| Foreign kings named by Rome Frederic Weber |
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The all powerfulness of the Roman empire made that some foreign kings were repeatedly crowned by the emperor of Rome. These events were sometimes represented in the roman imperial coinage. The first allusion to a king's nomination is indirect. The Néron's coins, showing the temple of Janus, with closed doors, illustrate the result of one of this nomination. Indeed, toward 64, The Armenian king Tridate went in Rome, and on his insistence, Néron takes off its tiara and covers him with a diadem.
This event shows that the peace is ensured all over the world. Néron then makes close the door of the temple of Janus that had for particularity to be open only in time of war.
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Aureus, Rome, circa 64-65 (Collection Frederic Weber) |
Suetonius, Lives of the Caesars - Nero, XIII : “ I may fairly include among his shows the entrance of Tiridates into the city. He was a king of Armenia, whom Nero induced by great promises to come to Rome; and since he was prevented by bad weather from exhibiting him to the people on the day appointed by proclamation, he produced him at the first favorable opportunity, with the Praetorian cohorts drawn up in full armor about the temples in the Forum, while he himself sat in a curule chair on the rostra in the attire of a triumphing general, surrounded by military ensigns and standards. As the king approached along a sloping platform, the emperor at first let him fall at his feet, but raised him with his right hand and kissed him. Then, while the king made supplication, Nero took the turban from his head and replaced it with a diadem, while a man of praetorian rank translated the words of the suppliant and proclaimed them to the throng. From there the king was taken to the theater [Of Pompeius Magnus], and when he had again done obeisance, Nero gave hint a seat at his right hand. Because of all this Nero was hailed as Imperator, and after depositing a laurel wreath in the Capitol [This was usual only when a triumph was celebrated], he closed the two doors of the temple of Janus , as a sign that no war was left anywhere.”
Trajan undertook an expedition against the Parthes and the Armenians, under pretext that the Armenia's king, instead of receiving the diadem from him, had received it from the Parthes's king. The result of this war and the victory of Trajan will be that it will name himself the new king of the kings. On some of its monetary emissions, this event is represented.
Let's note to the reverse of this of Trajan's sestercius the importance given to the emperor, that seated, is taller than the Roman, standing behind him, and bigger than the king of the Parthes. The king of the Parthes seems to veil his face, in a gesture, similar to the one of Pudicitia, the Modesty on numerous coins.
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AE Sestercius, Rome, circa 116 (Collection Frederic Weber) |
Cassius Dio, Roman History, Book LXVIII, Trajan, 17. “Next he (Trajan) made a campaign against the Armenians and Parthians on the pretext that the Armenian king had obtained his diadem, not from him, but from the Parthian king; though his real reason was a desire to win renown.”
Under ANTONINUS PIUS, the scene of the nomination of the king of the Parthes is illustrated on sestercius. Once again, the emperor is represented of bigger size than the king of the Armenians, putting him a diadem on the head.
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AE Sestercius, Rome, circa 140-144 (Tkalec AG, Auktion February 2001, n° 288 : 1500 FS => 3100 FS ) |
At the time of the Eastern campaign of Lucius Vérus, a king was given to the Armenians. As on the sestercius of Trajan, the emperor is represented bigger than all others present characters. Also note, that he is well in the center of the coin. As on the Trajan's coins again, the Eastern king seems to veil his face.
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AE Sestercius, Rome, circa 163-164 (Collection Frederic Weber) |
Frederic Weber, April 2006
Translated by Gina Weber
