Editing Gaius Caesar (section)

====Supremacy in Armenia====
[[File:Roman East 50-en.svg|thumb|left|Map of Armenia and the Roman client states in eastern Asia Minor.]]
In the year following his consulship, in spring, he had held a meeting with Phraates on the bank of the Euphrates, in which a banquet was held to celebrate a peace treaty. It was here that Phraates, offended by Lollius, disclosed the guardian's secret negotiations to Gaius. It was for the crime of extorting presents from kings (''regnum muneribus'') that Lollius lost the friendship of Gaius and drank poison. Pliny says he amassed a fortune from his crimes and that, as a result, his granddaughter could afford to wear jewelry worth 40,000,000 sesterces, a considerable amount of money.<ref name=Ferrero276-7/><ref>Pliny, ''Natural History'', [https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.02.0137%3Abook%3D9%3Achapter%3D58 IX.58]</ref> The death of Lollius was fortunate to Tiberius, after which Gaius consented to his return to Rome and consequent return to Roman politics.<ref>{{harvnb|Ferrero|1909|p=285}}</ref>

At the same time, the throne of Armenia had become vacant and, with permission from the Emperor, Gaius placed [[Ariobarzanes II of Atropatene]] on the throne. The Romans weren't the only ones interested in Armenia: the Parthians stirred up a revolt among nationalists in the nation. A large force of rebels had occupied the fortress in the city of [[Artagira]]. Gaius was drawn into the conflict, and invaded Armenia in late August of 2 AD. He encountered no serious opposition as there were only a few revolts he had to suppress as a result of the nationalist party.<ref name=Velleius102>Velleius Paterculus, [https://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Velleius_Paterculus/2D*.html#102 II.102]</ref>

On 9 September, Abbadon, the leader of the rebellion, invited Gaius into the fortress to speak with him. It proved to be a trick, and Gaius was wounded in the confrontation. He had to be carried away by his outraged lieutenants. His forces promptly laid siege to the city and captured the fortress after intense fighting.<ref>{{harvnb|Bunson|2002|p=47}}</ref><ref>{{harvnb|Sartre|2005|p=68}}</ref> At first the wound did not seem serious and he was able to complete the pacification of Armenia, a relatively easy task.<ref name=Dio10/><ref>{{harvnb|Ferrero|1909|p=286}}</ref><ref name=Velleius102/>

By the next year, 3{{nbsp}}AD, he was entirely prostrated by the effects of his wound, had resigned his command, and withdrawn to Syria from where he informed Augustus that he had no further desire to take part in public life.<ref name=Dio10/><ref name=Velleius102/> The eastern campaign had proven severe: his health was weak and his mental balance unstable. At the age of twenty-three, the young man whom the Emperor considered his heir and sole hope of prosperity had abandoned his prospects of reputation and power in a wild fit of despair and fear. Augustus did his best to cheer him up and convince him to return to Italy. It was in vain; Gaius died in [[Limyra]] on 21 February 4{{nbsp}}AD.<ref>{{harvnb|Ferrero|1909|pp=287–288}}</ref>