Page:Political History of Parthia.pdf/274

228 Euphrates, had not come with the others to pay his respects to Trajan. The expedition started to move against him; but as soon as he heard that troops were advancing, Sporaces fled, and his chief city, Batnae, was taken.

With the exception of the campaign of Osroes against Manisarus, mentioned above, there is no record of Parthian military movements. What opposition they offered to the Roman advance was apparently made through such faithful vassals as Mebarsapes. Where were the Parthians, and why did they remain inactive? Numismatic evidence provides an answer. The coins struck at the Seleucia-Ctesiphon mint from 105/6 onward show that a constant struggle was in progress between Vologases II and Osroes, with first one and then the other in possession of the mint (cf. p. 216). Pacorus may have been still alive and have been a third factor in the contest. With