ollected from.
Trebizond and the other maritime towns, may perhaps have raised his
troops to the number of 120,000, at which we find them estimated. With
this army, he crossed the Araxes, and invaded Armenia. Chosroes, on
receiving the intelligence, proceeded into Azorbijan with 40,000 men,
and occupied the strong city of Canzaca, the site of which is probably
marked by the ruins known as Takht-i-Suleiman. At the same time he
ordered two other armies, which he had sent on in advance, one of them
commanded by Shahr-Barz, the other by Shahen, to effect a junction
and oppose themselves to the further progress of the emperor. The two
generals were, however, tardy in their movements, or at any rate were
outstripped by the activity of Heraclius, who, pressing forward from
Armenia into Azerbijan, directed his march upon Canzaca, hoping to bring
the Great King to a battle. His advance-guard of Saracens did actually
surprise the picquets of Chosroes; but the king himself hastily
evacuated the Median stronghold, and retreated southwards through
Ardelan towards the Zagros mountains, thus avoiding the engagement which
was desired by his antagonist. The army, on witnessing the flight of
their monarch, broke up and dispersed. Heraclius pressed upon the flying
host and slew all whom he caught, but did not suffer himself to be
diverted from his main object, which was to overtake Chosroes. His
pursuit, however, was unsuccessful. Chosroes availed himself of the
rough and difficult country which lies between Azerbijan and the
Mesopotamian lowland, and by moving from, place to place contrive to
baffle his enemy. Winter arrived, and Heraclius had to determine whether
he would continue his quest at the risk of having to pass the cold
season in the enemy's country, far from all his resources, or relinquish
it and retreat to a safe position. Finding his soldiers divided in their
wishes, he trusted the decision to chance, and opening the Gospel at
random settled the doubt by applying the first passage that met his eye
to its solution. The passage suggested retreat; and Heraclius, retracing
his steps, recrossed the Araxes, and wintered in Albania.

The return of Heraclius was not unmolested. He had excited the
fanaticism of the Persians by destroying, wherever he went, the temples
of the Magians, and extinguishing the sacred fire, which it was a part
of their religion to keep continually burning. He had also everywhere
delivered the cities and v