Page:The History of Armenia - Avdall - Volume 1.djvu/400

 this event given to David Saharuney, who, as we have mentioned before, had taken refuge in Constantinople, when hostilities broke out be- tween the Persians and Greeks. Saharuney remained in his government three years, when having displeased some of the chiefs, he was expelled by them. These latter then quarrelled with each other, and by their mutual hostility left the country exposed to the incursions of her enemies. Theodoras the Rushtunian, on observ- a* i>- 63«.

Haicaa

ing the disturbances that pervaded Armenia, ga- era ss. thered some troops, and by his exertions greatly contributed to lessen the disorders. About this time Armenia was invaded by the Saracens, who, to the number of 1 8,000, headed by a chief named Abdorrahman, had advanced into the regions of Taron, and there committed horrid a. d. 637. devastations, taxing all the male inhabitants, and mse. carrying away their wives and children. The chief of that country, Vahan the Camsaracan, and grandson of Vahan the Wolf, had assembled an army of 8,000 men, headed by his brother Tiran, and Mushel another general, to put a stop to the progress of these invaders ; they were joined by Sahur, the chief of the Anzevasies, with his fol- lowers. A battle took place between them and the Saracens, in which Sahur basely betrayed his countrymen, by joining the ranks of the enemy. He was, however, well rewarded for his trea-

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