time after, died, having been in possession of the throne nine years, and was interred near his father in the city of Ani.
CHAPTER XVII.
The reign of Tiran the Second, and the pontificates of Husik and Pharnerseh.
Immediately after the death of Khosrove the Second, St. Vertannes convened all the Armenian chiefs and generals, and consulted with them upon the expediency of soon filling the vacant throne. Having deliberated, they called Tiran, son of the late monarch, to the crown. St. Vertannes then, having delivered charge of the country to Arshavir the Camsaracan, took Tiran with him, and proceeded to Constantinople, to present him to the emperor Constantine; and to acquaint the latter with the choice of the Armenians as to the successor of Khosrove to the sceptre of their kingdom. When the report of the death of the late monarch, and the election and subsequent departure of Tiran, reached Persia, Shapuh determined to make an attempt to obtain the sovereignty of Armenia for one of his own family. He therefore assembled a large army, and gave the command of it to Nerseh his step-brother; whom he directed to
