Published: 2007-12-30

Nero redivivus? A propos speeches of Pseudo-Neros and the issue of Parthian danger at the Phlavius times

Przemysław Dyrlaga

Abstract

The article is devoted to the issues of Rome-Parthian relations at Phlavius times connected with speeches of Pscudo-Neros, rarely noticed by historians. In the beginning, the reasons of 56 Przemysław Dyrlaga speaches made by usurpers and deficits of the source basis related to the issue were briefly discussed. Next, two problems were analysed: 1) Were the fears of the intervention of the eastern nneighbour, to be read from the sources representative of the opinion of Roman elites in power at Phlavius times, justified, and what were their reasons? 2) Were Arsaces, rulling in the Parthian Empire after the death of Vologases I, able to realize such serious enterprises as interference in the Romans’ internal affairs? The main factor deciding about this ability was military potential, conditioned by the line-up of internal forces typical of the actual period of time in Iran, and position the Parths had in the world at that time. Considering the above-mentioned issues, it can be stated that Romans, at Phlavius times, could feel fear and respect for the Parths. Fears the elites rulling the empire were shown in relation to intervention threats issued by the neighbours from behind the Euphrat to the benefit of one of the Pseudo-Neros were real, and probably stemmed from sad experiences from the past, including neron’s times and earlier, as well as fear of loss or havoc of eastern provinces. Besides, it was emphasised that after Vologeses I had died, the Parth’s empire was divided into parts ruled by Arsaces’ pretendents, and its internal situation was not stable. It was like that for several decades. Internal threats were still the case at that time: Alans and other nomadic tribes, such as Euro-Asians, the Roman and Kuszany empire. This internal crisis and care for safety of borders undoubtedly absorbed huge sums of money, being additionally limited by a specific socio-economic structure of Iran, with an important role of aristocracy having its own military force. As a result of it, it was pointed out that these factors largely eliminated the military potential each of the Partans rulers had, so there was every likelihood that they were not able to give enough military support to Pseudo-Neros. Supporting usurpers and intervention threats made by Arsaces could only be the sort of a political blackmail, an element of a diplomatic game, the aims and motives of which are not known from the sources. It can only be hypothetised that one of the main reasons which made Arsaces do it were their willingness to strengthen, at least in a symbolic way, their own position in relation to other oppoonents, both those among dynasty members and beyond it.

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Dyrlaga, P. (2007). Nero redivivus? A propos speeches of Pseudo-Neros and the issue of Parthian danger at the Phlavius times. Wieki Stare I Nowe, 5, 39–57. https://doi.org/10.31261/WSN.2007.07.03

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Vol. 5 (2007)
Published: 2025-08-13


ISSN: 1899-1556
eISSN: 2353-9739

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Wydawnictwo Uniwersytetu Śląskiego | University of Silesia Press

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