Para
the son of Arsaces III. and Olympias. (Tillemont,
Histoire des Empereurs.) No sooner had Sapor seized Arsaces, than he put one Aspacures on the throne of Armenia. Para, the heir and successor of Arsaces, was reduced to the possession of one fortress, Artogerassa (perhaps Artagera, or Ardis, towards the sources of the Tigris, above Diyárbekr or Amida), where he was besieged with his mother Olympias by the superior forces of Sapor.
The fortress surrendered after a gallant defence, Olympias fell into the hands of the conqueror, but Para escaped to Neocaesareia, and implored the aid of the emperor Valens.
The emperor ordered him to be well treated, and promised to assist him. Terentius, a Roman general, led the fugitive king back into Armenia with a sufficient force, and Para was acknowledged as king; and though attacked by Sapor, he continued to reign with the assistance of the Romans. Para was a tyrant. Misled by the intrigues of Sapor, he killed Cylaces and Artabanus, two of his chief ministers. As Valens was dissatisfied with the conduct of the Armenian king, Terentius persuaded him to go to Cilicia, pretending that the emperor wished to have an interview with him. When Para arrived at Tarsus, he was treated with due respect, but so closely watched as to be little better than a prisoner.
He escaped with a body of light cavairy, and swimming across the Euphrates, arrived safely in Armenia in spite of an ardent pursuit.
He continued to show himself a friend of the Romans, but Valens distrusted him and resolved upon his death. Trajanus, a Roman dux, or general, executed the emperor's secret order.
He invited Para to a banquet, and when the guests were half intoxicated, a band of Roman soldiers rushed in, and Para and his attendents were slain after a brave resistance, A. D. 374 or 377. The Armenian name of Para is Bab. (
Amm. Marc. 27.12,
30.1.)
