Vologases IV of Parthia

Vologases IV invaded Armenia and Syria, triggering a major war with the Roman Empire under Emperor Marcus Aurelius. The Parthians initially captured Armenia and invaded Syria, but were later pushed back by Roman counter-offensives.

Roman general Avidius Cassius led a campaign that sacked the Parthian capital Ctesiphon. The city was looted and the royal palace destroyed. This was a major defeat for Vologases IV and weakened Parthian prestige.

Roman soldiers returning from the Parthian campaign brought back a devastating plague, known as the Antonine Plague, which spread throughout the Roman Empire. This pandemic killed millions and severely weakened both Rome and Parthia.

Vologases IV is considered the last strong Parthian king. After his death, the Parthian Empire entered a period of decline marked by civil wars and internal strife, eventually leading to the rise of the Sassanid Empire.