116 HISTORY OP ARMEKIA^
an ambitious eye on the crown of his uncle, he returned to his father, and communicated to him a project for dispossessing Mithridates of his kingdom. Pharsman approving of his designs^ Hiramizd set out with an army for the invasion of Armenia. Mithridates, terrified at the ap- proach of his nephew, fled, but was pursued and. taken with the whole of his family. Hiramizd, disregarding every feeling of kindred, put Mi- thridates and his queen to death, by suffocating them between thick cloths. He also murdered their sons, after making them witness the tragical end of their parents. In the meantime Darius, king of Persia, hearing the occurrences that had recently taken place in Upper Armenia^ thought this a convenient opportunity for as- serting his claim to the controul of that kingdom. He assembled a large army and entered Arme- nia, from which he soon compelled Hiramizd te flee. He then appointed his own brother Tirithus king, in the city of Artashat, who was willingly received by the Armenians, in con- sequence of his being a descendant of the A. D. 53. Arsacidee. After the king of Persia had retired from Armenia, Hiramizd returned, and endea-^ voured to expel Tirithus, but the latter had so much gained the affections of the people, that they all took up arms in his defence, and attacking the troops of Hiramizd, totally routed
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