Page:Political History of Parthia.pdf/283

Rh invited Parthamaspates to a secret conference at night, and as a result Sanatruces was defeated by his cousin, pursued, captured, and killed. To complete this diplomatic victory Trajan called together at Ctesiphon the Parthians (of the pro-Roman party?) and the Romans in the locality, appointed Parthamaspates as king, and placed a diadem on his head. The event is represented on coins inscribed.

The death of Sanatruces did not end opposition to the Romans in Armenia, for a son of Sanatruces named Vologases (II?) was able to force L. Catilius Severus, governor of that province, into such a position that just before the crucial battle Vologases demanded and received an armistice. Trajan sent envoys to him and granted him a portion of Armenia in return for peace. The situation in which Severus found himself was thus cleared up, and the danger which threatened to make Trajan's withdrawal from Mesopotamia impossible was removed.