Page:The History of Armenia - Avdall - Volume 1.djvu/154

 Whop died. At this period Ananey, whose Itbominations doubtless drew upon him the vengeance of the Living God, being present while certain workmen were repairing a large marble pillar in the royal mansion at Edessa, and in the act of giving directions respecting the repairs, all at once the pillar fell upon him and broke his legs, which occasioned his death. Thus was the unjust and cruel king punished for the wanton destruction of the holy bishop Addey. Sanatruk, who had assumed the royal dignity in Shavarshan, also aposta- tized from Christianity, and determining to be the sole monarch of Armenia, was preparing to invade the dominions of Ananey when the news of the latter's death reached him. Sanatruk then immediately marched with an army into Mesopotamia, where he had previously formed a party, composed of Bagratians and Ar- zrunians, which joined him as he advanced. The people of Edessa, who were christians, alarmed at the news of the approach of Sana* truk, sent to him and offered to submit, if he would swear not to molest them in the exercise of their religion, nor commit any kind of violence on them. This oath Sanatruk took, a.d.38. but no sooner had he arrived in Edessa than he broke it, and cruelly massacred all the males of the house of Abgar. The females he

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