Page:The History of Armenia - Avdall - Volume 1.djvu/81

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of this race were called Sumbat, after their original ancestor, and a few took the name of Ashot, in memory of Asood the son of this Jewish chief. Haykak died after a prosperous reign of 36 years. He was succeeded by his son Erwand the first, surnamed the Short-lived, who reigned only four years. The sister of this monarch was married to an Armenian chief named Vardkes, who founded a large city near the river Casakh, calling it by his own name. It was some ages after rebuilt by Valarsaces, a king of Armenia of the Arsacidaean line, who gave it the name of Valarshapat.

CHAPTER VI.

The Reign of Tigranes Haicus.

ON the death of Erwand, the crown was taken possession of by his son Tigranes, who adorned his dignity by virtues of the highest order. Endowed by nature with the most estimable qualities of the mind, Tigranes, by a happy union of gentleness and humility in his manners, gained the affections of all who were in habits of intercourse with him; and that superiority