Rhadamistus, son of King Parsman I of Iberia (Pharasmanes), is known for his ambition, good looks, and valor.

Parsman, fearing usurpation by his son, has persuaded Rhadamistus to make war upon his uncle, King Mithridates of Armenia, Parsman’s brother, and father of Rhadamistus' wife, Zenobia.

The Iberians invade with a large army and force Mithridates into the fortress of Gorneas (Garni), which is garrisoned by the Romans under the command of Caelius Pollio, a prefect, and Casperius, a centurion.

Pollio, swayed by Rhamistus' bribery, induces the Roman soldiers to threaten capitulation of the garrison.

Under this compulsion, Mithridates agrees to surrender to his nephew.

Rhadamistus executes Mithridates and his sons despite a promise of nonviolence, and becomes King of Armenia.

Rome decides not to aid their Armenian allies against the usurpation by the Iberian prince Rhadamistus, only nominally demanding that his father Pharasmanes withdraw from Armenia.

The Roman governor of Cappadocia, Paelignus, invades Armenia anyway, ravaging the country.

Syrian governor Gaius Ummidius Durmius Quadratus sends a force to restore order, but he is recalled so as not to provoke a war with Parthia, whose King Vologases takes the opportunity to send his army into Armenia, driving out the Iberians in 53.

A winter epidemic forces the Parthians to withdraw from Armenia, allowing Rhadamistus to return.

He punishes as traitors those Armenian cities that had surrendered to the Parthians.

The Armenian cities soon revolt and, in 55 BCE, replace Rhadamistus with the Parthian prince Tiridates.

Rhadamistus if forced to flee along with his pregnant wife, Zenobia, of whom Tacitus relates a romantic story.

Unable to bear a long ride on horse, she persuades her husband to kill her so she will not fall into the hands of their pursuers.

Though stabbed and left at the banks of the Araxes, she survives and is found by some shepherds.

They carry Zenobia to the court of Tiridates, who receives her kindly and treats her as royalty.