Page:The History of Armenia - Avdall - Volume 1.djvu/195

 ISO HISTORY OF ARMENIil.

successful against the enemies of Rome, andl Armenia became again its tributary. Having dis- covered the circumstance of the imprisonment of Tigranes, and commiserating his condition, the Roman general exerted his influence and procured his release.

Pleased with the manners of the unfortunate Armenian monarch, Verus conceived a friend* ship for him, restored him his crown, and bestowed on him in marriage a Roman virgin named Ropua. Tigranes then, accompanied by a Roman general with a few troops, proceeded to his city Artashat. To commemorate this restoration Verus caused medals to be struck, after the manner of those we have recorded of the emperor Antoninus Pius.

A. D. 163. On the arrival of the king in Armenia he erected a temple near the remains of his brother Majan, who was lately deceased, and dedicated it to the gods. Tigranes had four sons by his wife Ropua, whom he created nobles, with the title of Ropuans. Having governed Armenia, in

A. D. 193. all 42 years> he died. Valarsh, the son of Tigranes theThird, by his first wife Memphara, succeeded his father on the throne, and was crowned in the city of Artashat. His mother, it is said, on her being pregnant with him, set out on a visit to the royal gardens, situated at some dis- tance from the capital. It was winter, and

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