rds the lower Euphrates, while with the other it was seeking to
grasp Syria and Palestine. The danger was imminent; the means of meeting
it insufficient, for Persia was exhausted by foreign war and internal
contention; the monarch himself was but ill able to cope with the Arab
chiefs, being youthful and inexperienced; we shall find, however,
that he made a strenuous resistance. Though continually defeated, he
prolonged the fight for nearly a score of years, and only succumbed
finally when, to the hostility of open foes, was added the treachery of
pretended friends and allies.

CHAPTER XXVI.

_Death of Mohammed and Collapse of Mohammedanism. Recovery under
Abu-bekr. Conquest of the Kingdom of Hira. Conquest of Obolla. Invasion
of Mesopotamia. Battle of the Bridge--the Arabs suffer a Reverse. Battle
of El Bow-eib--Mihran defeated by El Mothanna. Fresh Effort made by
Persia--Battle of Cadesia--Defeat of the Persians. Pause in the War.
March of Sa'ad on Ctesiphon. Flight of Isdigerd. Capture of Ctesiphon.
Battle of Jalula. Conquest of Susiana and invasion of Persia Proper.
Recall of Sa'ad. Isdigerd assembles an Army at Nehawend. Battle of
Nehawend. Flight of Isdigerd. Conquest of the various Persian Provinces.
Isdigerd murdered. Character of Isdigerd. Coins of Isdigerd._

"Yazdejird, Persarum rex.... Rostamum misit oppugnatum Saadum... neque
unquam belloram et dissentionum expers fuit, donee oecideretur. Regnavit
autem annos viginti."--Eutychius, _Annales_, vol. ii. pp. 295-6.

The power which Mohammed had so rapidly built up fell to pieces at his
decease. Isdigerd can scarcely have been well settled upon this throne
when the welcome tidings must have reached him that the Prophet was
dead, that the Arabs generally were in revolt, that Al Mondar had
renounced Islamism and resumed a position of independence. For the
time Mohammedanism was struck down. It remained to be seen whether the
movement had derived its strength solely from the genius of the Prophet,
or whether minds of inferior calibre would suffice to renew and sustain
the impulse which had proceeded from him, and which under him had proved
of such wonderful force and efficacy.

The companions of Mohammed lost no time in appointing his successor.
Their choice fell upon Abu-bekr, his friend and father-in-law, who was a
person of an energetic character, brave, chaste, and temperate. Abu-bekr
proved himself quite equal to the difficulties of the situatio