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

234 HISTORY OF ARMENIA.
himself up to Artashir. He was immediately
dethroned, and put in chains, and his brother
Viramshapuh appointed king.
Artashir, immediately
after he had taken possession of the
kingdom, changed all the orders of rank which
Khosrove had instituted amongst the chiefs.
lie also deposed St. Isaac from the pontifical
chair, without even seeing him, but still continued
the payment of tribute to the Greeks.
The Camsaracan Gazavon, being at
this period
in possession of considerable power and influence
with the people, Artashir, by stratagem, took
him and his son Hirahat prisoners, and bound
them in chains. With them and the captive
Khosrove, he quitted the country, and set out
for Ctesiphon, after leaving a large detachment
of Persian troops with Viramshapuh, to keep the
kingdom in order and tranquillity.
Shavarsh, the
brother of Gazavon, and Pargev the Amatunian
chief, with his son Manuel, having taken with
them seven hundred men, followed secretly the
Persian
prince, with a view of attempting the
rescue of Khosrove, Gazavon, and his son.
Having
overtaken the Persians, they attacked them,
and a bloody fight ensued. The captives being
loaded with irons, the assailants were unable
to set them at liberty. A vast number of the
Persians fell in consequence of the confusion that
prevailed amongst them from the unexpected