Trajan's Parthian War A new series of wars began in the 2nd
century AD, during which the Romans consistently held the upper
hand over Parthia. In 113 AD the Roman Emperor Trajan decided
that the moment was ripe to resolve the "eastern question" once
and for all time by the decisive defeat of Parthia and the
annexation of Armenia; his conquests marked a deliberate change
of Roman policy towards Parthia, and a shift of emphasis in the
"grand strategy" of the empire. In 114 AD Trajan invaded
Armenia, annexed it as a Roman province, and killed
Parthamasiris who was placed on the Armenian throne by his
relative, the king of Parthia, Osroes I. In 115 AD the Roman
emperor overran northern Mesopotamia and annexed to Rome as
well; its conquest was deemed necessary, since otherwise the
Armenian salient could be cut off by the Parthians from the
south. The Romans then captured the Parthian capital, Ctesiphon,
before sailing downriver to the Persian Gulf. However, in that
year revolts erupted in Palestine, Syria and nort