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

388 HISTORY OF ARMENIA.
revenged the death of his brothers, he returned
to Armenia.
Some time after he was betrayed
into the hands of the Persians, who, irritated
at the injuries they had sustained from him,
threw him into prison, where he remained till
his death. He left three sons behind him,
Isaac, Hamazasp, and Merujun.
The first two
were martyred in the lapse of a few years.
The last, Merujan, having abjured the christian
faith was killed by David the Mamiconian.
About this period the Armenians were thrown
into the greatest distress by the increase of
the exactions of the Saracens. These were now
become almost intolerable, when, to double the
evil, a dreadful dearth happened in consequence
ofahnrvestblight,occasionedby furious showers
of hailstones of an e*normous size, which cut
almost every blade of grass to pieces. This
unfortunate circumstance was quickly followed
by another still more fatal in its effects. Clouds
of locusts overspread the land, and soon
devoured what had been left unhurt by the hail.
Famine and misery now desolated this unhappy
country.
any relief,
Tiridates the pontiff, unable to apply
sunk under the pressure of grief, and
died, after a pontificate of twenty-three years.
A. D. 764. He was succeeded by Tiridates the Second, from
Haicnn
•' '
era 213. Turubcrau in the province of Dasnavors, who
only held
that high office three vears, when he