d Arzanene, with its stronghold, Aphumon,
carried off the population to the number of 10,090, and, pressing
forwards from Arzanene into Eastern Mesopotamia, took Singara, and
carried fire and sword over the entire region as far as the Tigris.
He even ventured to throw a body of skirmishers across the river into
Cordyene (Kurdistan); and these ravagers, who were commanded by Kurs,
the Scythian, spread devastation over a district where no Roman soldier
had set foot since its cession by Jovian. Agathias tells us that
Chosroes was at the time enjoying his summer villeggiatura in the
Kurdish hills, and saw from his residence the smoke of the hamlets which
the Roman troops had fired. He hastily fled from the danger, and shut
himself up within the walls of Ctesiphon, where he was soon afterwards
seized with the illness which brought his life to a close.

Meanwhile Kurs, unconscious probably of the prize that had been so near
his grasp, recrossed the Tigris with his booty and rejoined Maurice, who
on the approach of winter withdrew into Roman territory, evacuating all
his conquests excepting Arzanene. The dull time of winter was, as usual,
spent in negotiations; and it was thought that a peace might have been
concluded had Chosroes lived. Tiberius was anxious to recover Daras,
and was willing to withdraw the Roman forces wholly from Persarmenia and
Iberia, and to surrender Arzanene and Aphumon, if Daras were restored to
him. He would probably have been content even to pay in addition a sum
of money. Chosroes might perhaps have accepted these terms; but while
the envoys empowered to propose them were on their way to his court,
early in the year A.D. 579, the aged monarch died in his palace at
Ctesiphon after a reign of forty-eight years.

CHAPTER XXI.

_Administration of Persia under Chosroes I. Fourfold Division of the
Empire. Careful Surveillance of those entrusted with Poiver. Severe
Punishment of Abuse of Trust. New System of Taxation introduced.
Correction of Abuse connected with the Military Service. Encouragement
of Agriculture and Marriage. Belief of Poverty. Care for Travellers.
Encouragement of Learning. Practice of Toleration within certain Limits.
Domestic Life of Chosroes. His Wives. Revolt and Death of his Son,
Nushizad. Coins of Chosroes. Estimate of his Character._

A general consensus of the Oriental writers marks the reign of the first
Chosroes as a period not only of great military activity, but a