Vologases I - King of Parthia

Vologases was the greatest of the five kings who would bear his name, although Parthia was troubled throughout his reign on both its eastern and western borders. He was the son of Vonoses II, a one-time monarch of Media Atropatene.

His mother was reportedly a Greek concubine. Vonones was replaced by Vologases in 51, with the consent of his two brothers, Tiridates (of Armenia) and Pacorus, both of whom expected their own kingdoms.

Pacorus was given the ancestral domain of Media, and Tiridates received the often contested realm of Armenia. Parthian armies then swept into Armenia and placed Tiridates in firm control, precipitating over a decade of hostilities with Rome. Corbulo was sent by Nero to the East in 55, and in 58 Tiridates was ousted.

Vologases could not exert his full strength during the crisis because of troubles in the East, but by 62, the Roman client Tigranes V had fallen. Negotiations were favored over battle, despite the Parthian victory over Paetus. Tiridates journeyed to Rome in 66 and was crowned by Nero. Relative peace followed between Parthia and Rome, especially in the reign of Nero.

Vespasian had Vologases’s backing in 69, and the emperor even pondered sending him troops to aid in the defeat of the barbarian Alans. Better relations allowed domestic opportunities, as Vologases founded the city of Vologesia as a rival to Seleucia. He was followed on the throne by his Son Pacorus II.

Vologases II - King of Parthia

Vologases was most likely the weaker co-ruler with Oroses for many years, perhaps administering the eastern affairs of Parthia while Oroses suffered humiliating defeats at the hands of Trajan. When Vologases finally came to the throne himself, he appointed Mithridates IV to take over his duties in the east. He was succeeded by Vologases III.

Vologases III - King of Parthia

His reign was characterized by a renewed struggle with rome. Around 161–162, Vologases declared war on Rome by placing a client king upon the throne of Armenia. Initial brilliant success was gained over the two Roman governors of Cappadocia and Syria, but these triumphs proved only the deteriorated condition of the Eastern Legions.

Lucius Verus launched a massive campaign in 163–164, recapturing Armenia and stretching Roman supremacy once more into Mesopotamia, to Ctesiphon itself. Plague broke out in the Roman ranks, causing retreat in 165. Vologases remained in power until his death.

Vologases IV - King of Parthia

Eager to avenge the Roman defeats inflicted upon his predecessors, but unable to do so, Vologases watched the numerous smaller kingdoms in Mesopotamia, including Adiabene and Osroene, rise against Roman supremacy.

When Emperor Septimius Severus marched into Mesopotamia (c. 197) to subdue the petty domains, capturing Ctesiphon once again, Vologases could not respond, as a short time later the vassal states of his realm erupted. Vologases was succeeded by his son, Vologases V .

Vologases V - King of Parthia

He succeeded his father, Vologases IV, around 207 and reigned until deposed by his brother, Artabanus V, sometime before 224. Parthia was on the verge of internal collapse.

Recognizing his own political weakness, Vologases refused to be drawn into a war with Rome when Emperor Caracalla made threatening gestures in 214–215. His caution, however, could not prevent a palace coup, for Artabanus desired the throne. Vologases was perhaps allowed to retain a minor post, although he had ceased to exert any influence on the affairs of his realm.

Vonones I - King of Parthia

The Son of King Phraates IV and ruler of the Parthian Empire from circa 7 to 12 C.E. Vonones had been one of the children sent to Rome to serve as a hostage of good faith and to prevent his murder at the hands of his own family. As it was, Phraates was assassinated by Phraataces, his adopted son.

There followed a period of instability as Phraataces and his successor, Orodes III, were killed. The Parthian nobility then requested that Vonones assume the throne, but from around 7 to 12 C.E. he ruled with such ineptness and foreign manner that a palace coup was inevitable. Parthian nobles especially resented his Greek habits.

With the connivance of the palace, Artabanus, an Arsacid from Media, launched a rebellion that ultimately ousted Vonones, who fled to Syria and took refuge in Antioch. He lived royally there on the money that he had taken with him and in 16 asked Emperor Tiberius to sanction his seizing the vacant throne of Armenia as a springboard for regaining Parthia.

Tiberius, however, detested him and with Artabanus promising war if Vonones was not restrained, Creticus Silanus, governor of Syria, was ordered to arrest the fallen king. In 18, Germanicus, then administering the Eastern provinces, agreed to a request from Artabanus and moved Vonones to Pompeiopolis in Cicilia.

Knowing that he probably would not live to see another such move, Vonones bribed his guards and fled to Armenia, where the Roman cavalry caught up with him. An officer named Remmius, charged with his safety, ran him through, a death desired by Parthia and Rome.

Vonones II - King of Parthia

Following the demise of King Gotarzes II, the throne of Parthia was vacant, largely because Gotarzes had killed virtually every possible claimant to ensure that no rivals could murder him.

Vonones, the head of the vassal state of Media Atropatene, was given the throne by the Parthian nobility but died after a brief time and was succeeded by his son, Vologases I. Two other sons, Pacorus and Tiridates, eventually became kings of Media Atropatene and Armenia, respectively.

Wallia - King of the Visigoths

Wallia was responsible for their settlement in Roman territory . In September of 415, the Visigoth monarch Athaulf was stabbed to death and replaced by Singeric, a cruel and brief-reigning usurper.

Singeric was also slain, after only a week, and an election was held to find a legitimate successor. The Visigoths chose a little-known warrior, Wallia, who was selected because of his desire to have nothing to do with Rome, ironic given his subsequent actions.

Wallia first restored Galla Placidia, Athaulf ’s Roman widow, to her rightful position of respect within the Visigoth community , making up for the harsh treatment meted out to her by Singeric. The most pressing problem, however, was securing the site of permanent Visigothic settlement.

Spain, their current home, was overcrowded and blockaded by the Roman navy . When ships designed to carry the Visigoths to Africa were wrecked in a storm, Wallia looked northward to Gaul and began negotiations with the Roman government, resulting in a treaty in 416 between Wallia and Constantius III.

The Visigoths pledged to serve as clients or federates of Rome, which meant making war upon the Vandals, Suebi, and Alans in Spain. In return the Visigoths received massive amounts of badly needed corn and, ultimately, permission to take up residence in Gallia Aquitania and large sections of Gallia Narbonensis as well.

Over the next year, Wallia waged relentless war upon the barbarians in Spain and was so successful that by 418 the Visigoths were able to move into Gaul, according to their agreement with the Romans. This was Wallia’s legacy, for he died in 418. He was succeeded by Theodoric I, a grandson of Alaric.

Yazdagird I - King of Persia

Yazdagird’ s reign was noted for its improved relations with Constantinople and its easing of Christian persecutions begun under Shapur II. Considered powerful, Yazdagird was declared an honorary guardian to the young Emperor Theodosius II in the will of Arcadius upon his death in 408.

Yazdagird’ s willingness to protect the dynastic stability of the emperors was taken as a sign of improved relations between Rome and Persia, and in 409 an attempt was made to reestablish trading ties.

Christianity was allowed to flourish in Persian lands, especially Armenia, until the Christian clergy attempted widescale conversions and was suppressed harshly, ending the brief detente in 420. Yazdagird marched off to war but died on the way. His son Varahran V succeeded him.

Yazdagird II - King of Persia

Yazdagird succeeded Varahran V to the throne. He soon made incursions into the Roman portions of Armenia until bought off probably by the Magister Militum, Aspar. Hence forth his reign was characterized by chronic troubles in Armenia, where the Christians refused to be converted to Persian Zoroastrianism and fought to the death.

These pockets of resistance, however, could not entice Constantinople into widening hostilities, mainly because of the threats from the Huns in the West. Yazdagird died, probably in the saddle, in 457 and was followed by Hormazd III.

Zeno - King of Armenia

Zeno was the son of Polemo I, king of Pontus, and his second wife, Pythodoris, with the support and presence of the Armenian nobility, Germanicus crowned Zeno ruler of Armenia in 18 C.E., naming him Artaxias. His accession was greeted with approval, and the Parthians under Artabanus III were too distracted by internal strife to oppose anything in the client state. Zeno’s reign was the most peaceful in Armenian history. When he died in 34, Artabanus was preparing to move against Roman supremacy in the region.