Page:The History of Armenia - Avdall - Volume 1.djvu/270

 the eastern nations. Sbapuh, the king of Persia, hearing this, sent an embassy to the young emperor to negotiate a peace. A treaty was A.'n.as;. then made between these two powerful nations, and in the articles that were drawn up on the occasion, some particulars were inserted res- pecting Armenia. They agreed to divide this kingdom into two parts ; the western, extend* ing from Armenia Minor and Mesopotamia to the limits of Taron, which was thenceforward to be tributary to the Greeks ; and the eastern, which was far more populous and fruitful, com- prehending all the country lying to the eastwaid of Mount Ararat, was ceded for ever to the Per- sians. This memorable event occurred in the second year of the reign of Arsaces the Third. Arsaces, on being informed of this partition of Armenia, held a consultation with his chiefs, and with their concurrence quitted that portion of the country that was thenceforward to belong to the Persians, and went to that which was to remain under the dominon of the emperor. He removed his court to the city of Eriza in the province of Ekeliaz. The Armenian chiefs accom- panied him with their relations and property, conceiving it better to live in poverty, under the mild and paternalgovernmentof achristianking, than to enjoy riches under the yoke of a heathen. Shapuh, much hurt at this desertion of his part

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