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

HISTORY OF ARMENIA. 127
the blood of the innocent. Fearing future
intrigues by the sons of Sanatruk, which might
deprive him of the throne, he put the whole of
them to death, with the exception of the youngest,
named Artaces, whose nurse effected his
escape to the province of Persarmenia, in the
country of Heir,
and gave information of the
circumstance to Sumbat a powerful chieftain,
son of Beurat the Bagratian. Sumbat took
charge of Artaces, and fled with him to Darius
king of Persia. This monarch, who had long
known the valiant character which Sumbat
bore, received the fugitives
with kindness and
respect, treating Sumbat as he would a Persian
chief, and the young prince as one of his own
sons, and the son of a king. When Erwand heard a. D. 69.
ofthis, he applied to Darius and Sumbat, requesting
them to put the prince to death ; alleging that
he was not the son of Sanatruk, but the offspring
of a Mede and a shepherd. On their refusal to
commit a crime of so horrible a nature, Erwand
fell into great anxiety, fearing that when Artaces
arrived at maturity, he would assert his
right, and by the assistance of the Persians
dispossess him of his crown. At this juncture a. D. ?5.
Tirithus, king of Upper Armenia, died; and
Erwand determined to try to annex that kingdom
to his own, in order that by possessing the
whole force of Armenia, with the friendship of