fficient match
for Shahen. With the third division he proceeded eastward to the remote
province of Lazica, and there engaged in operations which could but very
slightly affect the general course of the war. The Khazars were once
more called in as allies; and their Khan, Ziebel, who coveted the
plunder of Tiflis, held an interview with the emperor in the sight of
the Persians who guarded that town, adored his majesty, and received
from his hands the diadem that adorned his own brow. Richly entertained,
and presented with all the plate used in the banquet, with a royal robe,
and a pair of pearl earrings, promised moreover the daughter of the
emperor (whose portrait he was shown) in marriage, the barbarian chief,
dazzled and flattered, readily concluded an alliance, and associated his
arms with those of the Romans. A joint attack was made upon Tiflis, and
the town was reduced to extremities; when Sarablagas, with a thousand
men, contrived to throw himself into it, and the allies, disheartened
thereby, raised the siege and retired.

Meanwhile, in Asia Minor, Theodore engaged the army of Shahen; and, a
violent hailstorm raging at the time, which drove into the enemy's face,
while the Romans were, comparatively speaking, sheltered from its force,
he succeeded in defeating his antagonist with great slaughter. Chosroes
was infuriated; and the displeasure of his sovereign weighed so heavily
upon the mind of Shahen that he shortly afterwards sickened and died.
The barbarous monarch gave orders that his corpse should be embalmed and
sent to the court, in order that he might gratify his spleen by treating
it with the grossest indignity.

At Constantinople the Persian cause was equally unsuccessful.
Shahr-Barz, from Chalcedon, entered into negotiations with the Khan of
the Avars, and found but little difficulty in persuading him to make
an attempt upon the imperial city. From their seats beyond the Danube
a host of barbarians--Avars, Slaves, Gepidas, Bulgarians, and
others--advanced through the passes of Heemus into the plains of Thrace,
destroying and ravaging. The population fled before them and sought the
protection of the city walls, which had been carefully strengthened in
expectation of the attack, and were in good order. The hordes forced the
outer works; but all their efforts, though made both by land and sea,
were unavailing against the main defences; their attempt to sap the wall
failed; their artillery was met and crushe