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[96]
Moreover, Tiberius sent a letter to Vitellius, and commanded him
to make a league of friendship with Artabanus, the king of Parthia; for
while he was his enemy, he terrified him, because he had taken Armenia
away from him, lest he should proceed further, and told him he should no
otherwise trust him than upon his giving him hostages, and especially his
son Artabanus. Upon Tiberius's writing thus to Vitellius, by the offer
of great presents of money, he persuaded both the king of Iberia and the
king of Albania to make no delay, but to fight against Artabanus; and although
they would not do it themselves, yet did they give the Scythians a passage
through their country, and opened the Caspian gates to them, and brought
them upon Artabanus. So Armenia was again taken from the Parthians, and
the country of Parthis was filled with war, and the principal of their
men were slain, and all things were in disorder among them: the king's
son also himself fell in these wars, together with. many ten thousands
of his army. Vitellius had also sent such great sums of money to Artabanus's
father's kinsmen and friends, that he had almost procured him to be slain
by the means of those bribes which they had taken. And when Artabanus perceived
that the plot laid against him was not to be avoided, because it was laid
by the principal men, and those a great many in number, and that it would
certainly take effect, — when he had estimated the number of those that
were truly faithful to him, as also of those who were already corrupted,
but were deceitful in the kindness they professed to him, and were likely,
upon trial, to go over to his enemies, he made his escape to the upper
provinces, where he afterwards raised a great army out of the Dahae and
Sacre, and fought with his enemies, and retained his principality.
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