Page:The History of Armenia - Avdall - Volume 1.djvu/438

 Upon the village of Artashat, one of the three in question. Joseph's brother then threatened to appeal against him to the Caliph» which irritated the vindictive governor to such a degree, that he seized him and caused him to be strangled. This fatal event so much ^^P;^** affected the pontiff that he fell sick and died, •'*255- in the eleventh year of his pontificate. David the Second, from the village of Cacaz in the province of Maghaz, was then elected pontiff. Shortly after he assumed direction of the church, two brothers^ Isaac and Joseph, both eminent characters, were martyred in Carin. Khuzima died in the twentieth year of his government, and immediately after the country was invaded by a horde of plunderers from Mesopotamia. On this occasion Ashot the Great, sumamed Misa- ker (the flesh-eater), assembling troops marched to repel these marauders. The Armenian chief proved successful, but his brother Shapuh, the grandson of Shapuh the historian, was killed in the action. Ashot then sent messengers to the caliph of Bagdad, informing him of the death of Khuzima and the invasion of the country. He also entreated him to restore his son Sum-* bat, who was then a hostage with him. Ashot shortly after this died.

The next governor sent by the caliph of ^^P- 8it* Bagdad, was Hawl or Howl. He was a bene- cn^cs/

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