ABSTRACT
Chapter 3 discusses the missions carried out by members of the domus Augusta in the eastern provinces of the Empire. Unlike the military nature of a large majority of the tasks in the West, the character of those eastern missions was primarily diplomatic. The main problem of Roman foreign policy in the region was the Armenian-Parthian question. Rome’s objective was to gain control of Armenia by putting on its throne a ruler dependent on Rome. It was this goal that Tiberius’s, Gaius Caesar’s, and, subsequently, Germanicus’s missions served. As prominent members of the imperial family, they, unlike ordinary governors, could enthrone kings in Armenia and properly represent the princeps in his contacts with the Parthian rulers. Another goal of the eastern missions was to inspect the provinces there. Visiting various cities in the eastern provinces gave members of the domus Augusta ample opportunity to emphasize how generous the princeps and his family were to their inhabitants. As a result, many public buildings were funded. An appearance from a member of the imperial family also spurred the inhabitants to demonstrate their loyalty and devotion to the reigning family, as emphatically expressed by the many high-prestige honours conferred on them.
