Antony, the Roman general, in his expedition into Parthia entered into alliance with Artavasdes, the son and successor of Tigranes II, and he was allowed to attack Media through Armenia. Media was dependent on Parthia, at this time (35 B.C.). Ill success compelled him to retreat into Armenia and winter there. Meanwhile, the king of Media, having been provoked by the Parthians, and with the hope of a possible recovery of his country’s independence by the Roman aid, entered into an alliance with the Roman general. Antony, then desiring to reduce Armenia to a vassal state, by enticing Artavasdes to enter into his power, while the Roman legions were stationed at the most important posts in the country which had afforded them such a hospitable shelter during the severe winter, “he (Antony) professed the most friendly feeling towards Artavasdes, even promising an alliance between their families, that prince (Artavasdes), after some hesitation, at length entered into his presence. He was immediately seized and put in chains, and carried off Artavasdes and a rich bounty into Egypt.”[34] Artavasdes was kept in prison for about two years and afterwards beheaded (30 B.C.). According to some his son recovered the country by the aid of the Parthians and was avenged for the wrong done to his father, by massacring all the perfidious Romans found in the country. Armenia, after this, was for a long time in a perpetual turmoil, between the Romans on one side and the Parthians on the other. Almost a hundred years after the death of Ardashes II (21 B.C.-85 A.D.), the condition of the country was most deplorable. The internal dissensions among the nobility of the inhabitants, and the contentions of the Romans and Parthians externally, resulting in the clash of arms often between these two powers. Intrigues and assassinations among the princes and notables, fill the country with horror and the people with misery. A fragment of the great empire of Tigranes II, the northwestern part of Mesopotamia was made a principality, the soldiers and the nobility made Artavasdes’ cousin, Arsham, king, under the protectorate of Rome (33-3 B.C.). The king made Edessa his capital. His son and successor was called Abgarus by the Assyrians. He was contemporary with Christ and was the first Christian Prince (3 B.C.-35 A.D.). In the north Ardashes (III) seems to have a stormy time for a while, but he had a long and useful reign (85-131 A.D.). His three sons successively succeeded him (131-193). FOOTNOTES: [14] Delitzsch, “Commentary on Genesis,” Vol. I, p. 310. [15] Rawlinson, “The Origin of Nations,” p. 183. [16] The dates of this traditional period are uncertain. [17] Lynch, “Armenia,” Vol. II, pp. 71-76. [18] Hall, “The Ancient History of the Near East,” pp. 458-9. [19] Rogers, “History of Babylonia and Assyria,” Vol. II, pp. 171-2. [20] Rogers, “History of Babylonia and Assyria,” Vol. II, pp. 284-5. [21] See p. 41.