Vologeses I (Valarsh)

Vologeses I (Vologases or Valarsh), King of Parthia (51–77 CE), and a representative of a separate branch of the Arsacid dynasty.

Immediately upon his ascension, he actively began fighting to restore Parthian influence in Greater Armenia. In 51 AD, the Iberian King Mithridates was treacherously killed by his nephew, Rhadamistus, the son of Pharasmanes I. Vologeses considered Rhadamistus's ascension a favorable moment to reclaim Armenia and transfer the kingdom to his own brother, Tiridates.

In 52 CE, the Iberians left the country without a fight. The Armenians handed over the cities of Artaxata and Tigranakert to Vologeses, but a harsh winter, lack of provisions, and an epidemic spreading in the army forced Vologeses to abandon Armenia. Rhadamistus subsequently re-invaded the country, but the Armenian nobility revolted, and he fled to Iberia. Tiridates was reinstated as King of Armenia.

During the campaign of the Roman general Corbulo in 58 CE, the Iberians actively assisted the Romans, for which Pharasmanes I received a certain part of Armenian territory. Ultimately, Vologeses managed to occupy Greater Armenia and reinstate Tiridates there. Thereafter, Arsacid princes held the throne, although the King of Greater Armenia was formally considered a vassal of the Roman Emperor.

Sources: ტაციტუსის ცნობები საქართველოს შესახებ. ლათინური ტექსტი ქართ. თარგმანით და კომენტარებით გამოსცა ა. გამყრელიძემ, თბ., 1973.

Literature: საქართველოს ისტორიის ნარკვევები, ტ. 1, თბ., 1970; М е л и к и ш в и л и  Г.  А., К истории древней Грузии, Тб., 1959.

N. Mitsishvili