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

HISTORY OF ARMENIA. 259
which Vasak obeyed his orders; he forthwith
placed himselfat the head of the combined armies,
and marched against the Huns. Two years werG
spent in various contests with this
people, but
nothing decisive was effected. Hazkert, perceiving
that there was no sign of a speedy peace^
became uneasy, lest the Armenians should be
disheartened by the protraction of the war.
obviate this,
To
he caused a great part of them to
return home, and others to be sent in their
room.
During this time he built a large castle
near the gate ofChorah, and there established his
court. The king now began to prosecute his de-
signs for converting the christians. He often
exhorted the chiefs to renounce their faith, and
embrace the doctrine of the Magi, but all was
ineffectual. He put Daregin the Surwantztian
in prison, for the boldness of his reply to one of
the king's exhortations on conversion. On the
two chiefs. Atom the Gnunian, and Manachihr
the Rushtunian, leaving his court, he caused
them to be arrested and martyred, together with
their followers.
He then alternately tried mildness and severity,
to induce the Armenians and other
christians to a public denial of their religion. To
intimidate them, he seized four of the Armenian
nobles, and after cruelly torturing them, put them
in dungeons.
This not producing tiie effect he
112
a, d. 449.