This was the point at which Antoninus gave the signal to order his army to set upon the barbarians and kill them. They were thunderstruck at what happened and, wounded by a rain of blows, turned and ran. Artabanus himself was snatched from danger by his bodyguard and placed on a horse, and so only just escaped with a few followers. But the rest of the barbarians, who were dismounted and standing about, after letting the horses out to graze, were cut down without the horses that were essential to them. They could not run away on foot either, because the loose flowing garments around their ankles tripped them up. They had neither quivers nor bows, for which of course there was no need at a wedding.
Edition :
Herodian. History of the Empire, Volume I: Books 1-4. Translated by C. R. Whittaker. Loeb Classical Library 454. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 1969.
Herodian. History of the Empire, Volume II: Books 5-8. Translated by C. R. Whittaker. Loeb Classical Library 455. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 1970.
Remark :
context: Caracalla had convinced Artabanus to give him his daughter in marriage, but betrayed him during the wedding celebrations in Parthian territory.
Notes :
For the following plunder of the nearby city and villages, please refer to: "The army of Caracalla plunders and burns Parthian cities and villages."
