244 HISTOllT OF ARMENIA.
Persian troops under the command of Varah, whom he directed to seize the chiefs and nobles and carry them to Persia. On the day of Sha* puh's arrival at Ctesiphon^ Hazkert died, and the former himself was murdered by the deceased king's servants ; not many hours afterwards Viram the Second succeeded to the crown of Persia.
When the Armenian chiefs heard of the death of Hazkert and Shapuh, and the order given by the latter to his generd respecting their seizure, they assembled an army, and appointed Nerseh of Chihrak general. He was a chief of distin- guished valour, and immediately after his ap- pointment to head the Armenian troops, set out with them to attack the Persians. The conflict between simple bravery, and courage inspired by patriotism, was short. The Persians were completely routed. Yarah, their general, ob- serving the fate of the day, and that there was no hope of further assistance, rushed into the middle of the Armenian ranks, and there met his death from the hand of Apirsam the Spanda- nian. After this, the chiefs separated, each retiring into his stronghold, and living indepen- dent of all controul. Some lived in inaccessible places in the mountains, being prevented from coming into the plains by the fear of Viram the king. Every one protected himself by
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