160 HISTORY OF ARMENIA^
testify his obligations to this individual, the- king invested him with the rank and power- of an Armenian general. On Artavazd the Mandakunian, who had saved him from the blood V hands of Artashir, he also bestowed great honours, making him generalissimo of the Armenian army. Tachat, whom we mentioned in the preceding chapter as having saved from death, and married the sister of Artavazd, he appointed governor of the province of Ashoz. Tiridates then visited the province of Ekeliaz, in which was a temple of the goddess Anahites, to whom he offered sacrifices. Having invited Gregory to join him in his idolatry, the latter refused, upon which the king tortured him, in twelve different modes. At length coming to the knowledge of his being the son of Anak, the murderer of his father, he ordered him to be taken to the fortress of Artashat and thrown into a deep dungeon, where he remained four« teen years, being supported all that time, through the mercy of the Lord, by the charity A. D. 287. of a pious christian woman. After this, Tiridates collected troops from Armenia, and joining them with the Roman army which had accompanied him on his restoration to his kingdom, marched to reduce those Armenian cities that were yet under the controul of the Persians. He cap tured them, after having three times overthrowm
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