Page:The History of Armenia - Avdall - Volume 1.djvu/148

 BISTORT OF ARMENIA. lOSL

court from Nisibis and established it at Edessa. Abgarus having remarked great talent for war in his nephew Sanatruk, he appointed him prince and general of the Armenians, and revealed to him his intention of revolting from the Romans. Sanatruk was then dispatched into the country of Artaz, with directions to discipline and increase the number of his troops, that they might be the more efficient in the approaching event. Arshavir, theking of Persia, at this juncture died, leaving three sons, Artaces, Caren, and Suren, with a daughter named Co^hm. Quarrels broke out among the former about the succession to the throne of Persia. Artaces, as the eldest, wished to be king : the others disputed his right.

Things were in this state when Abgar, who had throughout reckoned upon the assistance of the Persians in his projected rebellion against the Romans, seeing that he would be obliged to relinquish all hope of aid from them, if these dissensions continued, marched an army into Persia and espoused the cause of Artaces. The latter, by the assistance of the Armenians, ascended the throne of Persia. In order to restore peace in the royal family, Abgar per- suaded the whole three to listen to conditions on which they might live amicably. These were, that Artaces should possess the government

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