"To the brave and mighty giant
Vahan, greetings by the help of the gods [k'aj ew hzor bazkid
Vahanay skayi, dic'n ognakanut'eamb oghjoyn].
"Although we were saddened by the
death of our brother's so yet we were amazed by the strength of
your wisdom. Now I have come here to [make] friendship and peace,
so come to me and vow to pay the royal tax [zhark ark'uni]
and be obedient and retain your previous honor and no longer enter
into treachery. Remain well by the aid of the gods'' [0'ghj
ler i dic'n ajoy].
[Vahan] sent the following reply to
him:
"You wicked and weak being, Vaxtang,
swine of your class, eater garbage, greetings.
"While I rejoiced over the death
of Mihran, I wept over your foolishness. Having heard of his death
and acquainting yourself with my God-given strength, how
could you dare come against the Church of God? If you have come
seeking friendship, why have you brought along your wife? Could
it be you want a son from us? [? mi t'e ordi
xndres yeranac' meroc'] And why did you [re]build
my city and make fortresses? No, I know that you are false and
bite like a dog. Value life more than death and leave the country
peacefully. Otherwise, the death you will suffer shall be witnessed
by the entire land".
Then [Vaxtang] grew angry and sent 6,000
men against him, to Mush. However, some people informed him, saying:
"Rhahan is coming against you with 6,000 [troops]".
So [Vahan] went by night against [g32] the enemy encamped at Ccmak,
and fell upon them with the sword. They were unable to restrain
the horses, for [Vahan's] son, Smbat, had [32] got among them
and cut loose 4,000 horses. He had them cross to the other side
of the Aracani [river] and led them to the Hashteank' area. They
gave 200 horses of the first victory as spoils-share to the
church at Glak monastery, for that was their patrimonial home
[zi ayn er tun noc'a hayrenakan], and he had been baptized
there. Now Vahan got [the Iranians] into the swamps, and cut down
many of them, wounded many, and drowned 200 men in that swamp.
The prince of Hashteank' had under his control 3,600 men,
the prlnce of Palu had 2,200,
the prlnce of Arjuc' had 3,000,
the prlnce of Elnut/Olnut had 5,000,
prince Vahan had 8,000,
and his son Smbat, 6,000,
in all, 28,000 men.
This entire body was under Vahan's direction.
However, he had divided it and left lieutenants [koghmnapahs]
everywhere. This gave him 3,000 men that day. The prince of Hashteank'
caused a great slaughter [bazum naxchirs gorceac']
there since he hastened to behead Rhahan and put the troops to
flight. He [33] harassed them until they entreated him [to stop]
and promised to pay them taxes. But Vahan said: "Give us
Rhahan's head and we shall let you go ". And the [Iranian]
soldiers in much anxiety sought for the head, but could not find
it. But they seized [Rhahan's] son Vah and turned him over to
Vahan. Now the prinoe of Hashteank' came forward and said: "Either
give us Rhahan's head or give us 30,000 dahekans".
And they gave the 30,000 dahekans and turned to go. When
Vahan saw that they all were departing, he became filled with
the zeal for God, attacked and started to destroy them. [The Iranians]
raised a cry, saying: "Oh liar, why do you turn to battle"?
And that place was named Arhinch' (Why). [The Armenians] drove
them into the plain and caused a great slaughter. Less than 500
men fled [g33] and went to Vaxtang and told him what had happened.
[Vaxtang] became furious and ordered those who came to him beheaded.
Of those 6,000 men not a man remained alive. Not a single one.
Now Vaxtang, moved to a rage because
of Rhahan, sent Asur [against Vahan] at the head of 8,000 soldiers.
This army came and encamped on the shores of the Meghti [river]
and sent the following message to Vahan: "Hey you vile wolf,
Vahan. Knowing that you serve the Aryan king, why have you become
so shamelessly brazen? Now come to us and be a tax payer. Otherwise
you will die like a dog". When [Vahan] heard this, he and
his son Smbat went agalnst them with 6,000 [34] men. As soon as
[the two armies] were facing each other, Asur started to insult
Vahan by calllng hlm a wolf. And [Vahan] replled: "Your epithet
for me is accurate, because [like a wolf] I come, destroy, go,
and come again". And they commenced battling each other.
Once they joined battle, Vahan's son,
Smbat, kept his eye on Asur and approached him. Now when Asur
saw that Smbat was a lad, he scorned him and said: "You stone-worshipping
bastard [k'arapasht harchordi], get out of
the way so I may move on to the fighting men". [Smbat] replied:
"Son of Satan, your name fits you because your sword [sur]
is as nothlng [a, "lacking"] and by fighting
with a youth you shall acknowledge your defeat". Smbat took
his sword and cut off Asur's horse's head. [Asur] fell to the
ground and then [Smbat] attacked him and cut off his head. He
raised the head aloft and said: "Glory to You, Christ, and
to St. Karapet who vanquished my adversary". Now while he
was saying this, 10 men surrounded Vahan and struck at him mercilessly
like men felllng a forest. Vahan started to grow weak. Raising
his voice he cried: "My son, Smbat, where are you? [g34]
Come and help me, old man that I am". For [Vahan] was 88
years old. [Smbat] valiantly attacked them like a swiftly flying
eagle, saying: [35] "Help us St. Karapet". And with
that he cut off Asur's son's head severing it, together with the
right shoulder, and it fell off. Then Vahan became stronger and
cut off the heads of 6 horses. The Lord gave the Iranian army
over [to the Armenians] and they chased them until evening. Of
the 8,000 soldlers, only 3,000 went back to Vaxtang. [Vaxtang]
remained quiet until the next year. That same year k'aj
Vahan, avenger of the Church, died. He had [his remains] taken
to Glak monastery where he is buried in front of the threshold
at the door of [the church of] St. Karapet.
Now the next year Vaxtang assembled
a force of 20,000 and sent to Smbat [this message]: "Either
come so that we may fight, or else be obedient and pay taxes".
[Smbat] gathered together 10,000 men and went against [Vaxtang]
at Andak. He left 5,000 men on the hill called Mahu agarak
(Death field) and himself went with 5,000 against [Vaxtang] to
provoke him. Vaxtang sent 10,000 men against [Smbat], thinking
that he was alone. The troops came and surrounded him at night.
[Smbat] wanted to arise against them by night, but his court priests
prevented him. Now he said: "I trust in God that since we
have faithfully served St. Karapet he will not abandon us".
And he went against the Iranian troops with torches. Suddenly
they saw a man with long hair which radiated light, which blinded
the enemies' eyes. When k'aj Smbat saw this he said to
the troops: "Take heart, my sons, [36] and fear not, for
St. Karapet has come to our aid and is fighting along with us".
Let no one think the matter unbelievable, for [the Iranians] began
to fight one another and to kill each other, [g35] for the Lord
was fighting against them. And they so destroyed them that torrents
of blood flowed. That place was called T'il.
When such a multitude had been killed,
200 men were left alive as news-bearers to inform others
about the man they had seen during the night, for the enemy also
had seen him. [Smbat] himself led their horses to Mush awan,
to his son (who was called after his grandfather Vahan Kamsarakan)
so that the city's infantry would become cavalry and be sent quickly.
[Vahan] assembled 2,500 cavalry and sent them to prince Smbat.
Now [Smbat] evaded [the Iranians] for 8 days, and prepared his
force. After 8 days Vaxtang reached that plain. The next day they
readied for war. Now during the night Smbat detached 2,000 cavalry
and took them to a hiding place behind the Iranians, and on this
side of the hill [he deployed] 3,000. Thus on both sides he had
arranged for secret battle. He then divided 8,000 men into 6 groups
[i vec' rhazm], and in the morning they organized.
So that [the Iranians] not learn about the secret traps, he hastily
turned to them and provoked them, to move against him [zi
mi gaght darans gitasc'en,
p'ut'apes i dimi hareal
sharzheac' i veray iwr.].
[37] Once they joined battle, at first
[the Iranians] were vanquishing Smbat. Now [Smbat] went onto the
hill and said: "Where are you, braves? Come forward".
And the braves attacked from all sides and trapped the Iranian
army in their midst. They fought until it was impossible to recognize
each other except by the sounds of trumpets [g36] and the sight
of banners [bayc' miayn i jayn p'oghoc'n
ew i tess droshac'n]. When
Vaxtang and Smbat faced each other Vaxtang said: "Stop, bastard.
Though you have killed many before, today you will not slip out
of the hands of brave men. Our swords will tear you apart".
Smbat, moving into action, struck and split Vaxtang's hip armor,
fatally wounded him and brought him close to falling [to the ground].
Thrusting his lance, [Smbat] struck [Vaxtang's] breast. The lance
stuck in, but Smbat was unable to jab it in deeper. He raised
his voice and said: "St. Karapet, reveal yourself today to
your servants, for we die for your sake, and for the faithful
of Christ". Then he struck [Vaxtang's] shoulder with his
lance and the weapon passed in through the armor and through his
heart. Pulling out his sword, [Smbat] cut off [Vaxtang's] head,
but was unable to keep it, because many men made off with the
head.
Now a certain of [Vaxtang's] servants
grabbed the head and fled. Smbat reached the fugitive and struck
his head with a club, such that [38] the man's helmet split and
the bone of his skull gave way before the club, so that [Smbat]
could barely pull it out. But when he did, the head fell off and
the the servant died. Then another servant took the head and ran.
Smbat followed him and said: "Iranians, don't lose your senses.
For Vaxtang has already fallen, [the man] who inspired his servants
to take his head and flee. Now consider if you must do this''
[Parsikk' mi anmtanayk', zi minch' yays ankaw, or srtac'aw
carhayk'd ek', zgluxd arheal p'axch'ik', apa gitasjik'` t'e jez
aydpes part e linel]. The servant threw [Vaxtang's] head at
Smbat's chest and said "Take it, roast it, and eat it. Alas
that you did not kill him sooner". Smbat took the head and
pursued the servant, saying: "Ay you traitrous [tirateac']
Iranian, why didn't you substitute your own head for that of your
lord? Now since you betrayed your lord, I will take your head
from you". And with his lance, [Smbat] struck him to the
heart, and the lance came out the [g37] other side. The man fell
from his horse, whereupon Smbat severed his head, and then returned
to the hill in great triumph. The surrounding troops killed Iranians
in the place until not a one of them remained except those who
were encamped by the camels, 400 men whom he ordered spared since
they fled [? zors och' hramayeac'` spananel,
zi p'axstakank' ein] . But he took from them
1040 camels and 8000 horses and asses.
[39] As soon as the battle was ended,
[Smbat] ordered them buried in the valleys and ravines. That hill
was named Mahu [Death] Hill. Then Smbat took troops and went against
Porp city by night. When the soldiers entered the homes, they
killed whomever they encountered speaking Iranian [zors
ew gtin parsiks lezuaw], cut off the
noses, strung them up, and brought them to Smbat. When the noses
were counted they found 4,900 Iranian men, women and children.
Now Vaxtang's son and wife were taken
to Aycic' fortress (which was previously called Arcuik') to be
kept there. [Smbat] sent to the Iranian king Xosrov and said:
"Give me taxes for 12 years to cover the [cost of the] grass
and bread of my country which your forces ate, the wood they burned,
the price of the water they drank, the price of the tachars
which my father Gayl Vahan burned because of your soldiers, and
60,000 dahekans for the price of the soap to wash your
soldiers' robes (which smelled of death and were blood-drenched)
before we could wear them. Otherwise, I shall come against you
with 100 men and with all the Iranians captured, I shall take
them to Taron and shall chain a dog to your gods so that they
bark at you in place of them [? ew i k' o astuack'd
shun xarhanem or p'oxanak doc'a
hajen i jez]. Now be quick. Do whatever I have [40]
said to do. Otherwise you will see what will befall you".
When [g38] [Xosrov] heard this he mocked Smbat and he wrote no
reply to him.
But Vaxtang's brother, Suren, took 100,000
dahekans and 9,000 men and came to Taron to buy the wife
and son of Vaxtang. Smbat went before him and, receiving Vaxtang's
brother Suren with affection, he sent him to Mush. After 10 days
Suren asked after his brother's son, wanting to know where he
was. Now they showed him the fortress and said: "Over there".
And he asked: "Is he herding goats or dews there"?
Smbat laughed at Suren's bon mot [And aycarac
e t'e diwarac: Ew cicagheal Smbatay
end aghi bansn Surenay.], and ordered
[Vaxtang's] wife and son brought before hlm. As soon as they arrived,
Suren sald: "Mighty prince [ruling] the land of Armenia,
will you give them as gifts to the Iranian king" [tas...ark'ayin
turs.]? The prince replied: "I wouldn't even give
the Iranian king a dead dog for his dinner without his paying
for it, let alone give these two [hostages]. But if you want to
buy them, I most certainly will give them over; otherwise, the
three of you will go to Arcrunlk' and herd goats, and do service
at the fortress and ungratefully eat my bread".
Now because Suren was a wise man he
said: "Oh pious and mighty prlnce, if you made us tend a
dog at your gates [t'e ew zshun darapasid
k'o aracel tayir] it would be an honor [41]
for us just to be at your court, to say nothing of herding goats.
But listen to us and take from us 100,000 dahekans, 2,000
camels and 6 Iranian horses, and give us this woman and youth".
The prince said: "Whatever you brought here is ours, for
I'll cut off your head and confiscate what you have [ew
zor unis'` yis arhnum]. But if you
need them, become a Chrlstlan and be baptized, and take me and
go to the Iranians and these [hostages] with you. Otherwise think
up something else". Now Suren brought 100,000 dahekans
and led the camels and horses [g39] before him and said to the
prince: "Here is your gift". But [Smbat] replied: "I
approve of your gifts, but [Iranian troops] took 180,000 [dahekans
worth of] wood from K'ark'e and they ate up 400,000 dahekans
of grass from the plains and 60,000 dahekans for the hinds,
stags, and rabbits of my country which they hunted and ate. I
leave aside the price of water and of bread. But let them pay
for the sweet wines of Syria, Salnay and Moxray which for these
two years they have cut from me and have themselves consumed.
And the tax which they took from 6 districts and for the city
revenue which they ate, let them pay 300 dahekans [1 ms.:
400,000]. You become a Christian. Take me to the Iranians and
take these [hostages] for yourself".
[42] Suren became gloomy and was unable
to speak for 3 days. But then the prince sent to him, saying:
"Don't be sad, for I shall do everything according to your
will. But come, let us pass to the other side [of the river] and
make a pilgrimage to my monastery which my father built".
Taking Suren they crossed to the other side of the Aracani, taking
the woman and son along. But because [Smbat] wanted to deceive
the Iranian, the wife and son and Vahan Kamsarakan were left on
the other side, such that should [Suren] cross over, he would
be killed [Bayc' zi nengel kamer parskin, zkin ew zordin ew
zVahan kamsarakan yaynkoys t''ogheal, zi or i na ankc'i` na spanc'e].
He left 4,000 of his troops at Meghti and [left] the Iranians
at the village of the monastery which they called Artic' village
[ew zParsic'n yandastan vanac'n`
zor Artic' gewghn koch'en]. [Smbat]
took 400 choice soldiers and [Suren] took 400 of his own, and
the two set out for the monastery. When they reached the Hidden
Cross, they dismounted and proceded to the monastery on foot,
since it was impossible for anyone to ascend there on a horse.
Similarly [the terrain] from the eastern foot of the valley upward
to the churoh was so steep that no one would dare come up. For
if St. Gregory [g40] and Trdat did not dare to come to that place
on horse, whoever else would?
Now as soon as they approached the site
of the monastery, the [43] clerics came forth and prevented them
[from proceding] because of Suren. So Smbat grew angry and said:
"If you Iranians are ao abominable that you are unworthy
of lairs, how is it that you are worthy of life"? And Varaz,
prince of Palunik' attacked Suren striking him with a sword and
cutting off his head. They strangled two Iranian princes by hanging
them from a tree, and then returned to the horses. The 300 troops
of the prince of Palunik' were hidden on the hill in a small stronghold
on Mecamor, below Andak. They rode the horses until they had descended
to Mecamor. Those who were in ambush sprang out. They cut down
400 [Iranians] by trapping them between themselves. Then [the
Armenians] descended to the other troops and departed. Now as
for those who were in the fortress at Artic' village, at night
they came out and fell on the Iranians. They cut loose more than
2,500 of their horses and led them to Sroc' valley. Now the Iranian
troops had followed the thieves and reached them in the place
called Goghoc' [Thieves'] Spring. The horse-thieves turned
upon them and 520 men were hit with slings and bows. They took
their horses and added them to the others, making 3,000 horses.
Some of the footsoldiers [hetewakealk']
from the Iranian force had entered the valley, gone into the forest,
fell on the horse-thieves and began to cut them down. Now
the senior (awag) among the horse-thieves [44] who
was called Srem/Serem, turned against them, took out his sword
and fought them alone, until his comrades returned. As soon as
that happened, Srem died, for they had struck him in the heart
with an arrow. [g41] They buried him in the same valley which
was thereafter named Sremajor. With stones and arrows the comrades
went against them and kllled many men, puttlng others to flight.
Then they assembled in one place, encamped and ate.
Now some 250 men had gone out of Oghkan
to hunt. As soon as they saw the Iranian army unconcernedly at
its ease, they stealthily attacked, not allowing anyone to mount
his horse. Rather, they surrounded them in the same spot. Five
hundred and eight men were killed at that table, and since they
were all gathered there, the place wae named Zhoghovs [Assembly].
While this was taking place, Smbat and
the prince of Palunik' were hidden in some valley. They sent someone
to Meghti, saying: "Hurry and come against them", while
they themselves sent 100 men to provoke the Iranian troops. When
the soldiers saw this, they attacked and [the two groups] reached
eaoh other. When the troops came to Smbat they said "Get
onto the hill, for it is a favorable site for a battle, and be
careful until our troops arrive". They ascended the hill,
but the Iranian forces increased against Smbat and Varaz. The
latter two knelt before God and called upon the aid [45] of St.
Karapet. "Remember", they said "our service, and
as you helped us from afar, now do not abandon us at close range".
And the aid of God came to them.
The trumpet sounded on the hill. With Smbat leading the right wing and Varaz the left, these two began to drench themselves and their horses in blood. Smbat's sword became stuck to his hand and he could not unstick it, since the blood was glued to the sword and to the hand and it broke off in his hand [ew och' kareac' hanel. k'anzi maceaw ariwnn end surn ew end jerhnateghin, ew kotorec'aw [1 ms. whlch we follow: ew och' karac' hanil` zi kotoreal er i brhann]. Once the Iranians saw that [g 42] [Smbat] was unsble to take another sword, they gave word to one another, saying: "Hurry up, for the k'aj's hand is stuck, his God has bound him, and the sword is broken in his hand". Many men surrounded [Smbat]. The weapons crashed over Smbat's head like dry wood splitting. Now he shouted ln a loud voice: "Vay, woe is your bravery for you cannot even cut off my head". He sald this so that the words would be remembered. But when he saw that they had greatly multiplied against him, he raised his voice and said: "Where are you, prince of Palunik' brave arm and strong mallet against the enemy, the cane of my old age? Come forward like a brave eagle, for vultures and horned owls have encircled me". [Varaz, prince of Palunik'] entrusted the left wing of the army to his son Vahan (who built Vahanovit) and
[46] he himself, valiantly, like an
eagle, went [to Smbat's aid], causing all the horses to quake
with fear. Coming to Smbat's aid, he struck an Iranian on the
shoulder with his lance and the weapon passed through the horse's
spine. He was unable to remove it. At this he mocked him, saying:
"Go measure your lance and see how many cubits long it is.
Let no one fool you and say falsely that it is 3 fathoms".
And with that, he died [? Zor caghr arareal, aser. Ert' ch'ap'es
ztegd` t'e k'ani kangun e. mi ok' sut ase t'e erek' girk e ew
xabe zk'ez. Ew anden merhaw.].
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