342 RISTdRt D# ARMENIA.
He also distitiguished Sumbat the BagratiaA by many favours^ and invited him and his son^» Ashot and VaraztiroK, to come and reside with him in Persia. Silmbat, having accepted this invitation, was appointed a Persian general.
��CHAPTER XV.
��The period between the prefectures of Sumbat the Bagratian and David Saparuney^ and the pon- tificate of Abraham.
A.D.593. Sumbat the Bagratian, surnamed the con- m4t? querer of many> having displayed many acts of valour in Persia, and in all instances triumphed over the enemies of the kingdom, was appointed by Khosrove prefect of Armenia, and also go- vernor of the country of the Virkans. Sumbat» on his appointment, visited this latter country, where he found many Armenians, who had been formerly made prisoners by the Persians, and sent hithen They had actually forgotten their own language and letters. These captives were extremely pleased on seeing their countryman. Sumbat, pitying the miserable condition in which he found these individuals, sent for many priests and other qualified people from Armenia, to teach them again the language of their nation. One, however, of these captives, was an excep-
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