History of Armenia, by Father Michael Chamich; from B. C. 2247 to ...

70 HISTORY OF ARMENIA.
5111.
been conferred upon him, Tigranes left with
him, on his departure, a considerable number of
3912 ; troops. After their separation, we are told that
3914;
5113
Tigranes became daily more powerful.
countries were subdued by him,
Many
whose kings
were kept captive at his court, to render more
splendid the daily state in which he lived.
This fact is authenticated by the Roman
historians. We are informed, that many unfortunate
kings, prisoners at his court, were
obliged to stand in his presence with their arms
folded on their breasts, in token of the absolute
power he had overthem. Four of these wretched
monarchs were obliged to be constantly in
attendance on him dressed in their regal robes.
To such an extravagance was the state of this
pompous prince carried, that when he exposed
himself to his subjects publicly on horseback,
his unfortunate royal captives were obliged to
precede him on foot.
Mithridates, his brother-in-law, rendered himself
no less glorious. He extended his dominions
even to the borders of Scythia.
His subjects and
tributaries comprised 22 nations; and it is related
that this prince conversed with equal fluency
in the whole of the languages spoken by these
people. He never needed the aid of an interpreter.
Cappadocia, one of the newly acquired king-