Background
Gnaeus Domitius Corbulo was the half-brother of Caesonia, one of the wives of the emperor Caligula. He was born in 7 AD in Italy.
Gnaeus Domitius Corbulo was the half-brother of Caesonia, one of the wives of the emperor Caligula. He was born in 7 AD in Italy.
Under Claudius Gnaeus Domitius Corbulo was governor of lower Germany (a. d. 47).
He punished the Frisii who refused to pay the tribute, and was on the point of advancing against the Chauci, but was recalled by the emperor and ordered to withdraw behind the Rhine.
After some delay, he tookthe offensive in 58, and, reinforced by troops from Germany, attacked Tiridates.
Artaxata and Tigranocerta were captured, and Tigranes, who had been brought up in Rome and was the obedient servant of the government, was installed king of Armenia.
In 61 Tigranes invaded Adiabene, an integral portion of the Parthian kingdom, and a conflict between Rome and Parthia seemed unavoidable.
Vologaeses, however, thought it better to come to terms.
It was agreed that both the Roman and Parthian troops should evacuate Armenia, that Tigranes should be dethroned, and the position of Tiridates recognized.
The Roman government declined to accede to these arrangements, and L. Caesennius Paetus, governor of Cappadocia, was ordered to settle the question by bringing Armenia under direct Roman administration.
The protection of Syria in the meantime claimed all Corbulo's attention.
Paetus, a weak and incapable man, suffered a severe defeat at Rhande. a (62), where he was surrounded and forced to capitulate and to evacuate Armenia.
The command of the troops was again entrusted to Corbulo.
In 63, with a strong army, he crossed the Euphrates, but Tiridates declined to give battle and concluded peace.
At Rhandea he laid down his diadem at the foot of the emperor's statue, promising not to resume it until he received it from the hand of Nero himself in Rome.
In 67 disturbances broke out in Judaea, but Nero, jealous of Corbulo's success and popularity, ordered Vespasian to take command of the forces and summoned Corbulo to Greece.
On his arrival at Cenchreae, the port of Corinth, messengers from Nero met Corbulo, and ordered him to commit suicide.
Without hesitation he obeyed, exclaiming, " I have deserved it. "
Whether he had really given any grounds for suspicion is unknown; but there is no doubt, so great was his popularity with the soldiers and such the hatred felt for Nero, that he could easily have seized the throne.
Corbulo wrote an account of his Asiatic experiences, which is lost.
Corbulo married Cassia Longina. The had two dauthers.