A Dictionary of Greek and Roman biography and mythology

VONONES I., the son of Phraates IV., was not more liked by his subjects than his two immediate predecessors. His long residence at Rome had rendered him more a Roman than a Parthian, and his foreign habits and manners produced general dislike among his subjects. They therefore invited Artabanus, king of Media, who also belonged to the family of the Arsacidae, to take possession of the kingdom. Artabanus was at first defeated, but afterwards drove Vonones out of Parthia, who then took refuge in Armenia, of which he was chosen king. But, threatened by Artabanus, he soon fled into Syria, in which province the Roman governor, Creticus Silanus, allowed him to reside with the title of king. (A. D. 16.) Two years afterwards he was removed by Germanicus to Pompeiopolis in Cilicia, partly at the request of Artabanus, who begged that he might not be allowed to reside in Syria, and partly because Germanicus wished to put an affront upon Piso, with whom Vonones was very intimate. In the following year (A. D. 19) Vonones attempted to escape from Pompeiopolis, intending to fly into Scythia; but he was overtaken on the banks of the river Pyramus, and shortly after put to death. According to Suetonius, he was put to death by order of Tiberius on account of his great wealth. (Joseph. l.c. ; Tac. Ann. 2.1_4, 56, 58, 68; Suet. Tib. 100.49.)