1. Rhadamistus was a royal prince of the Pharnavazid dynasty of the Kingdom of Iberia who reigned over the Kingdom of Armenia from 51 to 53 and 54 to 55.
17 Facts About Rhadamistus
1. 2.
Rhadamistus was considered a usurper and tyrant, who was overthrown in a rebellion supported by the Parthian Empire.
3.
Rhadamistus was the eldest son of King Pharasmanes I of Iberia.
4.
Rhadamistus's mother, whose name is not preserved, was an Armenian princess of the Artaxiad dynasty, daughter of Tigranes IV and his sister-wife Erato.
5.
Rhadamistus was known for his ambition, valor, extraordinary strength and size of body, and good looks.
6.
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.
Rhadamistus completed his inspection, declared that he had reconciled with his father, and returned to Iberia to set war plans in motion.
8.
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.
9.
Pharasmanes by secret messages had told Rhadamistus to hurry on the siege by all possible means.
10.
Later, Pollio, swayed by Rhadamistus' bribery, threatened that the Roman garrison might abandon the fortress.
11.
Still treating his uncle with feigned respect, Rhadamistus promised that he would do him no harm either by the sword or by poison.
12.
Rhadamistus drew him into a neighboring woods, ostensibly to conduct a ritual sealing their alliance, then arrested him and bound him in chains.
13.
Mindful of his promise not to use a sword or poison, Rhadamistus had Mithridates smothered to death instead.
14.
Rhadamistus sent his large army into Armenia in 51, driving out the Iberians in 53.
15.
Rhadamistus regained control after an outbreak of plague forced the Parthians to withdraw.
16.
Rhadamistus now viewed the Armenians' loyalty as permanently suspect, 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.
17.
Rhadamistus survived her wounds and was rescued by peasants, who sent her to Artaxata.