The Seven Great Monarchies Of The Ancient Eastern World, Vol 6: Parthia: The History, Geography, And Antiquities Of Chaldaea, Assyria, Babylon, Media, Persia, Parthia, And Sassanian or New Persian Empire; With Maps and Illustrations.Rawlinson, George
History
The Seven Great Monarchies Of The Ancient Eastern World, Vol 6: Parthia: The History, Geography, And Antiquities Of Chaldaea, Assyria, Babylon, Media, Persia, Parthia, And Sassanian or New Persian Empire; With Maps and Illustrations.
Volagases, meanwhile, continued his march. The small force left by
Paetus to block his progress was easily overpowered, and for the most
part destroyed. The castle of Arsamosata, where Paetus had placed his
wife and child, and the fortified camp of the legions, were besieged.
The Romans were challenged to a battle, but dared not show themselves
outside their entrenchments. Having no confidence in their leader, the
legionaries despaired and began openly to talk of a surrender. As the
danger drew nearer, fresh messengers had been despatched to Corbulo, and
he had been implored to come at his best speed in order to save the poor
remnant of a defeated army. That commander was on his march, by way
of Commagene and Cappadocia; it could not be very long before he would
arrive; and the supplies in the camp of Paetus were sufficient to have
enabled him to hold out for weeks and months. But an unworthy terror had
seized both Paetus and his soldiers. Instead of holding out to the last,
the alarmed chief proposed negotiations, and the result was that he
consented to capitulate. His troops were to be allowed to quit their
entrenchments and withdraw from the country, but were to surrender their
strongholds and their stores. Armenia was to be completely evacuated
by the Romans; and a truce was to be observed and Armenia not again
invaded, until a fresh embassy, which Volagases proposed to send to
Rome, returned. Moreover, a bridge was to be made by the Romans over the
Arsanias, a tributary of the Euphrates, which, as it was of no immediate
service to the Parthians, could only be intended as a monument of the
Roman defeat. Paetus assented to these terms, and they were carried out;
not, however, without some further ignominy to the Romans. The Parthians
entered the Roman entrenchments before the legionaries had left them,
and laid their hands on anything which they recognized as Armenian
spoil. They even seized the soldiers’ clothes and arms, which were
relinquished to them without a struggle, lest resistance should provoke
an outbreak. Paetus, once more at liberty; proceeded with unseemly haste
to the Euphrates, deserting his wounded and his stragglers, whom he left
to the tender mercies of the Armenians. At the Euphrates he effected a
junction with Corbulo, who was but three days’ march distant when Paetus
so gracefully capitulated.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account