Chap, xlii] OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE 403 inhabit the sea-coast of Trebizond, imposed their name and domin- ion on the ancient kingdom of Colchos. Their independence was soon invaded by a formidable neighbour, who had acquired, by arms and treaties, the sovereignty of Iberia. The dependent king of Lazica received his sceptre at the hands of the Persian monarch, and the successors of Constantine acquiesced in this injurious claim, which was proudly urged as a right of immemor- able prescription. In the beginning of the sixth century, their influence was restored by the introduction of Christianity, which conversion the Mingrelians still profess with becoming zeal, without under- °. D . 522 az standing the doctrines, or observing the precepts, of their religion. After the decease of his father, Zathus was exalted to the regal dignity by the favour of the great king; but the pious youth abhorred the ceremonies of the Magi, and sought, in the palace of Constantinople, an orthodox baptism, a noble wife, and the alliance of the emperor Justin. The king of Lazica was solemnly invested with the diadem, and his cloak and tunic of white silk, with a gold border, displayed, in rich embroidery, the figure of his new patron ; who soothed the jealousy of the Persian court, and excused the revolt of Colchos, by the venerable names of hospitality and religion. The common interest of both empires imposed on the Colchians the duty of guarding the passes of mount Caucasus, where a wall of sixty miles is now defended by the monthly service of the musqueteers of Mingrelia. 93 But this honourable connexion was soon corrupted by the Revolt and avarice and ambition of the Komans. Degraded from the rankof P the co C i- of the allies, the Lazi were incessantly reminded, by words andlD a °42-549 actions, of their dependent state. At the distance of a day's journey beyond the Apsarus, they beheld the rising fortress of Petra, 94 which commanded the maritime country to the south the age of Justinian, they spread, or at least reigned, over the whole country. At present, they have migrated along the coast towards Trebizond, and compose a rude sea-faring people, with a peculiar language (Chardin, p. 149. Peyssonel, p. 64). 93 John Malala, Chron. torn. ii. p. 134-137. Theophanes, p. 144. Hist. Miscell., 1. xv. p. 103. The fact ifl authentic, but the date seems too recent. In speaking of their Persian allianoe, the Lazi contemporaries of Justinian employ the most obsolete words, iv ypd/j./jLafft /xvn^a, irpSyovot, &c. Could they belong to a con- nexion which had not been dissolved above twenty years ? 94 The sole vestige of Petra subsists in the writings of Procopius and Agathias. Most of the towns and castles of Lazica may be found by comparing their names and position with the map of Mingrelia, in Lamberti. [Brosset, op. cit., p. 103, places Petra on 1. bank of the Choruk (Boas), which flows into Black Sea south of Batum. He shows that the Greek writers had vague ideas of the geography and
