[219]
AND now, in the fourth year of the reign of Vespasian, it came to
pass that Antiochus, the king of Commagene, with all his family, fell into
very great calamities. The occasion was this: Cesennius Petus, who was
president of Syria at this time, whether it were done out of regard to
truth, or whether out of hatred to Antiochus, (for which was the real motive
was never thoroughly discovered,) sent an epistle to Caesar, and therein
told him that Antiochus, with his son Epiphanes, had resolved to rebel
against the Romans, and had made a league with the king of Parthia to that
purpose; that it was therefore fit to prevent them, lest they prevent us,
and begin such a war as may cause a general disturbance in the Roman empire.
Now Caesar was disposed to take some care about the matter, since this
discovery was made; for the neighborhood of the kingdoms made this affair
worthy of greater regard; for Samoseta, the capital of Commagene, lies
upon Euphrates, and upon any such design could afford an easy passage over
it to the Parthians, and could also afford them a secure reception. Petus
was accordingly believed, and had authority given him of doing what he
should think proper in the case; so he set about it without delay, and
fell upon Commagene before Antiochus and his people had the least expectation
of his coming: he had with him the tenth legion, as also some cohorts and
troops of horsemen. These kings also came to his assistance: Aristobulus,
king of the country called Chalcidene, and Sohemus, who was called king
of Emesa. Nor was there any opposition made to his forces when they entered
the kingdom; for no one of that country would so much as lift up his hand
against them. When Antiochus heard this unexpected news, he could not think
in the least of making war with the Romans, but determined to leave his
whole kingdom in the state wherein it now was, and to retire privately,
with his wife and children, as thinking thereby to demonstrate himself
to the Romans to be innocent as to the accusation laid against him. So
he went away from that city as far as a hundred and twenty furlongs, into
a plain, and there pitched his tents.
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