Page:Baladhuri-Hitti1916.djvu/507

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The Death of Yazdajird
491

him, and the marzubân ordered that he be driven out, saying, "Not only art thou unworthy of a kingdom but even of a governorship of a village; and if Allah had seen any good in thee, he would not have put thee in such condition!"

Yazdajird left for Sijistân[1] whose king showed regard for him and exalted him. After a few days Yazdajird asked about the kharâj which made the king change his attitude towards him.

Seeing that, Yazdajird left for Khurâsân. When he reached the boundary line of Maru he was met by its satrap [marzubân] Mâhawaih[2] with great honor and pomp. Here he was also met by Nîzak Ṭarkhân who offered him something to ride upon, gave him presents and entertained him bountifully. Nîzak spent one month with Yazdajird, after which he left him. He then wrote Yazdajird asking for the hand of his daughter. This aroused the anger of Yazdajird, who said, "Write and tell him 'Thou art nothing but one of my slaves; how darest thou then ask for my daughter's hand?'" Yazdajird also ordered that Mâhawaih, the satrap of Maru, give an account and be asked about the money he had collected. Mâhawaih wrote to Nîzak, instigating him against Yazdajird and saying, "This is the one who came here as a runaway fugitive. Thou hast helped him in order to have his kingdom restored to him; but see what he wrote to thee!" They both then agreed to put him to death.

Yazdajird slain. Nîzak led the Turks to al-Junâbidh[3] where he met the enemy. At first the Turks retreated, but then the tide turned against Yazdajird, his followers

  1. Cf. Michel le Syrien, Chronique, vol. ii, p. 424 (ed. Chabot).
  2. Thaʿâlibi, p. 743: "Mâhawait".
  3. Yunâbidh, Yunâwid or Kunâbidh. Iṣṭakhri, p. 273; Ḥauḳal, p. 324; Muḳaddasi, p. 321.