of discretion, deliberately preferred the faith of
his mother to that of his father and of the nation. With this choice
Chosroes was naturally offended; but he restrained his anger within
moderate limits, and was content to punish the young prince by
forbidding him to quit the precincts of the palace. Unhappy results
followed. Nushizad in his confinement heard a rumor that his father, who
had started for the Syrian war, was struck with sickness, was not likely
to recover, was dead. It seemed to him a golden opportunity, of which
he would be foolish not to make the most. He accordingly quitted his
prison, spread the report of his father's death, seized the state
treasure, and scattered it with a liberal hand among the troops left in
the capital, summoned the Christians throughout the empire to his aid,
assumed the title and state of king, was acknowledged by the whole of
the southern province, and thought himself strong enough to take the
offensive and attempt the subjugation of Irak. Here, however, he was
met by Phabrizus (Firuz?), one of his father's generals, who completely
defeated his army in a pitched battle. According to one account,
Nushizad fell in the thick of the fight, mortally wounded by a chance
arrow. According to another, he was made prisoner, and carried to
Chosroes, who, instead of punishing him with death, destroyed his hopes
of reigning by inflicting on him a cruel disfigurement.

The coins of Chosroes are very numerous, and offer one or two novel and
curious types. The most remarkable have on the obverse the head of the
king, presenting the full face, and surmounted by a mural crown with a
low cap. The beard is close, and the hair arranged in masses on either
side. There are two stars above the crown, and two crescents, one over
either shoulder, with a star and crescent on the dress in front of each
shoulder. The kings wears a necklace, from which hang three pendants. On
the reverse these coins have a full-length figure of the king, standing
to the front, with his two hands resting on the hilt of his straight
sword, and its point placed between his feet. The crown worn resembles
that on the obverse; and there is a star and crescent on either side of
the head. The legend on the obverse is _Khusludi afzum_, "May Chosroes
increase;" the reverse has, on the left _Khusludi_, with the
regnal year; on the right, a longer legend which has not yet been
satisfactorily interpreted. [PLATE XXII., Fig. 3.]

The