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224 and then killed him. Trajan declared later that he himself, not Axidares, had taken the decision. There could be no dispute that Axidares had the best right to rule Armenia; it was Parthamasiris who had first broken the agreement, and he had suffered merited punishment.

Meantime Lucius Quietus had been sent with a column against the Mardi, who are supposed to have lived east of Lake Van. They are described as a poor but warlike people, without horses, inhabiting a rough country. Attacked front and rear, they were entirely destroyed, or at least so Arrian reports. Perhaps at this time a Roman guard was left at the boundaries of the Lazi and the Saginae, not far from the "Caspian Gates" (the Iron Gates?).

The conquest of Armenia was still to be accomplished. Trajan took part in this task, administering rebukes and punishments where necessary, sifting false rumors brought in by scouts or even starting them himself so that the army might be ever on the