[121] Presently we see just the opposite:
a country laid waste and empty of inhabitants, destroyed cities,
uncultivated fields which produce thorns, displaying frightful,
terrible neglect. The smeet-voiced flocks of birds have also vanished,
the birds which by their human-loving nature had grown used to
our species, which filled the land with their sweet [g104] melodies,
with their morning twitter and loud chirpings which like a goad
would rouse the farmer from lethargic sleep, calling each to his
trade. Presently the cultivated places (shenkk') are in
ruins, desolate, depopulated, and lacking places of habitation.
Where do the storks build their nests? Where may the weaker birds
find refuge in them, as is said in the Psalms. Where does the
swallow in agiation fashion a nest to fearlessly raise her chicks?
Let this matter rest here. We shall return to our sorrowful unfortunate
history.
When the Greek kingdom was divided into
two, the iron scepter became a broken reed (just as the Assyrians
insultingly styled the kingdom of Egypt), and the cauldron which
was shown to Jeremiah boiling and spilling over [afflicting] from
north to south, now with its ferocious rolling boil spilled over
burning and destroying the Christian peoples from south to north.
For, as is said in the Lord's command, "The kingdom divided
against itself [122] cannot stand, but is destroyed", so,
truly, did it occur. Because as soon as the Persians realized
that [the Byzantine nobles] were fighting and going contrary to
one another, they boldly arose and came against us, ceaselessly
raiding, destructively ravaging.
From the very beginning of that year
which we recalled above with woe, troops came from Persia resembling
ravenous wolves which upon encountering a flock unguarded by a
shepherd are not content merely with eating their fill, but try,
to kill all of the flock, so the troops from Persia [g105]were
not satiated by booty alone, but craved our deaths with voracious
appetites. It was impossible for anyone they spotted to escape
from their hands. They regarded that as a great deed of benevolence.
Now during the period of Byzantine warfare,
there dwelled Iwane, Liparit's son, to whom as a gift dwelling
place the great Erizay awan in the Hastenic' district had
been given together with the dastakerts surrounding it.
When [Iwane] learned that the [Byzantine] kingdom had been split
in two, he went and deceitfully took the stronghold called Eghanc'
Berd. After taking it he turned back to the district of Aghor
and the stronghold called Hawachich'. The city went before him
in friendship. [123] There [Iwane] chanced to encounter the judge
who was concerned with [the government] of the East. Instantly
he ordered [the judge] arrested and he stripped him of inestimable
treasure, horses, donkeys and everything else which he had amassed
in the East, and then incarcerated him at Eghnut. [Iwane] hurriedly
went against the secure city of Karin. For awhile he attempted
take it by deception, saying: "I have an edict from the king.
The city belongs to me. Open the gates that I enter". When
he was unable to subdue them in this manner, he battled , hoping
to master the city through warfare. Now the prince of the city
quickly informed the prince residing at Ani who held the charge
of magister. As soon as the latter heard what was going on, he
sent one of his principals together with the troops against [Iwane].
But [Iwane] found out, pillaged that country, then returned to
his own place. And he sent to the Persians to bring him auxiliary
troops. This was the inception of unbelievable misfortunes which
were visited upon us.
When the infidels heard this invitation,
they notified one another, quickly asaembled at one place, and
speedily reached [Iwane]. Seeing the multitude of their troops,
he was awed. [g106]For there was none to oppose them. That prince
because of whom [the Saljuqe] had come, had secured himself [124]
into a great fortress, at the first clamor of their arrival. Then
the troops which had come said: "Show us a path of plunder;
do not turn us away empty-handed". Having no way out, [Iwane]
gave them a guide from his own men. They went at night, passing
over the desolate places, and reached the Xaghteac' district.
Finding [the residents] uninformed, in accord with their own blood-thirsty
customs, they slaughtered all males [from Xaghteac'] as far as
Xrt'i forest in Chanet'ia. Taking a limitless amount of loot and
captives, they turned back with great triumph. Then they went
to that director of wickedness [Iwane], and thanked him for the
success which they had encountered on the way, by magnificent
gifts. Thereafter they returned to their own land. But because
they observed that the country was lordless, and without a defender
those satelites of satan soon returned [to Armenia]. They descended
into the Mananaghi district and divided into two parts. One detachment
went to Ekegheac' and attacked the city there at night. The city
was unprepared and unwarned [of the Saljuqs' coming]. I am incapable
of recording the disastrous, pitiful evils [vigited upon that
city]. When day dawned such a lamentable spectacle of agitation
was revealed that it would have moved even the very stones and
inanimate objects to sighing. What spectator's heart [125] would
not break, who would not be seized with trembling, whose eyes
would not cloud over and grow dim? The squares, homes,and vast
chambers, the lanes and vinsyards were choking with corpses. Virtually
the entire confines of the city were dyed red with the blood of
the slain. There [g107] were many who yet lived, unable to speak,
breathing with difficulty. As for the severely wounded, [the Saljuqs]
mercilessly tore out their intestines and livers, stuck them in
their mouths and forced them to eat while they yet lived. Oh God,
for Your forgiveness then! Oh, the great number of our evil deeds!
For this is the l3th year that the Christians have born such intolerable
disasters, yet the Lord's wrathful anger has not been quenched.
Still his hand is raised, with a cup of pure wine to make us drunk,
a foul drunkeness. No more does He forgive and pardon, but would
requite us hateful people. Thus were the city, and the villages
and fields surrounding it beseiged until there was no living human
remaining except for those in the strongholds. The infidels, filled
full and satiated with loot, set fire to the city, took captivee
and the pillage of that district, and then turned thence. Such
is your grievous history, oh city. No longer shall you be a city
of refuge, but rather an abyss of ruin for those dwelling inside
of you. Here we have recorded but a few of the diverse misfortunes
[visited upon Ekeleac' district].
[126] The infidels came to the Karin
district, to a village called Blurs, Since the residents of that
place had enclosed the hill with a wall whose foundations they
had laid on the soil (as in the Lord's proverb), when the infidels
came like a raging torrent and struck against that wall, it did
not resist even for a moment, but quickly collapsed. Its collapse
was heard throughout the world, and shall be remembered for all
time. For those who thought [the city] would be a place of salvation
and refuge, it became a pit of ruin. For all the villages and
religious establishments (kronastank') [g108] on this side
of the Euphrates, as well as many people from the Arcn awan
had assembled there. As soon as the enemy attacked, [the city's]
fortifications collapsed, and they rushed in. The flashing of
swords and the whizzing of bowstrings made everyone tremble with
dread as if bound with chains. Since there was no prince nor leader
there who by threats and encouragement might urge them to resist
the enemy, urging them to be brave martyrs, as is meet for all
warriors to have, the lordless citizens became horror-stricken
at the mere sight [of the Saljuqs]. They lost their senses, they
gave up hope and went crazy. And they commenced hiding from one
another. Some descended the walls at nighttime and fled, others
voluntarily surrendered. Those who remained inside, abandoning
all thought of resistance, dug caverns and hid underground. [127]
When the enemy attacked they cut [the citizens] down, not after
the fashion of a war, but as though they were slaughtering sheep
penned up in a yard. Some [the Saljuqs] seized, brought forward
and beheaded with the sword. They died a double death. More bitter
than death was the scintillating of swords above them, then the
death verdict. Swords in hand they came upon some, fell upon them
like beasts, pierced their hearts and killed them instantly. As
for the stout and corpulent, they were made to go down on their
knees, and their hands were secured down by stakes. Then the skin
together with the nails was pulled up on both sides over the forearm
and shoulder as far as the tips of the second hand, forcibly removed,
and [the Saljuqs] fashioned bowstrings out of them. Oh how bitter
this narration is!
As for the presbyters and clerics, what
ear could bear the unique tortures to which they were subjected?
Their skin was flayed from the breast upward, over the face, and
[g109] then twisted around the head. And only after so torturing
them did [the Saljuqs] kill them. Who has heard of more bitter,
unbelievable tortures? We have not encountered any in martyrdoms
of the saints.
[128] By such deeds did they kill everyone.
They even hunted after those survivors who were buried [in hidden
chambers], killing them after wickedly stabbing them through.
The mountains all resounded with the screams of the tortured.
When [most] of the people had been executed, [the Saljuqs] then
split open the sides of the slain, drained the bile into pans,
and made the slave women take that along. So ended that bad fortune.
So were we betrayed into the hands of wicked, merciless men. Nor
did the Lord visit us, since we did not heed him when we dwelled
in peace. He beseeched us through His prophets, saying: "Come,
heed Me, and you shall dwell in goodness, and if you hear Me with
joy, you shall enjoy the good things of the land"[Isaiah 1.18-19]. We neglected
His words. Consequently He also did not hear us in our time of
need. No, He turned His face away from us. And we were betrayed
into the hand of our enemies, and straitened by those who hated
us. Their arrows drank of our blood, and their swords ate of the
flesh of our fallen wounded fighting men. In such triumph they
went off to their own land. It is said that 7000 [men and women]
were killed or captured, and 60 clerics.
Earlier we recalled and described what
one detachment [of Saljuqs] which had come to the borders of Mananaghi
[g110 ] and divided accomplished. Now the second detachment raced
its horses through Hanjet' and Xorjean [districts], turning neither
right nor left but heading straight for its target like the powerful
thrust of an arrow shot from the bowman's hand. So went [the Saljuqs]
at nighttime, never resting, until suddenly, unexpectedly they
fell upon the residents of the southern city like hail mixed with
stones. Because the city had no place of refuge, the residents,
resembling ocean waves, surging backward and forward, could find
no way out. Alas the deeds then performed in that city. The infidels
put swords to work and killed the mother with her child, and the
son before his father. And that gloriously fashioned (bareshen)
city became a cistern full of blood. The extreme suddenness of
it, the unexpected anguish caused people to forget their love
for dear ones and sympathy for relatives. Each person thought
of some way of escape, to perhaps save himself from the burning
Gehenna of rage. Consequently, they fled to the vineyards which
surrounded the city, and they concealed themselves under the thick
leaves [130] of the vines. The infidels learned about this, searched
[the vineyards], and stabbed all [those concealed] with lances,
killing them. The clusters of grapes were stained with their blood.
Later on the surviving dregs [of the city] came forth, located
their dead among the vines, and buried them under the earth. Yet
their consciences would not allow them to gather or eat those
grapes. For they said that those grapes [were filled with] human
blood. Now when the infidels were finished killing, they returned
to the city and commenced searching through the houses. If anyone
anywhere or in a secret hiding place had concealed his belongings,
[the Saljuqs] dug them out with great skill. Then they set the
city on fire and burned it down, and then, taking booty and captives,
they departed. They dealt [g111] similarly with the surrounding
villages and awans, destroying all of them with fire, sword,
and slavery until nowhere was anyone left alive to emit even a
feeble cry.
[Isaac] Comnenus (Komianos), since he
was generous and quite wealthy, assembled about himself many troops.
Now when the king [Michael VI, Stratioticus] saw that conditions
seemed favorable to Comnenus, he beseeched him, and [131] started
sending emissaries to him, promising him gifts and the authority
of Curopalate of the East, if only, he said, [Comnenus] remain
at peace, and together with himself avenge the blood of the Christians
[slain by the Turks]. But [Comnenus] did not believe this, and
did not accept. When nothing was accomplished by the emissaries,
the king's intimates attempted to subdue [Comnenus] by warfare.
Mustering many troops they went against
him. The two adversaries met and clashed. There was so much blood
shed that people said that such carnage in one place had not occurred
before in Byzantium. On the battleground even many of the principals
fell, from both sides. But Comnenus' troops were victorious. And
since the patriarch was on Comnenus' side, many of the principals
of the city united with him. Leading Comnenus inside, they enthroned
him. As for Michael, they made him become a monk and set him off
to an island, though some say he went gladly. All of this transpired
in that same world-destroying year [1057]. [g112]
God took in His hand Turkestan and Persia,
the scepter [132] of chastisement, not of teaching, and by means
of them He judged us, in accordance with His righteous law. For
the scepter of advice is a paternal one, while [the scepter] of
torments belongs to the ]udge. David said about the torments of
sinnerd: "Many are the torments but Your counsel shall teach
me"[Psalms 31.10 and 17.36]. Similarly for sinners, Paul wrote to the Hebrews: "It
is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you
as sons" .
Now Christ, in His envivifying evangelism,
brought us closer to His heavenly father, to become familiar with
Him. And He commanded that [we] resemble him in all matters, and
to preserve intact that relationship by means of good conduct.
Yet we rebelled from our sweet and good father and were alienated
from His association. Therefore in the time of our need and of
our torments, He ignored us, and we were . betrayed into the hand
of foreign people (i jerhn azgi otari). Our enemies grew
strong against us, those who hated us ravished us; we were laid
low, and our entrails congealed in the ground. It was among us
as it was in the time of Moses when God said to Egypt (which had
been struck ten times with [the Lord's] scepter): "This is
my great might"[Hebrews 12.7].
[133] Their water turned to blood. Our
rivers and cisterns (jrasheghjk') and virtually all the
soil of thie country was dyed with our blood. Tumours formed all
over their bodies. Our bodies were stabbed by swords, and then
[g113] hacked apart, limb by limb. Dragonflies and mosquitoes
rested upon [the Egyptians] which bit and blinded those lordly
visages, but volleys of arrows were our fate, and they wounded
more painfully. For three days, [the Egyptians'] day was turned
to night. However [in Armenia] the light was entirely extinguished,
for the very recipient of the light (? zi lusoyn isk endunarann)
itself fell in death, nor in its lifetime shall it again see the
goodness of the Lord. Horrible looking insects entered their homes,
yet [these same pests] crept into our homes and churches---it
terrifies me to say it---and polluted them not only with ravaging
diseases, but also with an awful stench. The angel of death looked
after their first born sons, while here [in Armenia] whole houses
with their inhabitants were wiped out, one and all. The only thing
we lacked was the Sea, yet if you judge things by their outcome,
you will also find that we too had our Sea. For are there deeper
abysses than Turkestan or lands at the ends of the earth, whither
our captives were dragged, wherein they were swallowed [134] up
as in the Red Sea, which was dyed with the blood of their captives?
The Israelites demanded [frorn the Egyptians] as payment in place
of serving them, golden ornaments and clothing. Yet [the Saljuqs]
totally stripped and pillaged whatever we had, even though we
had done nothing to them. Alas and alack that unconsolable destruction!
There was a double justice in chastising the Egyptians: first,
God tried them for the bitter servitude by which they had straitened
the Israelites; second, because they worshippcd created beings
and not the Creator Who is blessed for eternity. Although we are
devoid of good deeds, nonetheless we have the right belief and
the tongue of confession. Why should we be punished the way they
were? How much more pitiful we are, and [how much more] deserving
of lamentation. Oh Lord, Creator, and God, why did You completely
reject us, and cause us to be trampled under foot by pagans (het'anosac'
) and make us the object of ridicule and derision by our enemies?
Arise and awaken Your might, come and save us, [g114] and requite
our neighbors sevenfold!
Now it took ten days, more or less,
[for the Saljuqs] to accomplish the destruction of other cities
and districts. As for the city about which we are now speaking
[Melitene], [135] while it was still flourishing (minch'der
i shinut'eann er, i.e., before its destruction), it resembled
a three year old heifer in the strength of its vigor and bravery,
like Moab, it was tender and genteel (girg ew p'ap'uk).
Its merchants were the glorious men of the country, while its
shoppers were the kings of the nations, who rested on ivory couches
alwaye bibing clarified wine, annointing [themselves] with fragrant
oils. All evils commence with this, just as Moees condemned the
Israelites: "It waxed fat and grew thick, and became sleek,
then it forsook Lord God its Creator"[II Deuteronomy 32.15]. The Sodomites, similarly,
led such lives, and fell into unbelievable evils, as Ezekiel revealed,
enraptured by the plentitude of bread and a rich existence. Even
the first man was unable to enjoy the blessings of Paradise for
a day untainted. Such is our nature: when growing poor, we grumble
and blame God, while when growing rich we become insolent and
like immortals subjugate the land. Therefore, constantly changing
our condition, we are taught to know our limits and not to ascend
above our bounds, so that our fall not be all the greater. Does
anyone know anything more dishonored or lowly than the soil? Yet
we originated from it and return to it [in death]. However, the
creator of our [136] nature does not want anyone to be lost, and
therefore does not allow any to live in abandon (? ch't'oghu
arjakasun zok'). As rnuch as is possible and when it is appropriate,
He advises us sweetly and with paternal counsel, but when we do
not heed His counsel, He torments us with His lordly authority.
Some [g115] sinners He tries in this world, so that in the next
their torments will be the lighter, Others He keeps for the next
world [to punish], And there are those, like the Sodomites, who
were punished both in this world and in the next. There are those,
like Lazarus, who [are punished] in this world only; others such
as the wealthy (mecatunn) are punished in the next world
solely. Let this discussion be closed here. We now return to our
narration.
During autumn of that grievous year,
while the Byzantines were occupied with the clamor of kings (=succeseion
squabbles), when the month of Areg had come [October, 1057] once
again another army arose from Persia, but whether it was the same
one that had come before, or a new one, I do not know. They croseed
the desert places with such caution that no one knew [they were
coming] until they reached the district named Kamax. Then [the
Sal]uqs] divided; one group went as far as Koghonia, and, as is
their [137] wont, they ravaged the country. (We learned about
their passage on our return [from our journey] ) The other group
aimed for Melitene, and reached it at night. There was a brigade
of Byzantine cavalrymen guarding the city, and so when the brigande
arrived (i hasanel hinin), [the Byzantines] suddenly sallied
forth to attack. When the two fo rces clashed, many were killed
on both sides. Meanwhile, during the battle, those who left the
city were able to save their lives. The warriors who remained
to fight on [eventually] fled after the fugitives. As for those
seized in the city, [the Saljuqs] put them all to the sword. They
remained there for twelve days, digging through and ruining the
city and its surrounding estates (zdastakerts). This was
the recompense of uncorruptable, righteous God for the arrogance
[of the people of Melitene]. God requites each in accordance with
his deeds.
Now when [the inhabitants of] the districts
located below Ekegheac' through which [the Saljuqs] passed by
night) [g116 ] learned about the evils visited upon Melitene,
they assembled numerous troops of archers and seized the passes
of the road. Since the infidels did not know about any other road,
[138] and since the mountains were covered with heavy snow, they
were obliged to stay right where they were for five months of
winter, from its inception until the month of Nawasard [November,
1057 -- March, 1058]. The country despaired of life. [The Saljuqs]
left a remembrance forever of the unbelievable inequities they
occasioned there. They took the young boys and other little children
and used them as targets, wickedly piercing and killing them with
lances and arrows. Nor did any feelings of pity find their way
into their natures. I need not mention the children who were torn
from their parents' embrace: the boys were hurled against rocks,
while the attractive women and girls who had been reared in comfort
(ork' i seneki sneal ein) were disgraced. Why should I
record it? Do you see how unbearable the measure of tribulations
are when God withdraws His hand from us?
Victuals for man and beast gave out.
Therefore [the Saljuqs], driven by the severity of their need,
went up toward Xorjean [district]. But because the roads were
cut because of [the people's] fear of them, and since snow still
thickly covered the country, they went twice as quickly as before.
They allowed herds of horses and donkeys [139] to run ahead unimpeded,
thus opening a path. Then the captives and baggage went. In this
fashion they reached the edge of that district and the village
named Mormreans. Now this village had a fortress, and for that
reason, all the inhabitants of the place had assembled there.
When the Persians reached it, they encamped, since they thought
that there was a cavalry force within the fortress. Packing down
the snow ( ? kurh bareal jeann), they commenced preparing
for battle. Their chief went before the fortress and started saying
something to the prince of the fortress. He had covered the snow
with numerous pavilions (shatruanok') [g117] and was sitting
on [one of] them, with a shield before him speaking harsh words
with arrogant conceit. The prince of the stronghold, who had been
awaiting an opportune moment, [acted] when the shield curved over
to one side. He shot at [the Saljuq's] throat with an arrow, and
killed him instantly. Then a Byzantine army came up from behind,
and immediately started sounding their horns. Hearing this, the
infidel fled, while those within the fortress came out and took
back inside as many captives and as much loot as they could. However
the Byzantines did not advance. Now when the Pereian(s) saw that
there was not another army there, they turned around and killed
whomever they encountered gathering [140] up the loot, scooped
up the rest, and turned back. Going close to the borders of Eghnut,
[the people there] similarly sallied forth, battled with them,
freed many captives, filled up with booty, and then went back
inside the fortress. Having been defeated, the blood-thirsty beasts
were thrown into confusion. When they entered the boundaries of
the Taron [district], an army descended from Sim mountain, customarily
styled Sanasunk' after their forebear. This army struck at them,
vanquished, killed [virtually] all of them, retrieved captives
and booty, and returned in joy, glorifying God.
During the same year, [the Saljuqs] burned down the beautiful residence of the blessed [monastery of] Karapet (=the Precursor, John the Baptist) which had been built with great labor by a certain Hrahat, one of the colleagues of Vasak's son, the great Gregory, when he was lord of the country. They also burned the belfry located in front of St. Karapet (which had been built in a gorgeous style to the glory and honor of the great martyr and precursor of Christ), as well as other structures, and the wooden church called St. Gregory. It was in the year 507 of our [Armenian] era (=1058) that this occurred. [g118]
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