adversaries. It
was probably this twofold persecution that, offending both professions,
attached to Isdigerd in his own country the character of a harsh and
bad monarch. Foreigners, who did not suffer from his caprices or his
violence, might deem him magnanimous and a model of virtue. His own
subjects with reason detested his rule, and branded his memory with the
well-deserved epithet of Al-Athim, "the Wicked."

A curious tale is told as to the death of Isdigerd. He was still in
the full vigor of manhood when one day a horse of rare beauty, without
bridle or caparison, came of its own accord and stopped before the gate
of his palace. The news was told to the king, who gave orders that the
strange steed should be saddled and bridled, and prepared to mount it.
But the animal reared and kicked, and would not allow any one to come
near, till the king himself approached, when the creature totally
changed its mood, appeared gentle and docile, stood perfectly still,
and allowed both saddle and bridle to be put on. The crupper, however,
needed some arrangement, and Isdigerd in full confidence proceeded to
complete his task, when suddenly the horse lashed out with one of his
hind legs, and dealt the unfortunate prince a blow which killed him on
the spot. The animal then set off at speed, disembarrassed itself of its
accoutrements, and galloping away was never seen any more. The modern
historian of Persia compresses the tale into a single phrase, and tells
us that "Isdigerd died from the kick of a horse:" but the Persians of
the time regarded the occurrence as an answer to their prayers, and saw
in the wild steed an angel sent by God.

CHAPTER XIV.

_Internal Troubles on the Death of Isdigerd I. Accession of Varahran V.
His Persecution of the Christians. His War with Rome. His Relations with
Armenia from A.D. 422 to A.D. 428. His Wars with the Scythic Tribes on
his Eastern Frontier. His Strange Death. His Coins. His Character._

It would seem that at the death of Isdigerd there was some difficulty as
to the succession. Varahran, whom he had designated as his heir, appears
to have been absent from the capital at the time; while another son,
Sapor, who had held the Armenian throne from A.D. 414 to 418, was
present at the seat of government, and bent on pushing his claims.
Varahran, if we may believe the Oriental writers, who are here
unanimous, had been educated among the Arab tribes dependent on Persia,
who now occupi