se
that brought about the first. Artabanus was undoubtedly a harsh
ruler; and those who fell under his displeasure, naturally fearing his
severity, and seeing no way of meeting it but by a revolution, were
driven to adopt extreme measures. Something like a general combination
of the nobles against him seems to have taken place about the year A.D.
40; and it appears that he, on becoming aware of it, determined to quit
the capital and throw himself on the protection of one of the tributary
monarchs. This was Izates, the sovereign of Adiabene, or the tract
between the Zab rivers, who is said to have been a convert to Judaism.
On the flight of Artabanus to Izates it would seem that the Megistanes
formally deposed him, and elected in his place a certain Kinnam, or
Kinnamus, an Arsacid who had been brought up by the king. Izates, when
he interfered on behalf of the deposed monarch, was met by the objection
that the newly-elected prince had rights which could not be set
aside. The difficulty appeared insuperable; but it was overcome by the
voluntary act of Kinnamus, who wrote to Artabanus and offered to retire
in his favor. Hereupon Artabanus returned and remounted his throne,
Kinnamus carrying his magnanimity so far as to strip the diadem from his
own brow and replace it on the head of the old monarch. A condition of
the restoration was a complete amnesty for all political offences, which
was not only promised by Artabanus, but likewise guaranteed by Izates.

It was very shortly after his second restoration to the throne that
Artabanus died. One further calamity must, however, be noticed as having
fallen within the limits of his reign. The great city of Seleucia, the
second in the Empire, shortly after it had experienced the troubles
above narrated, revolted absolutely from the Parthian power, and
declared itself independent. No account has reached us of the
circumstances which caused this revolt; but it was indicative of
a feeling that Parthia was beginning to decline, and that the
disintegration of the Empire was a thing that might be expected. The
Seleucians had at no time been contented with their position as Parthian
subjects. Whether they supposed that they could stand alone, or whether
they looked to enjoying under Roman protection a greater degree of
independence than had been allowed them by the Parthians, is uncertain.
They revolted however, in A. D. 40, and declared themselves a
self-governing community. It does no