Page:The History of Armenia - Avdall - Volume 1.djvu/108

Rh kept at a distance in the province of Hashtens, where each had estates allotted him and an allowance from the royal treasury. This law was observed by all the Arsacidae. At length, after a prosperous reign of 22 years, Valarsaces died at Nisibis. The posterity of Valarsaces, who swayed the sceptre of Armenia, were called Arsacidae, from their ancestor Arsaces the Parthian; like the Persians, whom foreign historians style Parthians, from their being subject to Arsaces the Parthian.

CHAPTER II.

The period between Arsaces the First and Artaces.

ARSACES, the eldest son of Valarsaces, having succeeded to the throne of his father, rivalled him in his good qualities. He made many improvements, and added various excellent orders and regulations to those established by the late king. Shortly after he was crowned, the people of Pontus rebelled. But acting with promptitude, he marched against the insurgents and entirely defeated them. He erected a statue of stone on the shore of the