Rhadamistus
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Rhadamistus (also known as Ghadam or Radamisto) was an Iberian prince who reigned in Armenia from 51 to 53 and 54 to 55 CE. Considered to be an usurper and tyrant, he was overthrown in a rebellion supported by Parthia.
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[edit] Life
Son of King Parsman I of Iberia (Pharasmanes), he was known for his ambitious and aspiring character as well as for his handsomeness and courageousness. Fearing that Rhadamistus would soon pretend to the throne, the old Iberian king instigated him to make war upon his uncle King Mithridates of Armenia, Parsman’s brother, whose daughter Zenobia was married to Rhadamistus. The Iberians invaded with a large army and forced Mithridates into the fortress of Gorneas (Garni), which was garrisoned by the Romans under the command of Caelius Pollio, a prefect, and Casperius, a centurion. Pollio by secret corruption induced the soldiers to demand peace and to threaten that they would abandon the garrison. Under this compulsion, Mithridates agreed to surrender to his nephew. Despite the guarantees given to Mithridates, Rhadamistus executed him and his sons and became King of Armenia (51).
Rome decided to let Radamistus keep his ill-gotten gains but ordered Pharasmanes to withdraw from Armenia. The Roman governor of Cappadocia, Paelignus, invaded Armenia and ravaged the country. Syrian governor Quadratus sent a force to repair these outrages; but he was recalled so as not to provoke a war with Parthia, for King Vologases took the opportunity to send his Parthian army into Armenia, driving out the Iberians (53). A winter epidemic forced the Parthians to withdraw from Armenia, allowing Radamistus to come back and punish people as traitors; but they soon revolted and replaced him with the Parthian prince Tiridates (55). Rhadamistus had to escape along with his pregnant wife Zenobia of whom Tacitus relates a romantic story. Unable to bear a long ride on horse, she convinced her husband to kill her so she would not fell into the hands of their pursuers. Stubbed and left at the banks of the Araxes, she survived, however. Zenobia was found by some shepherds who carried her to the court of Tiridates, who received her kindly and treated her as a royal person.
Rhadamistus himself returned to Iberia. However, he was soon put to death by his father for having plotted against the royal power.
[edit] In Art
P. Baudry, c. 1848
Georg Friedrich Handel used Domenico Lalli’s adapted version of a story of Rhadamistus and Zenobia as a libretto for his opera Radamisto (1720).
The discovery of the injured and unconscious Zenobia on the riverbank is the subject of classical paintings by Bouguereau, Paul Baudry and Nicolas Poussin.
[edit] See also
- List of Armenian Kings
- Zenobia - Queen of Palmyra
