Gnaeus Domitius Corbulo Gnaeus Domitius Corbulo ( c . 7 - 67 AD ) was a Roman general , brother - in - law of the emperor Caligula and father - in - law of Domitian . Life . Descent . Corbulo was born in Italy into a senatorial family . His father , who shared the same name , entered the senate as a formal praetor under Tiberius . His mother Vistilia came from a family which held the praetorship . Reign of Caligula . Corbulo ' s early career is unknown but he was consul in 39 during the reign of Caligula , his brother - in - law through Caligula ' s marriage to Corbulo ' s half - sister Milonia Caesonia . In Germania Inferior . After Caligula ' s assassination , Corbulo ' s career came a halt until , in 47 AD , the new Emperor Claudius made him commander of the armies in Germania Inferior , with base camp in " Colonia " ( Cologne ) . The new assignment was a difficult one and Corbulo had to deal with major rebellions by the Germanic Cherusci and Chauci . During his stay in Germania , the general ordered the construction of a canal between the rivers Rhine and Meuse . Parts of this engineering work , known as " Fossa Corbulonis " or Corbulo ' s Canal , have been found at archeological digs . Its course is about identical to the Vliet , which connects the modern towns of Leiden ( ancient Matilo ) and Voorburg ( Forum Hadriani ) . In the east . Corbulo returned to Rome , where he stayed until 52 , when he was named governor of the province of Asia . Following Claudius ' death in 54 , the new emperor Nero sent him to the eastern provinces to deal with the Armenian question . After some delay , he took the offensive in 58 , and , reinforced by troops from Germany , attacked Tiridates , king of Armenia and brother of Vologases I of Parthia . Artaxata and Tigranocerta were captured by his legions ( III " Gallica " , VI " Ferrata " , and X " Fretensis " ) , and Tigranes , who had been brought up in Rome and was the obedient servant of the government , was installed king of Armenia . In 61 Tigranes invaded Adiabene , an integral portion of the Parthian Kingdom , and a conflict between Rome and Parthia seemed unavoidable . Vologases , however , thought it better to come to terms . It was agreed that both the Roman and Parthian troops should evacuate Armenia , that Tigranes should be dethroned , and the position of Tiridates recognized . The Roman government declined to accede to these arrangements , and Lucius Caesennius Paetus , governor of Cappadocia , was ordered to settle the question by bringing Armenia under direct Roman administration . The protection of Syria in the meantime claimed all of Corbulo ' s attention . Lucius Caesannius Paetus , a weak and incapable commander , who " " despised the fame acquired by Corbulo " , suffered a severe defeat at Rhandeia ( 62 ) , where he was surrounded and forced to capitulate to the Parthians and evacuated to Armenia . The command of the troops was again entrusted to Corbulo . In 63 AD , with a strong army , he crossed the Euphrates , but Tiridates declined to give battle and arranged a peace . At Rhandea he laid down his diadem at the foot of the emperor ' s statue , promising not to resume it until he received it from the hand of Nero himself in Rome . Fall and death . After two failed plots by noblemen and senators , including Corbulo ' s son - in - law , Senator Lucius Annius Vinicianus , to overthrow Nero in 62 , he became suspicious of Corbulo and his support among the Roman masses . In 67 disturbances broke out in Judaea and Nero , ordering Vespasian to take command of the Roman forces , summoned Corbulo , as well as two brothers who were the governors of Upper and Lower Germany , to Greece . On his arrival at Cenchreae , the port of Corinth , messengers from Nero met Corbulo , and ordered him to commit suicide , which he loyally obeyed by falling on his own sword , saying , " " Axios ! " " . Works . Corbulo wrote an account of his Asiatic experiences , which is now lost . Marriage and issue . Corbulo married Cassia Longina , a Roman woman from a senatorial family , daughter of Gaius Cassius Longinus and wife Junia Lepida . Cassia bore Corbulo two daughters . The elder daughter Domitia married the senator Lucius Annius Vinicianus and their second daughter Domitia Longina became a Roman Empress and married the future Roman Emperor Domitian . Through Junia Lepida , a great - great granddaughter of Augustus , both of Cassia ' s daughters by Corbulo were direct descendants of the first Roman emperor and thus , surviving members of the Imperial Julio - Claudian family .