t appear that the Romans lent them
any assistance, or broke for their sake the peace established with
Parthia in A.D. 37. The Seleucians had to depend upon themselves alone,
and to maintain their rebellion by means of their own resources. No
doubt Artabanus proceeded at once to attack them, but his arms made no
impression. They were successful in defending their independence during
his reign, and for some time afterwards, although compelled in the
end to succumb and resume a subject position under their own masters.
Artabanus seems to have died in August or September A.D. 42, the year
after the death of Caligula. His checkered reign had covered a space
which cannot have fallen much short of thirty years.

CHAPTER XV.

_Doubts as to the successor of Artabanus III. First short reign of
Gotarzes. He is expelled and Vardanes made king. Reign of Vardanes. His
ivar with Izates. His Death. Second reign of Gotarzes. His Contest with
his Nephew, Meherdates. His Death. Short and inglorious reign of Vonones
II._

There is considerable doubt as to the immediate successor of Artabanus.
According to Josephus he left his kingdom to his son, Bardanes or
Vardanes, and this prince entered without difficulty and at once upon
the enjoyment of his sovereignty. According to Tacitus, the person who
obtained the throne directly upon the death of Artabanus was his son,
Gotarzes, who was generally accepted for king, and might have reigned
without having his title disputed, had he not given indications of a
harsh and cruel temper. Among other atrocities whereof he was guilty
was the murder of his brother, Artabanus, whom he put to death, together
with his wife and son, apparently upon mere suspicion. This bloody
initiation of his reign spread alarm among the nobles, who thereupon
determined to exert their constitutional privilege of deposing an
obnoxious monarch and supplying his place with a new one. Their choice
fell upon Vardanes, brother of Gotarzes, who was residing in a distant
province, 350 miles from the Court. [PLATE II. Fig. 8.] Having entered
into communications with this prince, they easily induced him to quit
his retirement, and to take up arms against the tyrant. Vardanes was
ambitious, bold and prompt: he had no sooner received the invitation of
the Megistanes than he set out, and, having accomplished his journey to
the Court in the space of two days, found Gotarzes wholly unprepared to
offer resistance. Thus Vardanes