336 HISTORY OF ARMENIA^
and the Persian troops who were there, and mas* sacred every soul : this occurred in the seventk year of Surens prefecture. When the news of this terrible event reached Persia, Khosrove the king became furious, and determined to march himself at the head of his troops, and extirpate the whole of the rebek. But Sebokht, a great Persian chief, a lover of peace and a most prudent charactcF, succeeded in appeasing his anger. He persuaded the king to send him as an ambassador to the Armenians to endeavour to make them, by pacific measures, renounce 'obedience to the emperor. With this object in view he came . to Armenia, but Vardan refused to let him enter the city of Duin. Sebokht be- canie extremely angry at this, and returning to Persia proved a great enemy to the Armenians, against whom he greatly sharpened the displea- sure of Khosrove. Immense preparations were then made by the order of the king, to invade Armenia, which he determined to lay waste by fire and sword. Vardan, on being informed of this, immediately collected his troops, and dis* patched spies to obtain information of the route the Persians would take, and what part of the country they would first attack. The Persians at length set out, and arrived on the plains of Khaghamakh. Vardan having due information of all their movements, on becoming apprised of
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