ns, instead of standing on their defence, to assume an aggressive
in Mesopotamia, and even to retaliate the invasion which the year before
Chosroes had conducted into the heart of their empire. The hostile
operations of A.D. 541 had thus two distinct and far-distant scenes; in
the one set the Persians, in the other the Romans, took the offensive;
the two wars, for such they in reality were, scarcely affected one
another; and it will therefore be convenient to keep the accounts of
them distinct and separate. To commence with.

I. The LAZIO WAR.--Lazica had been a dependency of Rome from the time
when Tzath, upon his conversion to Christianity, professed himself the
vassal of Justin, and received the insignia of royalty from his new
patron (A.D. 522). The terms of the connection had been at the first
honorable to the weaker nation, which paid no tribute, admitted no
Roman garrison, and was troubled by no Roman governor. As time went
on, however, the Romans gradually encroached upon the rights of their
dependants; they seized and fortified a strong post, called Petra, upon
the coast, appointed a commandant who claimed an authority as great
as that of the Lazic king, and established a commercial monopoly which
pressed with great severity upon the poorer classes of the Lazi. Under
these circumstances the nation determined on revolt; and in the winter
of A.D. 540-1 Lazic ambassadors visited the court of Persia, exposed the
grievances of their countrymen, and besought Chosroes to accept their
submission, and extend to them the protection of his government. The
province was distant, and possessed few attractions; whatever the
tales told of its ancient wealth, or glories, or trade, in the time of
Chosroes it was poor and unproductive, dependent on its neighbors for
some of the necessaries and all the conveniences of life, and capable
of exporting nothing but timber, slaves, and skins. It might have been
expected, under such circumstances, that the burden of the protectorate
would have been refused; but there was an advantage, apparent or real,
in the position of the country, discovered by the sagacity of Chosroes
or suggested to him by the interested zeal of the envoys, which made its
possession seem to the Persian king a matter of the highest importance,
and induced him to accept the offer made him without a moment's delay.
Lazica, the ancient Colchis and the modern Mingrelia and Imeritia,
bordered upon the Black Sea, which th