rally
dreaded the hostility of the Roman emperor, who was not likely to see
with patience a monarch, whom he had set upon the throne, deprived of
his kingdom by a subject. To maintain the position which he had assumed,
it was necessary that he should contract some important alliance; and
the alliance always open to Armenia when she had quarrelled with Rome
was with the Persians. It seems to have been soon after Artaxerxes II.
succeeded his father, that Manuel sent an embassy to him, with letters
and rich gifts, offering, in return for his protection, to acknowledge
him as lord-paramount of Armenia, and promising him unshakable fidelity.
The offer was, of course, received with extreme satisfaction; and terms
were speedily arranged. Armenia was to pay a fixed tribute, to receive
a garrison of ten thousand Persians and to provide adequately for their
support, to allow a Persian satrap to divide with Manuel the actual
government of the country, and to furnish him with all that was
necessary for his court and table. On the other hand, Arsacos and
Valarsaces, together (apparently) with their mother, Zermandueht, were
to be allowed the royal title and,honors; Armenia was to be protected
in case of invasion; and Manuel was to be maintained in his office of
Sparapet or generalissimo of the Armenian forces. We cannot say with
certainty how long this arrangement remained undisturbed; most probably,
however, it did not continue in force more than a few years. It was most
likely while Artaxerxes still ruled Persia, that the rupture described
by Faustus occurred. A certain Meroujan, an Armenian, noble, jealous
of the power and prosperity of Manuel, persuaded him that the Persian
commandant in Armenia was about to seize his person, and either to send
him a prisoner to Artaxerxes, or else to put him to death. Manuel, who
was so credulous as to believe the information, thought it necessary for
his own safety to anticipate the designs of his enemies, and, falling
upon the ten thousand Persians with the whole of the Armenian army,
succeeded in putting them all to the sword, except their commander,
whom he allowed to escape. War followed between Persia and Armenia with
varied success, but on the whole Manuel had the advantage; he repulsed
several Persian invasions, and maintained the independence and integrity
of Armenia till his death, without calling in the aid of Rome. When,
however, Manuel died, about A.D. 383, Armenian affairs fell into