[292] 81. After Hazarawuxt had departed
for Iberia, Shapuh remained at Ok'al and tried to execute Hazarawuxt's
order: to hunt for Vahan Mamikonean, come upon him when he was
inattentive, and kill him. But he was able to accomplish nothing,
since security from On High surrounded and preserved [Vahan].
Indeed, Vahan Mamikonean with his troops ceaselessly took the
Iranians in [their] encampment, each day. Until every morning
they shot arrows from below [the encampment] and there were those
killed by the arrows of the Armenians themselves, and those Iranians
killed when other Iranians becoming a crowd suffocated them. Then
Armenia's general, Vahan Mamikonean, and the men who were with
him went to encamp in a nearby village under the authority of
the Mamikoneans, called Caghik. They wanted to cross to the border
area of Hashteank' [district], to get help from the people there.
The Iranian general, Shapuh, was informed that lo, Vahan Mamikonean is encamped in a village and there are extremely few men with him. So earlier than dawn the next day, Shapuh, the Iranian military commander, with all the multitude with him suddenly went against the Armenian brigade. But the Armenian brigade was prepared (they were always prepared because [293]
Armenia's general, Vahan Mamikonean,
taught them to be alert) and they went elsewhere, unharmed. Nonetheless,
brigades of Iranian troops, not taking note of the others, went
after Armenia's general, Vahan Mamikonean. For they said: "If
oniy we find some way of dealing with him, all of our business
will be finished and done". Armenia's general, Vahan Mamikonean,
went eastward to the area of the sea/lake of Karin, while the
brigades of Iranian warriors went after them unable to catch
up. Now Mushegh of the Mamikonean tohm and Nerseh Kamsarakan,
lord of Shirak, were travelling north of the lake, having missed
[meeting] Armenia's general, Vahan Mamikonean, at the appointed
hour. They were with a few men, and were upset. They approached
a village of Karin named Arcat'i, and reached a torrent which
was near a village, and they wanted to rest by the bank of the
torrent for awhile, at a place where reapers of the outer fields
(which lay around the villages) were working. [Subsequently] when
the Iranians learned that they were unable to catch them, they
wanted to harm the mshaks of the area. They said: "Why
do you permit all servants of the king of kings to travel through
your land"? [g148]
[294] Xurs (who was from Shirmac' village
in Arshamunik' district), dayeakordi of the Kamsarakan
lord of Shirak saw that one of the Iranian soldiers wanted to
kill one of the Karnec'i mshaks, and that the mshak
had gone behind a haystack to evade his [would-be]killer. When
Nerseh Kamsarakan's dayeakordi saw this he got angry at
the Mamikonean sepuh Mushegh and at Nerseh Kamsarakan,
saying courageously: "Truly, would not the avenging God demand
[an explanation] from us for the man from different lands who
dies because of an Iranian"? So Xurs attacked the Iranian
with his lance and killed him on the spot, and the Karnec'i escaped
his slayer. Stirred by Xurs' words and the deed he had bravely
done, the sepuh of the Mamikoneans, Mushegh and the lord
of Shirak, Nerseh, looked and saw that there were not too many
people pursuing them. They fell upon the Iranians with only the
few men who were with them, and, strengthened by God's aid, they
caused many torrents of blood to flow, while the others were shamefully
put to flight. Seven hundred and two men died there. When Armenia's
general, Vahan Mamikonean, heard of such successful work and glorified
God that without his participation, God bent and broke the enemy's
power. And he went to the border of Hashteank' in accordance with
his previous plan. Reaching the place, he [295] encamped at the
village called Erez in the district of Arshamunik', wishing to
rest for two days.
82. Gdihon, general of Siwnik', urgently
hurried Shapuh, the military commander of the Iranian brigade,
saying: "You and the entire Aryan land should go and experience
Vahan Mamikonean's bravery. I am unable to fathom the man's actions
and deeds. For when the entire brigade was united at Duin around
him, he showed us [an example of] his bravery. However the king
of king's crown and the glory of the Aryans aided us such that
(as you saw) his deeds resulted in one thing, while our's came
to a good conclusion. Now tell me, what is the man doing with
so few men that every day he depletes and defeats our brigade?
See if you can get aid elsewhere, for he will reduce us to but
a few, and make us retreat in shame. Furthermore, I am unsure
about our retreat even. But hurry and do not let the man rest.
Otherwise, perhaps we will slow down and he will exhaust us and
embarass us. If you only left him to me, in but five days, with
my brigade alone I would show you how severely I would defeat
him and those with him". [g149]
[296] Because Gdihon's deedd were not
those worthy of a clean soul, the impure [spirit] within him prophesied
about him that: "After five days you will wickedly be killed
by the men who are with Vahan Mamikonean". For when the dew
saw that the man was completely abandoned by God's care, like
Saul, [hs realized that] he could kill him wherever he wanted.
Now when the Iranian military commander, Shapuh, heard all these
words, he did not permit [Gdihon] or the men with him [to accompany
his troops]; rather, in a rage, he himself went after [Vahan].
He encamped in a certain spot near where he wanted to go, thinking
to hide in an unknown part of a branch of the river.
Armenia's general, Vahan Mamikonean,
and the troops with him were sleeping peacefully at least that
night, after convincing the men in the village of Erez. For everyone
listened to his orders out of fear, willingly, as though he were
a king set up by God upon the earth. And God Himself was with
him in everything he did, wherever that might be. He took his
troops and the shinakans of Erez and approached the encampment
at night. Then, surrounding the battle-site with Erezites holding
shields, they violently let loose with [297] a tumultuous downpour
of arrows against the Iranian brigade which they terrified. The
mob of troops in the encampment mingled with one another and the
Iranians trampled one another even more; and there came the sound
of weeping and of bad news from the camp of the impious. From
the Armenian brigade, only Gabagh, sepuh of the Gabegheank',
was pierced while enthusiastically battling and displaying great
courage. After a few days he died of his wounds and was crowned,
being worthy of acceptance by God.
83. Armenia's general, Vahan Mamikonean,
left the slaughter of the enemy and went to spend the remainder
of the night at the village of Oghin called Shteay, in the stables.
At daybreak he went and encamped at Shteoy village. Just as the
Armenian troops of Vahan Mamikonean wanted to rest awhile from
the weight of the evening's labors, they raised their eyes and
who should they see but the Iranian military commander Shapuh
coming against them, roaring like a wild beast with an enraged
heart. For the wicked injuries of that particular night had seemed
more and more serious than those [inflicted] on all previous days.
And indeed, this was so, since nothing done before resembled [298]
the great carnage which had thoroughly broken [the Iranians] and
could now be observed. Armenia's general, Vahan Mamikonean, saw
the unexpected attack of the Iranian military commander, Shapuh,
and all of the multitude of troops against them. Although he
saw that his brigade at the time was unprepared and fewer compared
to the enemy's mighty force, nonetheless, he overlooked [g150]
nothing. Giving the order, he quickly assembled however many men
he had. Then, like a lion, he bellowed: "The believing person
cannot miss the mark twice. If he hits the mark both times, it
is laudable and honorable. However, one is greater and more desirable
than the other. The two encounters are not unwillingly or unthoughtfully
met. Living and dying is part of that exaltation for those who
wish to live prudently and die hoping. To die for a blessed vow
is the lot of martyrdom. Now God has frequently glorified us with
the victory and we are thankful of that. And the Almighty will
also grant us and crown us with that which is above all else.
Let no one ignorantly be frightened through lack of faith. For
it was the holy Spirit which said: " Those whom the lord
God strikes one through his dear ones can chase a thousand and
two put ten thousand to flight" [II Deuteronomy 32, 30].
We belong to God and God will look upon and aid us. We are few
in number. But if the Almighty [299] wishes to fulfill [His?]
promises, [i.e., that each of us will be able to chase away 1000
of the enemy] than the multitude of the enemy is lacking to become
300,000 [as against our 300]. For, to judge it by sight, they
have no more than 4,000. But let us always exalt in God's name
and always confess it, for eternity" .
When Armenia's general, Vahan Mamikonean,
had said all of these words, he divided the amount of troops he
had and entrusted them to each of the military commanders whom
he considered able and capable. VVhile he was still organizing
the attack and the Iranian troops arranged in fronts were ferociously
coming to war, [Vahan] looked and saw that the entire Armenian
brigade had turned tail from the oath sworn on the Gospel, and
from the counsel of Armenia's general, Vahan Mamikonean, and were
all fleeing. Only about 40 people, more or leas remained: Vahan
himself and the oath-keepers including Mushegh of the Mamikonean
tohm, the two Kamsarakan [brothers], sons of the venerable
Arshawir, two or three of their dayeaks, and other azats
from the Mamikonean house. [g151] [300] Seeing the flight of the
entire Armenian brigade, those who remained were terrified and
one of them said to the general of Armenia, Vahan Mamikonean:
"Lord, take care, take care"! In other words, [he thought]
it was possible to give way and to save himself. But Armenia's
general, Vahan Mamikonean, made the sign of the Cross over himself
and said in a loud voice: "Let no one tell me to take care,
for I do not place my hopes in man or pride myself in them--God
forbid! I [place my hopes] only in the Cross of our lord Jesus
Christ".
Then [Vahan] plunged into the entire
Iranian army, attacking with the few good oath-keeping men who
remained with him. The Iranian military commander Shapuh, astonished
by the awesome courageous strength of Armenia's general, Vahan,
and the few men with him, quickly sent to Gdihon prince of Siwnik',
saying: "Help me on this side, because [Vahan] is doing something
peculiar and new. I do not know if there is indeed some invisible
force aiding them which we cannot see. But if they stupidly want
to commit suicide, then let us get them in our midst and arrest
all of them today". Gdihon, prince of Siwnik', became ecstatic
at Shapuh's summons, and arising, he quickly went to where the
campaign was being conducted. Armenia's general, Vahan Mamikonean,
with the few like-minded people with him, attacked having the
assistance of the right- hand of the Almighty. He plunged into
the entire Iranian brigade as though it was merely a torrential
rain which falls [301] to the ground and vanishes. [Vahan] himself,
together with with his brave oath-keepers, like a lion, forcefully
plowed through the middle of the entire mass and came out on the
other side. He and the men with him killed many powerful warriors
of the Iranian troops. Among them, they mortally pierced with
a lance through the armpit the haughty prince of Siwnik', Gdihon.
With a frightful sound they rent the security of his armor in
which the impious one had confidence, and the tip of the spear
plunged into his liver. After several days of wickedly bitter
gasping for air, [Gdihon] gave up the ghost, without confessing.
He had at one time immodestly boasted that: "I will not fight
with Vahan and the other Armenians with arrows, but rather with
the notch of an arrow I will scatter and disperse all of them
across their valleys and plains".
His prideful words destroyed him. God
had betrayed the prince of Siwnik', Gdihon, once and twice to
the hands of men in the force of Vahan Mamikonean. God patiently
and forgivingly pardoned [g152] him out of humanity, so that perhaps
[Gdihon] would repent [re]convert do pennance, and be saved. But
when he did not come to his senses, and instead thoroughly scorned
the truth, and did not respond to the divine inquiry, he received
his shameful end, in this world and in the next. The Iranian troops
went after the fugitive Armenians, and they killed many of these
weakened cowards.
[302] After Armenia's general, Vahan
Mamikonean, and his colleagues had completed this deed of bravery
(with the power of God), he then went unconcernedly as though
he were a wing of the Iranian force. All the brigades of Shapuh's
troops did not even dare to look at their faces. Because God had
so inspired them with fear and dread of Armenia's general, Vahan
Mamikonean, that the Iranian troops thought that if they merely
looked at the Mamikonean and the men with him, they would be unable
to escape without injury. Of the oath-keeping strengthened men
who were with Armenia's general, Vahan, and who attacked and were
then martyred were:
K'ont ' Arhawenean,
the venerable Ners Yovsepean,
the venerable Atgen sepuh of
the Vanandac'ik',
and the venerable Gherpargos who was
of Greek nationality.
84. Because of the extremely distasteful
odor, the Siwnik' troops threw the entrails of their prince on
the ground. Then, after wrapping him in reeds, his relatives and
servants took him to the land of Siwnik'. When the Siwnik' cavalry
saw this, dismayed and distraught, they separated and splintered
from each other and each returned to his place via different roads.
[303] When Shapuh, the military commander
of the Iranian brigade, saw the collapse of the Siwnik' brigade
and the awesome might of [his] adversary Vahan Mamikonean, he
recalled the irresistible strength [of God] and was thoroughly
frightened, wondering but not knowing what to do. For he said:
"Vahan regarded as nothing the life of such a man as Gdihon
and conquered him, the men with him, and the choice brigade, as
well as the men here with me. He attacked three and four thousand
men with only thirty men, crushed the hearts of all, destroyed
such a huge multitude of troops, and caused such massive damage.
With what assurance can we (who have become few) resist such brave
folk. Thinking it over, I fear that in accordance with [Vahan's]
brilliance, he will send to [g153] the nearby bordering places,
to the Armenians of the district of Anjit or Cop' or Hashteank'
and take auxiliaries from them as from his own relatives, and
we survivors will be unable to save our own lives. Come now, let
us hurry to the place of the ostan of Armenia and quickly
send emissaries to inform the king of kings. Even though the Gods'
assistance settled his affairs, it is time to return to the ostan.
Thereafter, with the force of the brigade or by himself, he will
try to take charge of the affairs of Armenia. But as I review
the [30-4] events of the day before yesterday, I am unable to
think or imagine anything. Although I am not so old, I have never
even heard from the Aryan military commanders about warriors
in centuries past, nor have I witnessed
in my own time [an instance when] someone with ten men attacked
3000 select cavalrymen, accomplished so much, and then got away
unharmed".
85. Shapuh thus thought all of this
over. The next day he went to the district of Basean, to a village
called Aluar. While he was tormented by thoughts of fear of Armenia's
general, Vahan Mamikonean, suddenly an emissary arrived from the
Iranians bearing exceedingly bad news and letters containing much
unpleasantness, written to Shapuh by the Iranian noble folk, and
each of his relatives and friends who had escaped countless severe
defeats from the Hepthalites. Shapuh took the letters, and, coming
upon those passages which related the heavy and serious torments
and the awesome destruction of the land of the Aryans, he sank
into a state of dismayed terror. He remained speechless awhile
like a fainting person, unable to ask the bringer of the correspondence
anything or to come to his senses. After many hours he awoke as
though from being dazed and drugged, and called the man, questioning
him alone as to how and why such an end and destruction
should have been visited upon [305] the land of the Aryans, or
who could escape and bring the news of the destruction of such
a countless multitude of troops, and why did the god-like lord
Peroz die, and what sort of a death?
The emissary responded: "Your questions
are proper and appropriate to anyone who wants to hear important
and useful information from emissaries. However, it is very difficult
for me to speak bad words and to narrate such wicked calamities
and the escape of the fugitives. This is especially so when the
cause of such injury and destruction was none other than the godlike
lord of the Aryana, Peroz, himself. Although for [g154] a serving-man
speaking ill about the gods brings death and destruction, nonetheless
it is necessary to say what was seen and heard and the matter
cannot be ended without this. This is because presently the bad
experience of the lord of the Aryans and of the entire land was
due to the wrath of the gods, and the cause was none other than
the lord of the Aryans himself. First, when Peroz was still in
Hyrcania and massing troops from all sides, he wanted to go against
the Hepthalites.. He kept his thoughts to himself and did not
ask anyone about the worthiness or unworthiness of the men. But
everyone in the brigade knew that he wanted to fight the [306]
Hepthalites. Recalling the terror and besiegement which [the Hepthalites]
had put the lord of the Aryans and the Iranians to [previously],
all of the men felt abandoned and broken-hearted and were unable
to see a Hepthalite, or hear the name Hepthalite, to say nothing
about actually going to fight against the Hepthalites. Every mouth
was plainly saying: 'If we are condemned to death, and the king
of kings wants to kill us, let him order us killed here with his
own sword, than let the Hepthalites destroy the Aryans with their
swords. For from such a deed he personally and the land of the
Aryans will receive eternally a bad name'. All the court nobility
was constantly saying the same thing, especially the sparapet
of the Aryans, Vahram, who boldly and publicly protested many
times to Peroz. But he would not listen to anyone nor did he sense
or remember his disgraces from earlier enemies--disgraces which
he personally and all the Aryans had experienced from the Hepthalites.
So, with a huge multitude of Aryans and non-Aryans, he went against
them. [The men] went as people condemned to death, not as warriors
going to fight. The survivors also state that when they had approached,
the Hepthalite sent to Peroz, saying: 'You have with me an oath
sworn, written, and sealed that you will not fight with me. We
stipulated a boundary over which we would not dare to cross to
inimically fight each other. Now recall that oath, and the difficulties
of the [307] besiegement from which I mercifully released you.
I did not kill you but let you return in peace. Do not die! Now
if you do not heed my words, know that I will destroy you and
the entire useless multitude in which you are placing your hopes.
For I and the justice of oath-keeping are fighting together on
one side, while you and the falseness of oath-breaking are together
on the other side. So how are you going to be able to vanquish
me'? When the Aryans heard the Hepthalite's words, they said to
Peroz: 'He is right; we are fighting falsely'. Peroz, becoming
severely enraged at the Aryan nobility haughtily replied to the
Hepthalite, saying: 'With the multitude of this brigade which
you will see, I will use half [of the soldiers] to fight with
and defeat you, and with the other half I will transport the soil
from the places where you are now to the sea and the trench to
fill them up'. Because of the insensitivity of his heart [Peroz]
did not realize that the corpses of his [155]servants would fill the trench which
he dug to destroy himself and the entire Aryan world. When the
two sides met and clashed, [Peroz], all of his sons and land were
lost. The few men who had escaped from the carnage reached Hyrcania
and narrated to everyone all of these wicked developments, and
this caused [308] all of the awag's and other people in
Hyrcania to flee to Asorestan. They sent an emissary to Hazarawuxt
in Iberia and they dispatched me to come to you, so that you would
quickly assemble together and devise ways of keeping yourselves
and the Aryan world alive".
86. When Shapuh heard all of these words
from the emissary, he replied: " I and the brigade that you
now see with me, even before this wicked news arrived, were seeking
an excuse to get away from the work we have been engaged in. For
the rebel Vahan has so stupefied and terrified, so endangered
and fatigued us that his actions and deeds are not those of a
man of this period such as we have seen or know about, but rather
like those of the first Kajs which are related in romances
and which we have heard. Forget about the deeds and courage which
I and other noble folk have seen him and the men with him accomplish
in earlier times. For ten days ago he attacked not only this multitude
which is presently here and which you see, but also [we then had
with us] the brigade of the prince of Siwnik',Gdihon, with the
choice cavalrymen of his district. Resembling an eagle swooping
down upon a flock of partridges, Vahan with [309] only thirty
men attacked [us] and there were those who were killed, and many
others who were dispersed into the crevices and holes in the rocks.
In the same fashion this huge multitude of troops was scattered.
After killing the giant-like Gdihon and killing many from the
brigade, they themselves went off unharmed, fearing no one at
all. Now, was it not Peroz' unseeing and contemptuous pride which
removed such folk and such a great and useful land from serving
the Aryans? Now were I to be able to subdue and bring over to
our side such people as Vahan (whom I previously knew to be brave,
but whom I now know even better as a brave man) and the comrades
with him, especially the three brothers from the Kamsarakan tohm,
I would regard that [accomplishment] as a great consolation for
the heavy destruction which has come over the Aryan world".
When Shapuh Mihranean and the emissary
had spoken, they ordered the troops to go at all possible speed
to the land of Iran. [g156] But Shapuh left the Kamsarakan women
there at Boghberd entrusting them to the fortress-keeper whom
he repeatedly ordered to keep them very carefully and in extreme
sanctity in accordance with the rules of the Christian faith.
Armenia's general, Vahan Mamikonean, heard all of these words
and information and accepted the visitation from God and the facts
of the news and the needs and cares of the land of Armenia. He
knew each as proper and useful, and offered with [310] his mercy
in accordance with the rationality of the seekers. Then he reached
the city of Vagharshapat with the rational, loyal, oath-keeping
Armenian naxarars. He conducted the usual oaths and masses
in the holy cathedral church which the brave general of Armenia,
Vahan Mamikonean, rennovated with glorious splendor since the structure founded by his ancestors had become old. In the martyriums they first
requited the needs of the poor, then they rejoiced delightedly.
They then went on to the ostan, Duin, and spent some days
there where they awaited and expected the command of Christ's
leadership.
87. When Hazarawuxt in the land of Iberia
heard about the slaying of Peroz and the inestimable destruction
of the Iranian multitude, he was horrified and wracked with doubts,
and immediately left for the country of Iran. When he reached
the court, the remnants of the Aryan nobility gathered around
him--the son of one, brother of another--whoever had managed to
survive at the time. They consulted among themselves as to whom
they could make worthy of the kingship. They thought this over
for many days and unitedly fixed on Vagharsh, king Peroz' brother,
a benevolent and mild man. When everyone had [311] assembled near
Vagharsh, Hazarawuxt began to speak and reveal to him what all
were thinking, reminding him of the self-indulgence and capriciousness
of king Peroz, saying: "Whatever he wanted to do, he did
through force alone as he wished, with no regard for anyone and
without consulting anyone, accomplishing everything through tyrannical
will. The result of his unquestioned thinking brought not only
himself but the Aryan world generally, destruction and fragmentation.
Now all of us have enthusiastically chosen you as an agreeable,
world-building man, so that through you the throne of the kingdom
of the Aryan world would be made firm and so that the remaining
portion of the Aryan world and the other lands subject to this
kingdom be made to flourish. [We want you] to bring agreement
to the peoples who resist and rebell by [your] mildness [g157]
and affection; to recognize each of the Aryans and the non-Aryans
according to merit; to know how to select the useful from the
useless [people]; to consult with the wise; to love those who
love their comrades, and to hate and destroy the envious and the
slanderers; to observe everyone, recognizing the doers of good,
and rewarding the meritorious with recompense suiting their labors".
Having said all of this and other similar counsel to him, and
after giving testimony, they seated him on the throne of the kingdom
of Iran.
[312] 88. On the second day of Vagharsh's
reign, Hazarawuxt and the nobility held counsel. In king Vagharsh's
presence [Hazarawuxt] said: "As you yourself know, your violent,
self-indulgent and obstinate brother, king of kings Peroz' contemptuous
depravity caused many people to flee from the Aryan realm. In
a major, not minor way they have damaged the land of the Aryans.
A primary example is the great land of the Armenians who today
stand outside your service. The man who holds such a land aloof
from you is a good man whose worth and essence went unrecognized
by Peroz who chased him from serving the Aryans. Everyone knows
the injuries and blow against the Aryan world occasioned by this
man. I think that you have heard and are informed about all of
this. But Shapuh-Mihran whom you appointed [marzpan] knows
even better through experience [Vahan's] bravery and wisdom. If
you wish to interrogate him and listen, he himself will tell you".
Then king Vagharsh asked Shapuh-Mihran
about Armenian affairs: "What were you able to accomplish
in the land of Armenia, what are Vahan's thoughts and strength,
and how has he been able to resist the Aryans for so many years?"
Mihran replied: "Brave of the Aryans, it seems that Vahan
was triumphant in the battle which Hazarawuxt and we fought, even
[313] though Vahan was there with all of his forces. Despite the
fact that we were the victors, I know that they killed a countless
multitude of our men. They dealt with your rule in such a way
that half of the Armenian brigade engaged select warriors elsewhere.
Hazarawuxt himself and other Iranian folk who were the seniors
there know, nonetheless, what great damage [Vahan] inflicted with
only a few men. After Hazarawuxt went to Iberia and left me there
[in Armenia] as military commander, the way Vahan fatigued us
with very few men (sometimes only hundreds, I am not exaggerating;
and the noble folk of our brigade who were there and now are here
testify) it is very difficult to say, and the words are unbelievable.
For how could he fearlessly resist in battle with so few men,
[g158] and come against the encampment all day, inflicting very
great harm? But I who was there recall the events of one day in
particular, and again consider the affair beyond human capabilities,
though who upon hearing can believe it? For [Vahan] with thirty
men fearlessly attacked 3,000 [of us] and wrought such a deed
that all who observed it recall today and probably fear of it will not depart.
Such new deeds resemble nothing so much as diligent mshaks
with good sharp sickles and scythes chopping grass, putting it
in many heaps close to each other, and then joyously returning
to their [314] homes without a care. In just this way did they
attack Mihran with so many men and completely split the entire
brigade, killing many good folk including that awesome man, Gdihon,
lord of Siwnik'. I had thought that only Gdihon with ten men of
his brigade could encounter so many men and alone [be able to]
do that, And [the Vahaneans] put to the sword such a man, and
other distinguished and brave Iranian men. Nor did they then ride
off on their horses and elude us. Rather, unconcernedly, they
followed alongside for many hours. No one in our brigade dared
to look at them. For it seemed to all of us that they were gods,
not men. Although my words may seem audacious before you, I dare
to express these views because of the appropriateness of the time.
For you yourself well know the greatness and benefit of the land
of the Armenians. I feel that if Vahan and the other folk with
him were today peacefully in your service, a great deal of good
and important consolation would ease our sorrow. For when the
Armenians with such folk, are ours, the Iberians and Aghbanians
would never dare to deviate or think anything contrary".
[315] When king Vagharsh heard such
statements in order from Mihran, Hazarawuxt, and all the other
Iranian nobility [he and] they all praised what Mihran had said
as indeed true. At once they quickly dispatched to Armenia Nixor
Vshnaspdat, a mild, intelligent and constructive person, with
many select men. He was instructed by the king himself and even
more so through the superintendance of Hazarawuxt and the other
court nobility: "Go to Armenia and do whatever is necessary
with all mildness and affection, according to the wishes of Vahan
and his comrades, to bring these folk into Aryan service. But
be careful to first assemble with you the cavalrymen of Atrpatakan
who are near Armenia and the cavalry of Her and [g159] Zarawant
district. For perhaps when you send to Vahan he will give you
friendly pretexts but then trick and somehow harm you. The man
is brave and shrewd. For to the present he and those with him
have not accomplished such feats merely through bravery. Be well
prepared. But it seems that Vahan would not think of such a thing,
since the work which he and those with him made bold to do resulted
from Peroz' lack of knowledge of human nature (in accordance with
his proud and indulgent personality) [316] and the inability of
Vahan and those men who allied with him, to bear the ridicule.
Willing to face death, they were forced to do such things".
When the lord of the Aryans, Vagharsh, and all of the nobility
had said these things to Nixor Vshnaspdat, they bid him farewell
and dispatched him to Armenia.
89. Nixor came to the land of Armenia
and did not dare to enter Armenian areas, but rather stopped in
the district called Her at the village named Nuarsak. He sent
as messengers to Vahan Mamikonean:
Shapuh, council scribe [xorhrdean
dpir]
and Mihr-Vshnasp Chuarshac'i,
through whom [Nixor] informed [Vahan]
of his coming to Armenia saying: "I have a hrovartak
for you from king Vagharsh and a message to peaceably subdue you
and all the noble folk who [formerly were] with the Aryans. Now
come and listen, and choose what is good, what you find agreeable".
[317] When Vahan Mamikonean saw Nixor's
messengers and heard from them all the words of this message,
he assembled a brigade of all the loyal oath-keepers--naxarars,
azats and all the cavalrymen. Vahan Mamikonean ordered
those who had come from Nixor to say the words of king Vagharsh
and of all the Aryan nobility in the presence of everyone. When
Vahan Mamikonean had all the mass of the Armenian folk listen
to Nixor's message, he informed the Iranian emissaries that he
would reply to them on the next day.
The following day all the Armenian folk
assembled by Vahan Mamikonean and first discussed among themselves
the long-standing needs and problems of the matters. Nixor's emissaries
came to the atean and the Mamikonid started replying to
Nixor's words: "There are many important words regarding
affairs of our rebellion--such a significant and potentially fatal
act to which we have dedicated our lives--that it is impossible
to deal with in writing or by message; but only by speaking face-to-face
with the one who is lord of the Aryans, and with you [a member]
of the court nobility. But I will tell you three things which,
if responded to in a manner desired by me and everyone here, if
these three points are conceded to us in writing with the king's
seal, then we [318] will do all that is fitting and appropriate,
and will heed your words as our ancestors did. For the words which
I [g160] presently speak with you are not my own, but those of
all the people who are now before you, seniors and junior folk.
Nor did we just today decide upon these words; rather, that was
done on the day we dedicated ourselves to death. Everyone had
previously resolved upon these three [demands]. If the Iranians
consent to grant us these three [demands] we will serve them as
natural and loyal servants. But if they do not agree to it, and
become [more] severe, we shall arise through the land, be ruined,
and gladly die, but we shall not worship an Iranian.
"First and foremost among the three
demands is this important and useful point: let us keep our patrimonial
and natural laws/faith, let no Armenian become a mage; do not
give station and honor because of [acceptance of] magianism; remove
the fire-temples from the land of Armenia, and hereafter let us
not see those loathesome and useless men who are enemies of the
Church. Permit Christians and priests the order and worship of
Christianity boldly and fearlessly. This is good, and it is our
first demand.
[319] "The second demand is that
you do not recognize a man on the basis of princeship but rather
that you correctly learn the good and bad, and select the useful,
not the useless; know the noble and ignoble, respect and honor
the brave and useful, and scorn and regard as nothing the bad
and useless. Love those who labor and loathe those who are not
meritorious; keep wise people around you and consult them; do
not permit the foolish to approach, but even chase them from the
assembly. When all of this has been implemented, all the affairs
of the Aryan world will be successful and correct. But if you
like it otherwise, as is the case now, then events and affairs
will go in a contrary way, as indeed happened and as you saw.
"Our third demand is that we want
the one who is the lord of the Aryans and king of the land to
see with his own eyes, hear with his own ears, know and speak
with his own mouth, and not with the eyes and ears of another.
Let him not always recognize a man as good or bad on another's
say-so, or talk about what is necessary with another's mouth.
Otherwise, there will not be correct observations, or fair audience.
For many words are false, many orders futile, and all wisdom is
different. [320] When all these [evils] operate, all the meritorious
and their servants are destroyed, and neither the land nor its
inhabitants can remain stable and unmoved. But the king who sees
with his own healthy eyes and hears with unbiased hearing and
speaks fairly with his servants, will enliven his servants and
they will not be satisfied with their labor but will increase
their efforts, trying to increase the good, day by day. In this
way the land is cultivated and the lord is always luxuriously
resplendent.
"Now if you can promise this, and give us those promises in a written and sealed form, then call us and we will willingly come and hear your words and accept whatever the king orders. But if you cannot give us these three demands, and know that it is impossible, then just as we gave our lives before, so we now are ready to die, but we cannot serve the lord of the Aryans. Should I come [to Iran] there are other words which I will personally speak with him; otherwise, should I not come, the words and matters will remain [as problems]".
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