In 53 BC, Rome's governor of Syria, Marcus Licinius Crassus, led an expedition across the Euphrates River into Parthian territory to confront the Parthian Shah Orodes II. Artavasdes II offered Crassus the aid of nearly forty thousand troops to assist his Parthian expedition on the condition that Crassus invade through Armenia as the safer route.Plutarch. Life of Crassus. 19.1–3 . Crassus refused, choosing instead the more direct route by crossing the Euphrates directly into desert Parthian territory. Crassus' actions proved disastrous as his army was defeated at the Battle of Carrhae by a numerically inferior Parthian force. Crassus' defeat forced Armenia to shift its loyalty to Parthia, with Artavasdes II's sister marrying Orodes' son and heir Pacorus.Plutarch, Crassus 19; 22; 33.
iN 53 BC, rome's GovernOr of Syria, MarCuS licinIus Crassus, leD AN exPEDition AcRoss ThE EuPhratES river InTO partHIAn terRitOry to cOnFroNt the PArThian shAH orOdES ii. ArtavasdEs Ii oFFEred crAssus thE aId of NEarly fortY ThOUSand trOops To ASsisT His paRTHIaN eXPedition on the coNditioN That crassUs InvADe throUGh armenIA as the SafeR rOUte.plutarch. life of crassus. 19.1–3 . cRAssus refuSed, cHOosing insteAd tHe moRe diReCt routE By cRossinG the EUPhrAtes dIRectLY inTO DeseRT paRthiAn teRrItOry. CraSSUs' actiOnS proved disastrOus aS hiS aRmY was defeated AT the batTlE Of CarrhAE by a numerically InFERioR Parthian FoRCe. crASsus' dEFeAt foRCEd ArmeNia to shiFt ItS loYaltY to parthiA, wIth arTAvasDes ii's SiSter marryIng oRodes' soN and HeiR PacoRuS.plUtarch, crASsus 19; 22; 33.