��HISTORY OF ARMENIA.
��himself Up to Artasbir. He was immediate^ dethroned, and put in chains, and his brother Viramshapuh appointed king. Artasbir, imme- diately after he had taken possession of the kingdom, changed all the orders of rank which Khosrove had instituted amongst the chiefs. He also deposed St. Isaac from the pontifical chair, without even seeing him, but still con- tinued the payment of tribute to the Greeks. The Camsaracan Qaoavon, beii^ at this period in possessionof considerable power and influence with the people, Artasbir, by stratagem, took him and his son Hirahat prisoners, and bound them in chains. With them and the captive Khosrove, he quitted the country, and set out fcr Ctesiphon, after leaving a large detachment of Persian troops with Viramshapuh, to keep the kingdom in order and tranquillity. Shavaish, the brother of Gazavon, and Pargev the Amatunian chief, with his son Manuel, having taken with them seven hundred men, followed secretly the Persian prince, with a view of attempting the rescue of Khosrove, Gazavon, and his son. Hav- ing overtaken the Persians, they attacked them, and a bloody fight ensued. The captives being loaded with irons, the assaUants were unable to set them at liberty. A vast number of the Persians fell in consequence of the confusion that prevailed amongst them from the unexpected
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