by Peter Darman
Aliyeh smiled as she moved one of her pieces over one, two and three of her son’s, removing them from the board. Darius’ brow creased in consternation.
‘Phraates’ gaze has been focused on Armenia to the detriment of the east of the empire, a fact not lost on those kings currently battling Kushan incursions,’ said his mother. ‘Those kings will have noticed how Hatra, Dura and Elymais rallied to your side recently.’
Darius took one of his mother’s pieces but in doing so left two of his own vulnerable, which were quickly captured by Aliyeh.
‘Those kingdoms will never move against Phraates, mother.’
‘No, indeed,’ agreed Aliyeh, ‘but whether they fight for him is another matter.’
She captured two more of his pieces.
‘We may yet see Media’s fortunes restored,’ she said.
Darius looked at the board now holding few of his pieces.
‘I fail to see how.’
She captured a further two pieces. ‘By inviting another to become king of kings.’
Aliyeh was still awake when most of the palace was asleep, sitting in her bedchamber by the light of a single oil lamp. Outside only the sound of crickets disturbed the peace of the night. A moth flew around the flame of the lamp, its wings flapping wildly. She picked up the stylus, dipped it in the inkpot and began writing.
To my dear friend King Tiridates…
Historical notes
Mark Antony’s second campaign in Parthia was conducted in the shadow of a strengthened Octavian preparing his forces in the west for a final showdown with the co-rulers of the eastern Roman Empire. The disaster at Phraaspa had dented Antony’s prestige as well as costing him thousands of troops, so his return to Armenia was to exact vengeance on the man who had deserted him during that campaign: King Artavasdes of Armenia. After capturing the king and his family, Antony had little difficulty overrunning Armenia, notwithstanding Prince Artaxias escaping the capital and raising an army to fight the Romans, which was speedily crushed by Antony’s forces. Artaxias then fled to the Parthians for sanctuary.
We do not know the reason for the dispute between King of Kings Phraates and the King of Media, but it resulted in the latter seeking the friendship of Mark Antony. This resulted in the marriage of the king’s daughter Iotapa to Antony’s son Alexander Helios. Both were around six years old at the time. After the defeat of his father at the Battle of Actium, Octavian took Alexander Helios to Rome where along with Antony’s two other children by Cleopatra, Cleopatra Selene and Ptolemy Philadelphus, they were cared for by Antony’s former Roman wife, Octavia. Alexander died at the age of 15, leading some to believe he was murdered on Octavian’s orders. Ptolemy Philadelphus also disappeared from history, though Cleopatra Selene later married King Juba of Mauretania, giving birth to at least one child, named Ptolemy Philadelphus in honour of her brother.
Princess Iotapa fared better, being taken to Alexandria by Mark Antony but finding her way back to Media after the Battle of Actium. She ended up marrying the ruler of the small, semi-independent Kingdom of Commagene, which was located between Syria and Armenia.
While the Romans supported Media, Phraates was unable to take the offensive but as soon as Mark Antony withdrew the bulk of his forces in 32BC the Parthian king of kings attacked. He overran Armenia and installed Artaxias as its ruler, thereafter the realm becoming a client kingdom of Parthia. Artavasdes, his father, never returned to his homeland, being executed by Cleopatra following his participation in a triumph in Alexandria to celebrate Mark Antony’s conquest of Armenia.
The Battle of Actium in 31BC was a watershed moment in the history of Rome, bringing to an end the great Roman Civil War and signalling the end of the Roman Republic. The victorious Octavia pursued Mark Antony and Cleopatra to Alexandria, where he suffered a narrow defeat at the hands of Mark Antony in July 30BC. However, Octavian, possessing greater numbers, launched a second assault that was successful, resulting in both Mark Antony and Cleopatra committing suicide. This left Octavian the undisputed master of the Roman world and he proceeded to consolidate his position. In 27BC he founded the principate, a monarchical system headed by an emperor holding power for life. He took the name Augustus, meaning ‘lofty’, and ruled for over 40 years, dying in 14AD.
One man the Roman emperor had to thank for his good fortune against Mark Antony was Quintus Dellius. The close friend of the husband of Cleopatra went over to Octavian on the eve of Actium, taking Mark Antony’s battle plans with him. He justified the desertion of his friend by claiming that Cleopatra was plotting to murder him, which if she had got wind of his treachery was probably correct. Needless to say, after Actium Quintus Dellius was high in Octavian’s favour.
For Parthia, the triumph of Octavian signalled the beginning of a new era in relations with Rome. For 40 years Roman armies had either crossed the Euphrates or marched via Armenia to conquer the Parthian Empire. But Augustus Caesar tried a new strategy: to triumph by diplomatic means rather than military methods. After decades of strife with Rome, Phraates could have used the opportunity to consolidate his reign and deal with the Kushan threat in the east. Alas, the high king’s character meant it was not to be and as peace broke out in the Roman world, conflict erupted in Parthia.