OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE. 319 contents; by the alliance of the Romans, and, above CHAP, all, by his own courage. Invincible in arms, during a ^' thirty years' war, he was at length assassinated by the emissaries of Sapor king of Persia. The patriotic satraps of Armenia, who asserted the freedom and dignity of the crown, implored the protection of Rome in favour of Tiridates the lawful heir. But the son of Chosroes was an infant, the allies were at a distance, and the Persian monarch advanced towards the frontier at the head of an irresistible force. Young Tiridates, the future hope of his country, was saved by the fidelity of a servant; and Armenia continued above twenty- seven years a reluctant province of the great monarchy of Persia ^ Elated with this easy conquest, and pre- suming on the distresses or the degeneracy of the Ro- mans, Sapor obliged the strong garrisons of Carrhae and Nisibis to surrender, and spread devastation and terror on either side of the Euphrates. The loss of an important frontier, the ruin of a faith- Valerian ful and natural ally, and the rapid success of Sapor's "to^ti,e^ ambition, affected Rome with a deep sense of the in- east : suit as well as of the danger. Valerian flattered him- self, that the vigilance of his lieutenants would suffi- ciently provide for the safety of the Rhine and of the Danube ; but he resolved, notwithstanding his advanced age, to march in person to the defence of the Euphrates. During his progress through Asia Minor, the naval en- terprises of the Goths were suspended, and the afflicted province enjoyed a transient and fallacious calm. He passed the Euphrates, encountered the Persian mon- arch near the walls of Edessa, was vanquished, and taken prisoner by Sapor. The particulars of this great is defeated event are darkly and imperfectly represented; yet, by priso^ngr^^v the glimmering light which is afforded us, we may dis- Sapor king 1 . p . , p J !• J of Persia. cover a long series of imprudence, of error, and of de- a.d. 260. served misfortunes on the side of the Roman emperor.
- Moses Chorenensis, 1. ii. c. 71. 73, 74; Zonaras, 1. xii. p. 628. The
authentic relation of the Armenian historian serves to rectify the confused account of the Greek. The latter talks of the children of Tiridates, who at that time was himself an infant.
