eded in reducing his brother to this condition,
and obtained a general acknowledgment of his claims, found himself
almost immediately in circumstances of much difficulty. From the moment
of his accession, Caracallus had exhibited an inordinate ambition; and
this ambition had early taken the shape of a special desire for the
glory of Oriental conquests. The weak and dissolute son of Severus
fancied himself, and called himself, a second Alexander; and thus he was
in honor bound to imitate that hero's marvellous exploits. The extension
of the Roman territory towards the East became very soon his great
object, and he shrank from no steps, however base and dishonorable,
which promised to conduce towards the accomplishment of his wishes. As
early as A.D. 212 he summoned Abgarus, the tributary king of Osrhoene,
into his presence, and when he unsuspectingly complied, seized him,
threw him into prison, and declaring his territories forfeited,
reduced them into the form of a Roman province. Successful in this bold
proceeding, he attempted to deal with Armenia in the same way; but,
though the monarch fell foolishly into the trap set for him, the nation
was not so easily managed. The Armenians flew to arms on learning
the imprisonment of their king and royal family; and when, three year
afterwards (A.D. 215), Caracallus sent a Roman army under Theocritus,
one of his favorites, to chastise them, they inflicted a severe defeat
on their assailant. But the desire of Caracallus to effect Oriental
conquests was increased, rather than diminished, by this occurrence. He
had sought a quarrel with Parthia as early as A.D. 214, when he demanded
of Volagases the surrender of two refugees of distinction. The rupture,
which he courted, was deferred by the discreditable compliance of the
Great King with his requisition.

Volagases surrendered the two unfortunates; and the Roman Emperor was
compelled to declare himself satisfied with the concession. But a year
had not elapsed before he had devised a new plan of attack and proceeded
to put it in execution.

Volagases V. was about this time compelled to yield the western capital
to his brother; and Artabanus IV. became the representative of Parthian
power in the eyes of the Romans. Caracallus in the summer of A.D.
215, having transferred his residence from Nicomedia to Antioch, sent
ambassadors from the last-named place to Artabanus, who were to present
the Parthian monarch with presents of unusual