is crown by a supreme effort. Once more the
armies were drawn up in three distinct bodies; and once more the leaders
held the established central position. The engagement began along the
whole line, and continued for a while without marked result. Bahram then
strengthened his left, and, transferring himself to this part of the
field, made an impression on the Roman right. But Narses brought up
supports to their aid, and checked the retreat, which had already begun,
and which might soon have become general. Hereupon Bahram suddenly fell
upon the Roman centre and endeavored to break it and drive it from the
field; but Narses was again a match for him, and met his assault without
flinching, after which, charging in his turn, he threw the Persian
centre into confusion. Seeing this, the wings also broke, and a general
flight began, whereupon 6000 of Bahram's troops deserted, and, drawing
aside, allowed themselves to be captured. The retreat then became a
rout. Bahram himself fled with 4,000 men. His camp, with all its rich
furniture, and his wives and children, were taken. The elephant corps
still held out and fought valiantly; but it was surrounded and forced
to surrender. The battle was utterly lost; and the unfortunate chief,
feeling that all hope was gone, gave the reins to his horse and fled for
his life. Chosroes sent ten thousand men in pursuit, under Bostam, his
uncle; and this detachment overtook the fugitives, but was repulsed
and returned. Bahram continued his flight, and passing through Rei and
Damaghan, reached the Oxus and placed himself under the protection
of the Turks. Chosroes, having dismissed his Roman allies, re-entered
Ctesiphon after a year's absence, and for the second time took his place
upon the throne of his ancestors.

The coins of Bahram possess a peculiar interest. While there is no
numismatic evidence which confirms the statement that he struck money
in the name of the younger Chosroes, there are extant three types of
his coins, two of which appear to belong to the time before he seated
himself upon the throne, while one--the last--belongs to the period of
his actual sovereignty. In his preregnal coins, he copied the devices of
the last sovereign of his name who had ruled over Persia. He adopted
the mural crown in a decided form, omitted the stars and crescents, and
placed his own head amid the flames of the fire-altar. His legends were
either _Varahran Chub_, "Bahram of the mace," or _Varahran,