3. The Armenian History[62] Attributed to Sebeos[63]

[62] The Armenian History Attributed to Sebeos: To him has been attributed A History of Heraclius, chronicling events from the end of the fifth century to 661 CE. The first section begins with the mythical foundation of Armenia with the Legend of Hyke and Bel, moving to contemporary history with the ascent of Vardan II Mamikonian in 570 CE. From there, he relates the struggles and alliances between Persia and Byzantium.

[63] Sebeo: Little is known about the author, though a signature on the resolution of the Ecclesiastical Council of Dvin reads “Bishop Sebeos of Bagratunis”. His writings are valuable as one of the few intact surviving sources that chronicle sixth century Armenia and its surrounding territories. The history of Sebeos contains detailed descriptions from the period of Sassanid supremacy in Armenia up to the Islamic conquest in 661. His history was published for the first time in 185 in Istanbul.

3.1 [Ch. 10]

3.1.1 It happened after the death of Khosrov[64], son of Kawat[65] that his son Ormizd[66] reigned over all the land of the Persians. His mother, called Kayēn[67], was the daughter of the great Khakʿan[68], king of the Tʿetals[69], and the wife of Khosrov, his father.61

[64] Khosrov I [r. 531-579].

[65] Kawat I [488-496, 496-531].

[66] Ormizd IV [579-590].

[67] Kayēn: According to Armenian tradition, Anak murdered king Khosrov [father of Trdat] in the second half of the third century. After he had himself been killed in revenge, one of his sons was taken back to Persia; the other, Gregory [the future “Illuminator” of Armenia], was taken to Greek territory.62 Zenob calls the first son Surēn, and describes his later career.63

[68] Khakʿan i.e., Khan.

[69] Tʿetals: Cf. B.2.2.1, no. 25. Since Tʿetals was precisely Tālakān, the “king of Tʿetals” should be a Khan of the Hephthalites.

3.2 [Ch. 25]

3.2.1 It happened at that time[70] that Vstam[71] subjected to himself the two kings of the Kʿushans[72], Shawk and Pariovk.64

[70] 599/600 CE, when Smbat became marzpan.65

[71] Vstam, Khosrov’s maternal uncle, who had briefly challenged Khosrov in the field in 595 before being driven back into the Elburz Mountains, was finally defeated in 601 by an army commanded by Smbat Bagratuni.

[72] The Kʿushans: The Kʿushans here refer to the inhabitants in the fractured country beyond the north-eastern frontier of the Sassanian Empire during the period when the Turks controlled Central Asia. The Hephthalites should be included among them. It is suggested that several valuable pieces of information are supplied about the Kushan lands in the period following the destruction of Hephthalite power. First, authority was dispersed (as was to be expected in what is now Afghanistan) among a number of local rulers. Second, one of them was the leader of the Hephthalites, at least some of whom had been allowed to stay, probably reduced to a status equal to their former subjects, in the lands which they had once ruled. Third, the Oxus formed the divide between that part of former Hephthalite territory which had been allocated to the Persians, after the destruction of the Hephthalite state by joint Turkish-Persian action, and the larger share appropriated by the Turks. Fourth, although the Kushans were subordinated to Persian authority (hence their later “rebellion” which Sebeos mentions in the postscript to this passage), they were not integrated into the Sassanian Empire nor were their lands reorganized into provinces. The outermost region of directly governed Persian territory remained Khurasan, with Marg and Margṙot (Persian Marv and Marv-rud) acting as isolated forward bases in the steppes. Fifth, the Turks were careful to observe constitutional niceties in 614, refraining from crossing the Oxus and entering Persia’s Kushan protectorate until they had received the Kushans’ appeal for help.66

3.3 [Ch. 28]

3.3.1 When the winter had passed and spring-time had come, the messengers arrived with letters and summoned him [Smbat][73] with great splendour to the royal court. He went and presented himself to the king at the [place] called the Great Dastakert.[74] On coming into the outer hall he was seated on a rug and a pahłak.[75]67

[73] Smbat, i.e., Smbat Bagratuni IV, supreme commander of Persian forces in the east, retirement at court and death [614-616/617 CE].

[74] This term refers in general to the royal domain, but here specifically to the palace of Khosrov II [590/591-628].68

[75] The meaning of pahłak is unknown. Outer hall: lit. “coming out into the hall”, but no reference is made to an inner chamber whence he might “come out”.69

3.3.2 Then the king bestowed on him the office of tanutēr called Khosrov Shum[76], robed him splendidly with a hat and robe of silk woven with gold, exalted him tremendously with a collar set with gems, a necklace, and silver cushions. He bestowed on him the Lesser Ministry of Finance, the administration of the country. He gave him four-keyed trumpets and guards for his court from among the royal retainers. He (Khosrov II) gathered for him an army in fearsome array against the land of the Kʿushans in the east, and he bade him make marzpan whomever he might wish. So he departed, reached the nearby land of his former command, Komsh[77], summoned to himself from Vrkan his own original army of compatriots, and went directly to the east.70

[76] Smbat was summoned again to the Persian court, was honored with the office of tanutēr which was called Khosrov Shum, and is sent against the Kʿushans. Khosrov Shum: “Joy of Khosrov”, a title not given to other Armenians.71 Sebeos equates the office of tanutēr with that of Khosrov Shum.72

[77] Komsh is south of Tabarastan.73

3.3.3 These are the princes of the Armenian nobles who [joined] him with each one’ contingent and banner Varazshapuh Artsruni; Sargis Tayetsʿi; Artavazd and Vstam and Hmayeak Apahuni; Manuēl, lord of Apahunikʿ; Vṙam, lord of Gołtʿnikʿ; Sargis Dimakʿsean; Sargis Trpatuni; and others of the nobles. His troops were about 2,000 cavalry from that land[78]. He saw that the Kʿushan army had spread out in raids over the face of the whole country. But when they heard news of him, they came together and departed. He followed in hot pursuit, and quickly caught them up. When they saw that he had pursued them, they turned to face him in line of battle; they attacked each other in a mutual assault. The Kʿushan army turned in flight and was defeated by the army of Khosrov Shum. Many of them were killed, and many fled. He withdrew and camped at Apr Shahr[79], in the province of Tos; and with 300 men took up quarters in the walled village called Khṙokht.74

[78] That land, i.e., Vrkan.

[79] Apr Shahr is near Nishapur.75

3.3.4 Then the kings of the Kʿushans requested help for themselves from the great Khakʿan, king of the regions of the North.[80] A host of 300,000 came to their support, and crossed the river called Vehṙot, which comes out of Tʿurkʿastan (Turkestan) from the land of Ewilat via the Gymnosophists, the Shamn and Brahmn, and flows into India.[81] Camping on the river bank, they sent out raids westwards; and unexpectedly coming up they surrounded the komopolis[82], for the village had a strong wall encircling it.76

[80] “The great Khakʿan, king of the regions of the North” presumably refers to the Khan of the Turks.

[81] The Vehṙot, which the Persians called Pʿison, was the Oxus. The Pʿison formed near the Gymnosophists, who were called Shamn and Brahmn by the Persians.77 For Ewilat, i.e., Havilah, refers to both a land and people in several books of the Bible. The gold of that land is fine.

[82] Komopolis: walled village.

3.3.5 Then Smbat ordered his 300 men to take refuge in the fort at the centre of the village. He mounted his horse, and with three men — whose names were Sargis Dimakʿsean, Sargis Trpatuni, and one of the armed men[83] of the village who was mounted, called Smbatik[84] — rushed forward precipitously, reached the gate, cut through the crush of soldiers, and escaped. The 300 who had taken refuge in the fort in the middle of the village attacked the troops [of the enemy][85]. The commander of their force was a certain Persian prince named Datoyean[86], [appointed] by royal command.78

[83] Armed men, bearers of arms, usually meant the attendant who carried a noble’s weapons.79

[84] This Smbatik is not attested elsewhere.80

[85] Of the enemy: the text has “his”, which presumably refers to the Khakʿan’s army.81

[86] Datoyean: the commander of a relief force, not the commander of the 300.82

3.3.6 Now although Smbat, that is Khosrov Shum, sent word to him to withdraw, he did not wish to obey but went out to do battle against them. However, they defeated the Persian troops and put Datoyean to flight. They themselves sent out raids and made incursions as far as the borders of Ṙeyy and of the province of Ispahan[87]. Having plundered the whole area, they returned to their camp. When a command came from the great Khakʿan to the Chembukh[88], they crossed the river and returned to their own country.83

[87] The province of Ispahan (Isfahan) was situated in the center of Iran.

[88] Chembukh: It was a title, not a personal name.84

3.3.7 Then an Inspector from court came to Smbat and Datoyean, a certain senior noble whose name was Shahrapan Bandakan. All the surviving troops exculpated Smbat. But Datoyean was taken in bonds to the court and put to death by the king.85

3.3.8 Then Smbat assembled the army and re-armed it. He also brought in many other troops to his support, and went to attack the nation of the Kʿushans and the Hephthalite king[89]. The latter moved against him with a large armed force. They reached the battlefield and drew up their lines opposite each other. Then the king of Kʿushans sent a message to Smbat, saying: “What advantage is it that such a host enter into battle, or that our armies be destroyed? And how will my and your valour be recognized? Come, let me fight you alone. I shall come as a champion from my side, and you from yours, so that today my valour may be known to you”. Then putting his hand on his heart, he said: “Behold, I am ready to die”. Coming out from either side, they rapidly confronted each other. Between the two battle-lines they fought with each other. They were not able immediately to overcome the other, because they were both men of gigantic strength and fully covered in armour. But help came from on high: the armour of the Kʿushan king, chain-mail from Bahl and a solid cuirass, was split by Smbat’s lance, and he powerfully struck him as a corpse to the ground and slew him. When his army saw their king [killed], they were terrified and turned in flight. The others pursued them with cavalry attacks as far as Bahl, the capital of the Kʿushans[90], and they plundered the whole country: Harew, Vatagēs, all Tokhorastan, and Tałakan.[91] He also captured many fortresses which he burnt down. Then he returned with a great victory and much booty, and went and camped in the province of Marg and Margṙot[92].86

[89] Hephthalite: Hepʿtʿaleay. This is the only reference in Sebeos to the Hephthalites.87 cf. Marquart1901, pp. 66-67: the king of the Kʿushans is of “Hephthalite” origin, subject to the Khakʿan.88

[90] Bahl as the capital of the Kʿushans: In my opinion, this was because Balh was once the capital of the Kushan and Hephthalites.

[91] These regions were located on the north-eastern confines of the Sassanian Empire.89

[92] Marg is Marv, and Margṙot is Marv-rud. However, the location of the latter is not clear.90

3.3.9 The messengers bearing the news rapidly reached king Khosrov and described in full the acts of valour which had taken place. King Khosrov was happy and greatly rejoiced, and he ordered a large elephant to be decorated to bring him to the hall[93] [of the palace]. He also commanded his son Varaztirots to be promoted, who was called by the king Javitean[94] Khosrov. He ordered treasures to be distributed to his host. And he wrote him a letter of deep gratitude, summoning him to the court in great honour and splendour.91

[93] Hall: this was the gathering place of the greatest nobles.

[94] “Javitean” means eternal.92