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{{short description|Royal prince of the Kingdom of Iberia}}
{{short description|1st century AD ruler of the Kingdom of Armenia}}
{{Infobox royalty
{{Infobox royalty
| name = Rhadamistus
| name = Rhadamistus
| succession = [[List of Armenian kings|King of Armenia]]
| succession = [[List of Armenian kings|King of Armenia]]
| image = Radamisto in atto di spingere Zenobia ferita nel fiume Arasse, Francesco Alberi, 1812.jpg
| image = Rhadamistus, by Francesco Alberi.jpg
| image_size = 260px
| image_size = 260px
| caption = Rhadamistus flinging Zenobia injured into the River Araxes by [[Francesco Alberi]], 1812
| caption = Rhadamistus by [[Francesco Alberi]]
| coronation =
⚫
| reign = 51–53 <br>54–55
| successor = [[Tiridates I of Armenia|Tiridates I]]
| heir =
⚫
| spouse = [[Zenobia the Iberian|Zenobia]]
⚫
| predecessor = [[Mithridates of Armenia|Mithridates]]<br>[[Tiridates I of Armenia|Tiridates I]]
| coronation =
| issue = unknown son
| heir =
| house = [[Pharnavazid dynasty]]
⚫
| house-type = Dynasty
⚫
| spouse = [[Zenobia the Iberian|Zenobia]]
| royal anthem =
| issue = unknown son
| house = [[Pharnavazid dynasty]]
| father = [[Pharasmanes I of Iberia]]
⚫
| mother = daughter of [[Tigranes IV]]
⚫
| house-type = Dynasty
| royal anthem =
| birth_date =
| father = [[Pharasmanes I of Iberia]]
| birth_place = [[Kingdom of Iberia]]
| death_date = 58
⚫
| mother = daughter of [[Tigranes IV]]
⚫
| death_place = [[Kingdom of Iberia]]
| birth_date =
⚫
| place of burial =
| birth_place = [[Kingdom of Iberia]]
| death_date = 58
| religion =
| reign-type1 = 1st Reign
⚫
| death_place = Kingdom of Iberia
⚫
| reign1 = 51–53
⚫
| place of burial=
| predecessor1 = [[Mithridates of Armenia|Mithridates]]
⚫
| religion =
⚫
| successor1 = [[Tiridates I of Armenia|Tiridates I]]
⚫
|}}
| reign-type2 = 2nd Reign
⚫
'''Rhadamistus''' ({{lang-ka|რადამისტი, radamist'i}}, {{lang-hy|Հռադամիզդ, Hřadamizd}}) (died 58) was a royal prince of the [[Pharnavazid dynasty]]<ref>Toumanoff, p. 11</ref> of the [[Kingdom of Iberia (antiquity)|Kingdom of Iberia]] who reigned over the [[Kingdom of Armenia (antiquity)|Kingdom of Armenia]] from 51 to 53 and 54 to 55. He was considered a [[usurper]] and [[tyrant]], who was overthrown in a rebellion supported by the [[Parthian Empire]].<ref>Crévier, p. 286</ref><ref>Tomlins, p. 735</ref>
⚫
| reign2 = 54–55
| predecessor2 = [[Tiridates I of Armenia|Tiridates I]]
| successor2 = [[Tiridates I of Armenia|Tiridates I]]|
⚫
}}
⚫
'''Rhadamistus''' ({{lang-ka|რადამისტი, radamist'i}}) (died 58) was a royal prince of the [[Pharnavazid dynasty]]<ref>Toumanoff, p. 11</ref> of the [[Kingdom of Iberia (antiquity)|Kingdom of Iberia]] who reigned over the [[Kingdom of Armenia (antiquity)|Kingdom of Armenia]] from 51 to 53 and 54 to 55. He was considered a [[usurper]] and [[tyrant]], who was overthrown in a rebellion supported by the [[Parthian Empire]].<ref>Crévier, p. 286</ref><ref>Tomlins, p. 735</ref>


==Life==
==Life==
Rhadamistus was the eldest son of King [[Pharasmanes I of Iberia]].<ref>Crévier, p. 280</ref><ref>Toumanoff, p. 12</ref><ref>Javakhishvili, p. 159</ref> His mother was an unknown [[Kingdom of Armenia (antiquity)|Armenian]] princess of the [[Artaxiad Dynasty|Artaxiad dynasty]], who was the daughter of the Artaxiad Armenian monarchs [[Tigranes IV]] and his sister-wife [[Erato of Armenia|Erato]]. Rhadamistus was known for his ambition, extraordinary strength, size of body, good looks and valor. Rhadamistus suffered impatiently an aged father's keeping him so long out of possession of the [[Kingdom of Iberia]], which even if he had it, still seemed too small for satisfaction of his desires. Rhadamistus, by publicly talking about it in his audacious manner scared Pharasmanes as with his own declining years he feared usurpation by his son so he convinced Rhadamistus to make war upon his uncle, King [[Mithridates of Armenia]].<ref>Crévier, pp. 280-281</ref> Rhadamistus pretended that he was at feud with his father and stepmother and went to his uncle Mithridates. His uncle received Rhadamistus like a son and with an excessive kindness.<ref>Tacitus, XII, 44</ref> Later as if he reconciled with his father he returned to [[Kingdom of Iberia|Iberia]], telling his father that everything was ready and that he must complete this affair by using his sword. Meanwhile, his father, Pharasmanes invented a pretext for war by recalling when he was fighting with the king of the [[Caucasian Albania|Albanians]] and appealing to the Romans for help, his brother, had opposed him and he would now avenge him because of that.
Rhadamistus was the eldest son of King [[Pharasmanes I of Iberia]].<ref>Crévier, p. 280</ref><ref>Toumanoff, p. 12</ref><ref>Javakhishvili, p. 159</ref> His mother was an unknown [[Kingdom of Armenia (antiquity)|Armenian]] princess of the [[Artaxiad dynasty]], who was the daughter of the Artaxiad Armenian monarchs [[Tigranes IV]] and his sister-wife [[Erato of Armenia|Erato]]. Rhadamistus was known for his ambition, valor, extraordinary strength and size of body, and good looks. Although the [[Kingdom of Iberia]] was too small to satisfy him on its own, he was nonetheless openly impatient to inherit it from his aging father. Pharasmanes, fearing an attempt to usurp the throne, diverted Rhadamistus by convincing him to conquer the [[Kingdom of Armenia (antiquity)|Kingdom of Armenia]], then ruled by Pharasmanes' brother [[Mithridates of Armenia|Mithridates]].<ref>Crévier, pp. 280-281</ref> To conduct reconnaissance, Rhadamistus pretended that he was at feud with his father and stepmother and went to the court of Mithridates, who received him like a son and with an excessive kindness.<ref>Tacitus, XII, 44</ref> Rhadamistus completed his inspection, declared that he had reconciled with his father, and returned to Iberia to set war plans in motion. Meanwhile Pharasmanes had invented a pretext for war: when he was fighting with the king of the [[Caucasian Albania|Caucasian Albanians]] and appealing to the Romans for help, his brother had opposed him, and the conflict was to be called revenge for that opposition.


Pharasmanes gave his son a large Iberian army, who by a [[War between Armenia and Iberia|sudden invasion]] forced Mithridates to take shelter in the fortress of [[Garni|Gorneas]], which was strongly garrisoned by the [[Roman Empire|Romans]] under the command of Caelius Pollio, a camp-prefect, Casperius and a [[centurion]].<ref>Tacitus, XII, 45</ref><ref>Crévier, p. 282</ref> Rhadamistus reminded his uncle of their tie of being relatives, of the seniority in age of his father, and how he himself was the father-in-law of him, as Rhadamistus was married on Mithridates' daughter [[Zenobia of Armenia|Zenobia]]. Rhadamistus told him that the Iberians were not against peace and urged his uncle to conclude a treaty. Pharasmanes by secret messages had recommended Rhadamistus to hurry on the siege by all possible means.<ref>Javakhishvili, p. 160</ref>
Pharasmanes gave his son a large Iberian army, who by a [[Iberian–Armenian War|sudden invasion]] forced Mithridates to take shelter in the fortress of [[Garni|Gorneas]], which was strongly garrisoned by the [[Roman Empire|Romans]] under the command of Caelius Pollio.<ref>Tacitus, XII, 45</ref><ref>Crévier, p. 282</ref> Rhadamistus opened negotiations with his uncle, claiming to be kindly disposed towards him because of their ties of blood and because of his marriage to Mithridates' daughter [[Zenobia of Armenia|Zenobia]]. Adding that the Iberians were not against peace, he urged Mithridates to show respect to the seniority of Pharasmanes and agree to a treaty. Pharasmanes by secret messages had told Rhadamistus to hurry on the siege by all possible means.<ref>Javakhishvili, p. 160</ref>


Later, Pollio, swayed by Rhadamistus' bribery, induced the Roman soldiers to threaten capitulation of the garrison. Under this compulsion, Mithridates agreed to surrender to his nephew and quit the fortress.<ref>Bunson, p. 372</ref><ref>Tacitus, XII, 46</ref> Rhadamistus seeing his uncle threw himself into his embraces, feigning respect and calling him father-in-law and his parent. He promised that he would do him no harm or violence either by the sword or by poison.<ref>Tomlins, p. 568</ref> He drew him into a neighboring woods, where he assured him that the appointed sacrifice was prepared for their confirmation of peace in the presence of the Iberian [[god]]s, as it was their custom, whenever they joined alliance, to unite their right hands and bind together the thumbs in a tight knot and then, when the blood would flow into the extremities, they would let it escape by a slight puncture and then suck it in turn.<ref>Crévier, p. 283</ref>
Later, Pollio, swayed by Rhadamistus' bribery, threatened that the Roman garrison might abandon the fortress. Under this compulsion, Mithridates agreed to surrender to his nephew.<ref>Bunson, p. 372</ref><ref>Tacitus, XII, 46</ref> Still treating his uncle with feigned respect, Rhadamistus promised that he would do him no harm either by the sword or by poison.<ref>Tomlins, p. 568</ref> He drew him into a neighboring woods, ostensibly to conduct a ritual sealing their alliance,<ref>Crévier, p. 283</ref> then arrested him and bound him in chains. Mindful of his promise not to use a sword or poison, Rhadamistus had Mithridates smothered to death instead.<ref>Crévier, p. 284</ref> Later he also killed the sons of Mithridates, for having shed tears over their father's death,<ref>Cantù, p. 405</ref><ref>Tacitus, XII, 47</ref> and Mithridates' wife, who was Rhadamistus' own sister.<ref>Rawlinson, XVI, p. 1</ref>


⚫
Rhadamistus became King of Armenia in 51. The Romans made a symbolic demand that Pharasmanes withdraw from Armenian territory and remove his son, but officially they had chosen not to aid their Armenian allies; one councilor declared that "any crime in a foreign country was to be welcomed with joy".<ref>Crévier, p. 285</ref><ref>Javakhishvili, p. 161</ref><ref>Tacitus, XII, 48</ref> Despite this, the Roman governor of [[Cappadocia]], Paelignus, invaded Armenia and ravaged the country. [[Gaius Ummidius Durmius Quadratus]], [[List of Roman governors of Syria|governor of Syria]], sent a force to restore order, but was recalled so as not to provoke a war with [[Parthia]]. Consequently, King [[Vologases I of Parthia|Vologases I]], having recently ascended the Parthian throne, saw an opportunity to detach Armenia from the dominion of Rome and add it to his own, thus advancing his reputation and providing a principality for his brother Tiridates. He sent his large army into Armenia in 51,<ref>Bunson, p. 544</ref> driving out the Iberians in 53.<ref>Rawlinson, p. 272</ref> Rhadamistus regained control after an outbreak of [[Plague (disease)|plague]] forced the Parthians to withdraw.<ref>Tacitus, XII, 50</ref><ref>Rawlinson, XVI, p. 2</ref> He now viewed the Armenians' loyalty as permanently suspect,<ref>Crévier, pp. 286-287</ref><ref>Tomlins, p. 569</ref> and began punishing cities that had surrendered to the Parthians, eventually provoking a revolt which replaced him with the Parthian prince [[Tiridates I of Armenia|Tiridates I]] in 55.<ref>Suny, p. 14</ref>
But on this occasion the one who was applying the knot pretended that it had fallen off, and suddenly seized the knees of Mithridates flinging him to the ground. At the same moment a rush was made by others, and chains were thrown around him. Rhadamistus was mindful of his promise so he neither unsheathed the sword nor used any poison against his uncle to kill him, but instead had him thrown on the ground and then smothered his uncle under a mass of heavy clothes and [[featherbed]]s.<ref>Crévier, p. 284</ref> Later the sons of Mithridates were also butchered by Rhadamistus for having shed tears over their parent's death.<ref>Cantù, p. 405</ref><ref>Tacitus, XII, 47</ref> Rhadamistus also killed Mithridates' wife, who was his own sister.<ref>Rawlinson, XVI, p. 1</ref>


Rhadamistus escaped back to Iberia. His wife Zenobia accompanied him for the first part of the journey, but she was pregnant and unable to bear a long ride on horseback. Rather than impede the escape, or be left behind and captured, she told her husband to kill her. Impressed by Zenobia's bravery, Rhadamistus consented, stabbing her and dropping her in the river Araxes.<ref>Crévier, p. 287</ref> She survived her wounds and was rescued by peasants, who sent her to [[Artaxata]].<ref>Cantù, p. 406</ref><ref>Tacitus, XII, 51</ref> Upon his return to his father's domains in 58, Rhadamistus was executed for treason,<ref>Toumanoff, p. 14</ref> ending Pharasmanes' fears of usurpation and demonstrating Iberian loyalty to Rome,<ref>Javakhishvili, p. 161, § 5</ref><ref>Tacitus, XIII, 37</ref> and in particular to Emperor [[Nero]].<ref>Crévier, p. 288</ref><ref>Bunson, p. 465</ref> Pharasmanes died later in the same year and was succeeded by his second son [[Mihrdat I|Mihrdat]], brother of Rhadamistus.<ref>Toumanoff, p. 101</ref><ref>Javakhishvili, p. 161, § 6</ref>
⚫
Rhadamistus became King of Armenia in 51. [[Rome]] chose not to aid their Armenian allies, as their summoned council said "any crime in a foreign country was to be welcomed with joy". They only nominally demanded from Pharasmanes to withdraw from Armenian territory and remove his son.<ref>Crévier, p. 285</ref><ref>Javakhishvili, p. 161</ref><ref>Tacitus, XII, 48</ref> Despite this, the Roman governor of [[Cappadocia]], Paelignus, invaded [[Armenia]] and ravaged the country. [[List of Roman governors of Syria|Syria]]n governor [[Gaius Ummidius Durmius Quadratus]] sent a force to restore order, but was recalled so as not to provoke a war with [[Parthia]]. Consequently, King [[Vologases I of Parthia|Vologases I]], having recently ascended the Parthian throne and needing a principality for his brother Tiridates, he saw in the situation of Armenia an excellent opportunity of gratifying his brother and advancing his own reputation. To detach Armenia once more from the dominion of Rome and re-attach it to Parthia would be a great inauguration of his reign so he sent his large army into Armenia in 51,<ref>Bunson, p. 544</ref> eventually driving out the Iberians in 53.<ref>Rawlinson, p. 272</ref> A severe winter epidemic and terrible [[Plague (disease)|plague]] forced the Parthians to withdraw from Armenia, allowing Rhadamistus to return who was now fiercer than ever.<ref>Tacitus, XII, 50</ref><ref>Rawlinson, XVI, p. 2</ref> Rhadamistus treated [[Armenians]] with extraordinary severity, looking on them as rebels who could forsake him if such opportunity is given.<ref>Crévier, pp. 286-287</ref><ref>Tomlins, p. 569</ref> He punished those Armenian cities that had surrendered to the Parthians, which soon revolted and replaced him with the [[Parthia]]n prince [[Tiridates I of Armenia|Tiridates I]] in 55.<ref>Suny, p. 14</ref>

Rhadamistus escaped along with his pregnant wife, Zenobia. Unable to bear a long ride on horse, out of fear of the enemy and love of her husband, she convinced Rhadamistus to kill her with the honourable death to avoid the shame of captivity from their pursuers. Rhadamistus embraced, cheered, and encouraged her wife, admiring her heroism, he unsheathed his scymitar, stabbed her, dragged her to the bank of the [[Aras River]] and committed her to the river stream, so that her body might be swept away. Then in headlong flight he hurried to Iberia, his ancestral kingdom.<ref>Crévier, p. 287</ref> Zenobia meanwhile as she yet breathed and showed signs of life on the calm water at the river's edge, was found by some [[shepherd]]s, who inferring from her noble appearance and that she was no base-born woman, bound up her wound and applied to it their rustic remedies. When they found out her name and her adventure, they conveyed her to the city of Artaxata to King Tiridates, who received her kindly and treated her as a royal person.<ref>Cantù, p. 406</ref><ref>Tacitus, XII, 51</ref> Rhadamistus himself returning home to Iberia was soon, in 58,<ref>Toumanoff, p. 14</ref> put to death as traitor who had plotted against the royal power by his own father who wanted to prove his loyalty to Rome,<ref>Javakhishvili, p. 161, § 5</ref><ref>Tacitus, XIII, 37</ref> and in particular to Emperor [[Nero]].<ref>Crévier, p. 288</ref><ref>Bunson, p. 465</ref> Pharasmanes died later in the same year as well and he was succeeded by his second son and brother of Rhadamistus, [[Mihrdat I of Iberia|Mihrdat]], who became a new king of Iberia.<ref>Toumanoff, p. 101</ref><ref>Javakhishvili, p. 161, § 6</ref>


==In art==
==In art==
Line 46: Line 49:
*"Radamisto uccide Zenobia" by [[Luigi Sabatelli]] (1803).
*"Radamisto uccide Zenobia" by [[Luigi Sabatelli]] (1803).
*"Rhadamistes and Zenobia" by [[Jean-Joseph Taillasson]].
*"Rhadamistes and Zenobia" by [[Jean-Joseph Taillasson]].
*"[[Shepherds Find Zenobia on the Banks of the Araxes]]" by [[William-Adolphe Bouguereau]] (1850)
*"Radamisto in atto di spingere Zenobia ferita nel fiume Arasse" by [[Francesco Alberi]].
*"Radamisto in atto di spingere Zenobia ferita nel fiume Arasse" by [[Francesco Alberi]].
*"Queen Zenobia Thrown Into the Araxes River" by François-Nicolas Chifflart.
*"Queen Zenobia Thrown Into the Araxes River" by François-Nicolas Chifflart.
Line 58: Line 62:
*"[[Radamisto (Handel)|Radamisto]]" by [[George Frideric Handel]] (1720).
*"[[Radamisto (Handel)|Radamisto]]" by [[George Frideric Handel]] (1720).
*"Radamisto" by [[Nicola Francesco Haym]].
*"Radamisto" by [[Nicola Francesco Haym]].
*[[Senesino]] was first to play Rhadamistus.


===Plays===
===Plays===
Line 68: Line 71:
File:Rhadamistes and Zenobia by TAILLASSON, Jean-Joseph 1806.jpg|''Rhadamistes and Zenobia'' by<br /> [[Jean-Joseph Taillasson]]
File:Rhadamistes and Zenobia by TAILLASSON, Jean-Joseph 1806.jpg|''Rhadamistes and Zenobia'' by<br /> [[Jean-Joseph Taillasson]]
File:Queen Zenobia Thrown Into the Araxes River by François-Nicolas Chifflart.jpg|Rhadamistus in ''Queen Zenobia Thrown Into the Araxes River'' by<br /> [[François Chifflart]]
File:Queen Zenobia Thrown Into the Araxes River by François-Nicolas Chifflart.jpg|Rhadamistus in ''Queen Zenobia Thrown Into the Araxes River'' by<br /> [[François Chifflart]]
File:Metastasio - Zenobia - Herissant Vol.06 - Paris 1780.png|Rhadamistus from the opera of [[Metastasio]]
File:Metastasio - Zenobia - Herissant Vol.06 - Paris 1780.png|Rhadamistus from the opera of [[Pietro Metastasio]]
</gallery>
</gallery>


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{{s-hou|[[Pharnavazid dynasty]]||NA||58 AD}}
{{s-hou|[[Pharnavazid dynasty]]||NA||58 AD}}
{{s-bef|before = none}}
{{s-bef|before = none}}
{{s-ttl|title = [[Kingdom of Iberia|Crown Prince of Kartli]]|years=? – 51 AD}}
{{s-ttl|title = [[Kingdom of Iberia (antiquity)|Crown Prince of Kartli]]|years=? – 51 AD}}
{{s-aft|after = [[Mihrdat I of Iberia|Mihrdat I]]}}
{{s-aft|after = [[Mihrdat I of Iberia|Mihrdat I]]}}
{{end}}

{{S-start}}
{{S-reg}}
{{S-reg}}
{{S-bef|before=[[Mithridates of Armenia|Mithridates I]]}}
{{S-bef|before=[[Mithridates of Armenia|Mithridates I]]}}
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{{S-end}}
{{S-end}}
{{Armenian kings}}
{{Armenian kings}}

{{authority control}}


[[Category:1st-century kings of Armenia]]
[[Category:1st-century kings of Armenia]]
[[Category:Pharnavazid dynasty]]
[[Category:Pharnavazid dynasty]]
[[Category:Royalty of Georgia (country)]]
[[Category:Georgian princes]]
[[Category:Roman client kings of Armenia]]
[[Category:Roman client kings of Armenia]]
[[Category:1st-century monarchs in Europe]]
[[Category:1st-century monarchs in Asia]]
[[Category:1st-century monarchs in the Middle East]]
[[Category:Familicides]]
[[Category:Familicides]]
[[Category:Regicides]]
[[Category:Regicides]]
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[[Category:58 deaths]]
[[Category:58 deaths]]
[[Category:Year of birth unknown]]
[[Category:Year of birth unknown]]
[[Category:Executed regicides]]
[[Category:1st-century executions]]
[[Category:1st-century executions]]
[[Category:Executed people from Georgia (country)]]
[[Category:Executed people from Georgia (country)]]

Latest revision as of 16:20, 20 May 2024

Rhadamistus
Rhadamistus by Francesco Alberi
King of Armenia
1st Reign51–53
PredecessorMithridates
SuccessorTiridates I
2nd Reign54–55
PredecessorTiridates I
SuccessorTiridates I
BornKingdom of Iberia
Died58
Kingdom of Iberia
SpouseZenobia
Issueunknown son
DynastyPharnavazid dynasty
FatherPharasmanes I of Iberia
Motherdaughter of Tigranes IV

Rhadamistus (Georgian: რადამისტი, radamist'i) (died 58) was a royal prince of the Pharnavazid dynasty[1] of the Kingdom of Iberia who reigned over the Kingdom of Armenia from 51 to 53 and 54 to 55. He was considered a usurper and tyrant, who was overthrown in a rebellion supported by the Parthian Empire.[2][3]

Life

[edit]

Rhadamistus was the eldest son of King Pharasmanes I of Iberia.[4][5][6] His mother was an unknown Armenian princess of the Artaxiad dynasty, who was the daughter of the Artaxiad Armenian monarchs Tigranes IV and his sister-wife Erato. Rhadamistus was known for his ambition, valor, extraordinary strength and size of body, and good looks. Although the Kingdom of Iberia was too small to satisfy him on its own, he was nonetheless openly impatient to inherit it from his aging father. Pharasmanes, fearing an attempt to usurp the throne, diverted Rhadamistus by convincing him to conquer the Kingdom of Armenia, then ruled by Pharasmanes' brother Mithridates.[7] To conduct reconnaissance, Rhadamistus pretended that he was at feud with his father and stepmother and went to the court of Mithridates, who received him like a son and with an excessive kindness.[8] Rhadamistus completed his inspection, declared that he had reconciled with his father, and returned to Iberia to set war plans in motion. Meanwhile Pharasmanes had invented a pretext for war: when he was fighting with the king of the Caucasian Albanians and appealing to the Romans for help, his brother had opposed him, and the conflict was to be called revenge for that opposition.

Pharasmanes gave his son a large Iberian army, who by a sudden invasion forced Mithridates to take shelter in the fortress of Gorneas, which was strongly garrisoned by the Romans under the command of Caelius Pollio.[9][10] Rhadamistus opened negotiations with his uncle, claiming to be kindly disposed towards him because of their ties of blood and because of his marriage to Mithridates' daughter Zenobia. Adding that the Iberians were not against peace, he urged Mithridates to show respect to the seniority of Pharasmanes and agree to a treaty. Pharasmanes by secret messages had told Rhadamistus to hurry on the siege by all possible means.[11]

Later, Pollio, swayed by Rhadamistus' bribery, threatened that the Roman garrison might abandon the fortress. Under this compulsion, Mithridates agreed to surrender to his nephew.[12][13] Still treating his uncle with feigned respect, Rhadamistus promised that he would do him no harm either by the sword or by poison.[14] He drew him into a neighboring woods, ostensibly to conduct a ritual sealing their alliance,[15] then arrested him and bound him in chains. Mindful of his promise not to use a sword or poison, Rhadamistus had Mithridates smothered to death instead.[16] Later he also killed the sons of Mithridates, for having shed tears over their father's death,[17][18] and Mithridates' wife, who was Rhadamistus' own sister.[19]

Rhadamistus became King of Armenia in 51. The Romans made a symbolic demand that Pharasmanes withdraw from Armenian territory and remove his son, but officially they had chosen not to aid their Armenian allies; one councilor declared that "any crime in a foreign country was to be welcomed with joy".[20][21][22] Despite this, the Roman governor of Cappadocia, Paelignus, invaded Armenia and ravaged the country. Gaius Ummidius Durmius Quadratus, governor of Syria, sent a force to restore order, but was recalled so as not to provoke a war with Parthia. Consequently, King Vologases I, having recently ascended the Parthian throne, saw an opportunity to detach Armenia from the dominion of Rome and add it to his own, thus advancing his reputation and providing a principality for his brother Tiridates. He sent his large army into Armenia in 51,[23] driving out the Iberians in 53.[24] Rhadamistus regained control after an outbreak of plague forced the Parthians to withdraw.[25][26] He now viewed the Armenians' loyalty as permanently suspect,[27][28] and began punishing cities that had surrendered to the Parthians, eventually provoking a revolt which replaced him with the Parthian prince Tiridates I in 55.[29]

Rhadamistus escaped back to Iberia. His wife Zenobia accompanied him for the first part of the journey, but she was pregnant and unable to bear a long ride on horseback. Rather than impede the escape, or be left behind and captured, she told her husband to kill her. Impressed by Zenobia's bravery, Rhadamistus consented, stabbing her and dropping her in the river Araxes.[30] She survived her wounds and was rescued by peasants, who sent her to Artaxata.[31][32] Upon his return to his father's domains in 58, Rhadamistus was executed for treason,[33] ending Pharasmanes' fears of usurpation and demonstrating Iberian loyalty to Rome,[34][35] and in particular to Emperor Nero.[36][37] Pharasmanes died later in the same year and was succeeded by his second son Mihrdat, brother of Rhadamistus.[38][39]

In art

[edit]
Opera Radamisto by George Frideric Handel, 1720.

Paintings

[edit]

Operas

[edit]

Plays

[edit]
[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Toumanoff, p. 11
  2. ^ Crévier, p. 286
  3. ^ Tomlins, p. 735
  4. ^ Crévier, p. 280
  5. ^ Toumanoff, p. 12
  6. ^ Javakhishvili, p. 159
  7. ^ Crévier, pp. 280-281
  8. ^ Tacitus, XII, 44
  9. ^ Tacitus, XII, 45
  10. ^ Crévier, p. 282
  11. ^ Javakhishvili, p. 160
  12. ^ Bunson, p. 372
  13. ^ Tacitus, XII, 46
  14. ^ Tomlins, p. 568
  15. ^ Crévier, p. 283
  16. ^ Crévier, p. 284
  17. ^ Cantù, p. 405
  18. ^ Tacitus, XII, 47
  19. ^ Rawlinson, XVI, p. 1
  20. ^ Crévier, p. 285
  21. ^ Javakhishvili, p. 161
  22. ^ Tacitus, XII, 48
  23. ^ Bunson, p. 544
  24. ^ Rawlinson, p. 272
  25. ^ Tacitus, XII, 50
  26. ^ Rawlinson, XVI, p. 2
  27. ^ Crévier, pp. 286-287
  28. ^ Tomlins, p. 569
  29. ^ Suny, p. 14
  30. ^ Crévier, p. 287
  31. ^ Cantù, p. 406
  32. ^ Tacitus, XII, 51
  33. ^ Toumanoff, p. 14
  34. ^ Javakhishvili, p. 161, § 5
  35. ^ Tacitus, XIII, 37
  36. ^ Crévier, p. 288
  37. ^ Bunson, p. 465
  38. ^ Toumanoff, p. 101
  39. ^ Javakhishvili, p. 161, § 6

Sources

[edit]
  • Tacitus, Annals, Book XII-XIII
  • Javakhishvili, Ivane (2012), History of the Georgian Nation, Vol. 1
  • Crévier, Jean-Baptiste Louis (1814) L'Histoire des empereurs des Romains
  • Bunson, Matthew (2009) Encyclopedia of the Roman Empire
  • Toumanoff, Cyril (1969), Chronology of the early Kings of Iberia, Vol. 25
  • Suny, Grigor Ronald (1994), The Making of the Georgian Nation: 2nd edition, Indiana University Press, ISBN 0-253-20915-3
  • Rawlinson, George (2012) The Seven Great Monarchies Of The Ancient Eastern World
  • Cantù, Cesare (1847) Historia universal
  • Tomlins, Frederick (1844) A Universal History of the Nations of Antiquity
Rhadamistus
Born: NA Died: 58 AD
Preceded by
none
 Crown Prince of Kartli
? – 51 AD 		Succeeded by
Regnal titles
Preceded by King of Armenia
51 – 53
54 – 55
(2nd reign) 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Succeeded by
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