks upon Armenia, and his numerous wars with Rome for its possession, which led ultimately to an arrangement by which the quiet enjoyment of the Armenian throne was secured to Tiridates.

The circumstances under which Volagases made his first attack upon Armenia were the following.  Pharasmanes of Iberia, whose brother, Mithridates, the Romans had (in A.D. 47) replaced upon the Armenian throne, had a son named Rhadamistus, whose lust of power was so great that to prevent his making an attempt on his own crown Pharasmanes found it necessary to divert his thoughts to another quarter.