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

HISTORY OF AHMEKIA.
soldiers and north'ern division.
With these he
crossed the river Arax, and directed his march
to the westward ; at the same time he issued
tjrders to Bagarat and Vahan to lead the eastern
and western divisions towards the north. The
enemy attacked the troops commanded by the
king and Mihran, and after asevere contest, gave
them a complete defeat.
Mihran was killed in
the action, and the king, with the remnant of his
men, obliged to flee into the country of Zophs.
Shapuh and Sanatruk then advanced to the
city of Valarshapat, to which they laid siege.
Whilst they were pushing on their
operations
here, Bagarat and Vahan arrived with their
respective troops, when a fight ensued, in which
the Armenians proved victorious, driving their
foes bevond the fortress of Oshakan. The
country into
was almost impassable,
which the Persians were pursued
from the strong nature
of the ground. Here the enemy determined to
make another stand against the victorious leaders
Bao-arat and Vahan. A battle more obstinately
disputed than the former here followed.
midst of the conflict
In the
a man of gigantic stature
and cased in impenetrable armour, issued from
the enemy's ranks, and made dreadful havock
amongst the
troops of Vahan and Bagarat: and
although hundreds of arrows were discharged
Vahan
at him, yet not a wound was inflicted.
z2
171