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Xosrov began to assemble the remaining
naxarars speaking to them with extreme criticism, saying:
"Why did you not die at the site of the battle, instead of
coming to me? Did you, perhaps, think that Xosrov was dead?"
Then [the Iranian naxarars] decided on a plan of unified
action, saying: "Although [109] we survived the enemy, there
is no way for us to escape from Xosrov. Come, let us plan something."
They then vowed [loyalty] to one another. They went by night over
a draw-bridge to Vehkawat, which they seized. They appointed guards over it, then enthroned
Kawad, [Xosrov's] son. They also had secretly removed the horse
by which Xosrov had come to Ctesiphon. [g95] Thus, when the outcry
of what had taken place reached Xosrov, and when he became filled
with dread and horror, and asked for his horse, they did not find
the horse in the stable. King Kawad then arrived
with all of his troops. And king Xosrov, in a disguise, entered
the royal garden and hid himself under some dense hedges. King
Kawad ordered a search made and, going into the garden, they found
him. They seized [Xosrov], sent him to the executioner, king Kawad
gave the order, and they put him to death. Regarding Xosrov's
children, the naxarars said: "It is not worth letting
them live, for they will cause trouble." Then king Kawad
gave the order, and all [the sons], some forty people, were killed
in the same hour. [Kawad] requested for himself the women, treasury,
and royal stable.
[110] Then king Kawad began to consult
with the naxarars of his realm, saying: "We must make
peace with the emperor, leave all of his borders, and make reconciliation
on all sides." They unanimously agreed to do this. King Kawad
ordered that a hrovartak of greeting be written to Heraclius,
and that all of his borders be left alone. With this he sent an
oath and salt to seal it. He dispatched a certain prince Rhash
with very great gifts to confirm [the hrovartak] based
on their unity.
Now when this Rhash arrived, gave the
glad tidings, presented the hrovartak and went before them
with gifts, emperor Heraclius and all of his troops greatly thanked
God. Then emperor Heraclius commanded that the multitude of [Iranian]
captives and all the troops be set free. He wrote a testament
of praise, established peace with an oath, and sent [to Kawad]
a certain one of his principal naxarars named Yusdat' together
with very great gifts. He also exalted [the Iranian emissary]
Rhash, loading him with precious [g96] treasures, and dispatched
him. He went peacefully back to his own place. And Yusdat' went
to king Kawad and presented the hrovartak and gifts. Once
again the terms of peace were confirmed by him, the boundaries
were fixed by means of hrovartaks [111] which were sworn
to and salt was sealed by Yusdat' in the manner of the first copy,
and after [the custom of] the first kings. In [Yusdat's] presence
[Kawad] ordered that Shahr Varaz be written to, to assemble the
army and return to Iranian territory, quitting the Byzantine borders,
though [the latter] did not want to obey that order. They released
Yusdat' laden with treasures, and he departed.
Smbat's son Varaztirots' becomes a marzpan.
The selection and deposition of kat'oghikos K'ristap'or
and his succession by Ezr. The death of Kawad and the enthronement
of his son Artashir. Heraclius writes to Xorheam requesting the
holy Cross from him. The killing of Artashir and the reign of
Xorheam. The killing of Xorheam, and the reign of Bbor, Xosrov's
daughter. She was succeeded by a certain Xosrov, who was followed
by Xosrov's daughter, Azarmiduxt. She was followed by Ormizd.
Finally, the reign of Yazkert.
King Kawad summoned Varaztirots' (son
of Smbat Bagratuni, who was called Xosrov Shum) and bestowed upon
him the authority of the tanuterut'iwn. He made
him marzpan and sent him back to Armenia with all of his
father's belongings so that he would keep the land in a flourishing
state. When he arrived in Armenia the entire land received him
with delight. However, because the venerable kat'oghikos
Kumitas had died and the position was vacant, [Varaztirots'] consulted
with [112] everyone to find someone worthy of filling it. Then,
at the proposal of T'eodoros, lord of Rshtunik', they selected
a certain hermit from the House of Abraham, named K'ristap'or,
and seated him as kat'oghikos. He proved to be an
arrogant and impious man whose tongue was as sharp as a sword. He
stirred up much agitation and intruded the sword between Aspet
and his brother, by slander. He occupied the patriarchal throne
for two years. During the third year they made accusations against
him. With all the bishops and princes assembled, they held an
investigation. Two men from [K'ristap'or's] family came [to the
trial] and testified against him in front of the entire multitude.
So they took from him the veil of the dignity of the priesthood,
removed him from the order and pursued him with indignities. They
swiftly enthroned Ezr, from the district of Nig, as kat'oghikos. The venerable Kumitas had appointed him doorkeeper/warden [of the church] of saint Gregory. He was a humble and mild man who did not want to anger anyone, nor did unseemly words issue
from his mouth.
Though king Kawad was planning to make
the land flourish and wanted to make peace everywhere, he died
after only six months [as king]. They enthroned Artashir who was
his son, but a small boy [ca. 628/29]. Then Heraclius wrote the
[113] following to Xorheam: "Your king Kawad has died. The
throne of that kingdom belongs to you. I shall give it to you,
and to your son after you. Should you need troops I shall send
as many as are required, and let there be a vow between you and
me in addition to a sworn and sealed document." Xorheam easily
accepted and quit Alexandria. He assembled all his troops at
one location and left them there. Then he went to the appointment
where Heraclius had told him to be, with but a few [men]. When
[Heraclius and Xorheam] saw each other they were very joyful.
And it was then that Heraclius swore to him that he would give
the kingdom to him and to his sons after him, and that he would
provide as many troops as necessary. The first thing that [Heraclius]
requested of him was the life-giving Cross which he had captured
at Jerusalem. Then Xorheam swore to him, saying: "As soon
as I reach the royal court I shall make inquiry about the Cross,
and have it [g98] brought to you. Furthermore, I shall place the
border wherever you wish, and confirm it in writing, with seal
and salt." [Xorheam] requested a small force from him, and
they parted. Now Xorheam took his multitude of troops and went
to Ctesiphon. He ordered some people to kill Artashir the boy-king,
and he himself went and sat on the throne of the kingdom. He ordered
all those principal men at the court and in the army whom [114]
he could not trust to be killed by the sword, while others he
had sent to Heraclius in shackles.
Then the venerable Heraclius dispatched
loyal men to Xorheam concerning the lordly Cross. [The latter]
sought for it with great urgency and barely gave it to the men
who had come. They took it and departed hurriedly. [Xorheam] also
gave them no small amount of goods and dispatched them with great
joy.
Now one day Xorheam donned royal garments,
mounted a horse, and circulated among the troops, displaying himself.
Suddenly, from the rear, they attacked, struck, and killed him.
Then they enthroned Xosrov's daughter, Bbor, who was [Xorheam's]
wife. They appointed Xorhox Ormazd, a prince of Atrpatakan, as
the commander at court. Now Xorhox sent [a message] to [Bbor],
the Bambish [Iranian, "queen of queens"], [saying]:
"Be my wife." She accepted, [replying]: "Come to
me at midnight accompanied by [but] one man, and I shall fulfill
your wishes." Arising at midnight, [Xorhox] took one man
and went. As soon as he entered the royal chamber, the court guards fell upon him, [115]
attacked and killed him. [Bbor], the Bambish, ruled for
two years and then died. After her was a certain Xosrov, from
the line of Sasan. After Xosrov was Azarmiduxt, daughter of Xosrov.
After her was Ormazd, grandson of Xosrov whom the troops of Xorheam
strangled. Finally there came to rule Yazkert [ca. 631-52],
son of Kawad, grandson of Xosrov, who ruled in fear, since the
troops of the land of Iran had split into three parts. The first
army was the one in the Iranian and Eastern region; the second
army was Xorheam's [g99] which was in Asorestan; and the third
army was in Atrpatakan. However, the [center of the] kingdom was
at Ctesiphon, and all [the Iranians] universally respected it.
The return of the Cross to holy Jerusalem.
The determination of the boundary between the two kings. Forced
by Mzhezh Gnuni, Ezr accepts the Council of Chalcedon. The plot
of Mezhezh with Rhatovm against aspet Varaztirots' and
the latter's flight. The king swears to him and he goes to the
palace and is exalted. The evil plot of At'alarikos with the princes
against his father. The exposure of the plot and the plotters'
deaths. The exile of Varaztirots'. The bravery of Dawit' Saharhuni,
who becomes Curopalate. The deeds of T'eodoros, lord of Rshtunik'.
Now when the holy Cross of the Lord
had fallen to the venerable, pious, and blessed king Heraclius,
he enthusiastically [116] and joyfully assembled his troops. Then,
taking all the royal attendants and revering the blessed, miraculous and divine discovery they took [the Cross] back to the holy city of Jerusalem. They also took
there all the vessels of the church which had been saved from
the enemy, in the city of Byzantium. And there was no small amount
of joy on the day they entered Jerusalem, with the sound of sobbing
and moaning, an outpouring of tears from their excited and moved
hearts, and there was a tightening feeling in the king, the princes,
all the troops and the inhabitants in the city. No one was capable
of singing the sacred songs due to the tremendous and deep emotion
[felt by the] king and the entire multitude. [Heraclius] took
[the Cross] and reestablished it in its place; he put each of
the vessels of the churches back in its place; and he gave wealth
and incense to all the churches and inhabitants of the city. [g100]
[Heraclius] himself then took to the
road heading directly for Syrian Mesopotamia in order to personally
see to establishing the cities of the borders. The boundary which
was confirmed was the same as had been established under Xosrov
and Maurice. The Cross of the Lord remained in the [117] heaven-built
city until the taking of Jerusalem by the sons of Ishmael At that
time it was taken in exile to the capital city [of Constantinople]
with all the church vessels.
A general of the Byzantines named Mzhezh Gnuni, from the
country of Armenia, arrived next and personally took control of all the country of the borders. He told the kat'oghikos Ezr to come to him in the country of the borders and to take the sacrament of communion with the emperor. "Otherwise,"
he said, "we shall get ourselves another kat'oghikos
and you will hold sway in the Iranian sector." The kat'oghikos,
since he was unable to leave the country of his jurisdiction,
requested a statement of faith from the emperor. A volume written
by the emperor himself was quickly sent to him in which [the emperor]
cursed Nestorius and all heretics, but he did not curse the Council
of Chalcedon. The kat'oghikos went to the country
of Asorestan, saw the emperor and communed after his fashion.
As a gift, [Ezr] requested from the emperor the salt [mine] at
Koghb, which he received. Then he returned to his home in great
pomp. Subsequently, he resided with the Byzantine army, doing
as the general wished. He arranged the orders of soldiers and
the distribution of granaries for the entire country.
[118] Now aspet Varaztirots'
(son of the great Xosrov Shum, styled Jawitean Xosrov [Forever
Loyal to Xosrov] by the kings) completely built up the entire
land of Armenia. But he did not submit to the great prince named
Xorhox Ormazd of the Atrpatakan land, nor to his son and successor,
Rostom, who [also] was a prince in the Atrpatakan area. There
was great agitation between the two. Then the Byzantine general
Mzhezh started to slander the aspet to prince Rostom, who
was in Atrpatakan: "Let him not stay in Armenia, otherwise,
there will be great agitation between the two kings." And
he sent [g101] his brother Garik'pet to go and winter in Dwin;
and then they would arrest the aspet and depart. However,
because all the Iranian troops liked the aspet, one of
the great princes there informed him, saying: "Look out for
yourself, for they are going to arrest you, tomorrow." So aspet
took his wife and children and fled at night to Taron. When he
got there, he assembled his troops. [Varaztirots'] requested an
oath from emperor Heraclius, that he not be alienated from his
own land. Accepting [the emperor's] oath as genuine, he went to
him in Asorestan. Then emperor Heraclius swore to him: "Stay
with me for a brief time, then I shall dispatch you to your country
with great honor." And [Heraclius] exalted him more than
all the patricians in his realm. When [Varaztirots'] went to the
palace, he gave him a royal mansion, a silver throne, [119] and an extremely large amount of treasure. Furthermore, [Varaztirots'] son, Smbat, was the beloved chamberlain
of Heraclius.
Here is [an account of] the evil accomplished
by the son of emperor Heraclius named At'alarik [Heracleonas,
638-41]. This concerns the great crime which deeply wounded his
father's heart, broke a marvellous individual, made the beauty
of his face fade and became the cause of the ruin of himself and
of many others. Now [At'alarik], T'eodoros called Magistros, brother
of emperor Heraclius' son, many of the grandees of the city, and
Vahan Xorhxoruni all had united to kill Heraclius, and to enthrone
his son, At'alarik. Included in the deliberation similarly was
Varastirots', son of Smbat Xosrov Shum; however, he did not consent
to the slaying of the emperor and his sons. He said, rather: "You
say that they are the locum tenens of God, therefore
there is no need to do that [killing], nor do I unite with you
in that plan." Now a certain curator who had been included
in the deliberations, fully related the plot to the emperor. When
the emperor had confirmed [the truth of the matter], [g102] he
ordered that his son, nephew, and all those with them, be arrested
in the morning. The noses and right hands of all of them were
cut off. [Heraclius] sent a message [120] to the aspet, saying:
"Since you did as you did with regard to me and did not want
to dip your hand into my blood and the blood of my sons, I
shall not reach for you and your sons. Go where I order you, and
I will have mercy upon you." Although the sides protested,
saying: "Kill him," nonetheless, [Heraclius] did not
want to listen to them. Rather he ordered [Varaztirots'], his
wife and children taken to the island and city of tribulation
named Ak'sor.
Also included in the plot was Dawit'
Saharhuni, who was sent to the palace bound, by Mzhezh Gnuni.
Bursting his bonds enroute to the palace, [Dawit'] killed the
men who were taking him. He then returned and united the troops
of Armenia with himself, suddenly attacking and killing Mzhezh
Gnuni the Byzantine general, and Varaz Gnel Gnuni. [Dawit'] himself
took over the military ccmmand with the support and affection
of all the troops.
Now at the request of the princes, the
emperor made him prince of all the lands and bestowed on him the
dignity of curopalate. [Heraclius] confirmed [Dawit'] in his service.
He held authority for three years in the greatest luxury. Then,
however, he was dishonored by the troops and persecuted; and all
the azats, being disunited, were the undoing of the country
of Armenia.
[121] It was, however, only the pious
prince T'eodoros of the Rshtunik' district who continually was
organizing the troops of his area, and was on the alert day and
night, as his deep wisdom dictated. He wrought not a few slaughters
of the enemy, and he built up the island of Aght'amar,[acts which]
envivified many districts [g103].
The elimination of the Sasanian [dynasty]
which held sway for 542 years. The birth of Muhammad and the entrance
of the sons of Ishmael into the land of Armenia. The death of
Heraclius and the reign of Constantine.
I shall discuss the [line of the] son
of Abraham: not the one [born] of a free [woman], but the one
born of a serving maid, about whom the quotation from Scripture
was fully and truthfully fulfilled, "His hands will be at
everyone, and everyone will have their hands at him [Genesis
16. 11,12]."
Twelve peoples [representing] all the
tribes of the Jews assembled at the city of Edessa. When they
saw that the Iranian troops had departed and left the city in peace,
they [122] closed the gates and fortified themselves. They refused
entry to troops of the Roman lordship. Thus Heraclius, emperor
of the Byzantines, gave the order to besiege it. When [the Jews]
realized that they could not militarily resist him, they promised
to make peace. Opening the city gates, they went before him, and
[Heraclius] ordered that they should go and stay in their own
place. So they departed, taking the road through the desert to
Tachkastan to the sons of Ishmael. [The Jews] called [the Arabs]
to their aid and familiarized them with the relationship they
had through the books of the [Old] Testament. Although [the Arabs]
were convinced of their close relationship, they were unable to
get a consensus from their multitude, for they were divided from
each other by religion. In that period a certain one of them,
a man of the sons of Ishmael named Muhammad, a merchant, became prominent.
A sermon about the Way of Truth, supposedly at God's command, was revealed to them, and [Muhammad] taught them to recognize the God of Abraham, especially since he was
informed and knowledgeable about Mosaic history. Because the command
had [g104] come from On High, he ordered them all to assemble
together and to unite in faith. Abandonning the reverence of vain
things, they turned toward the living God, who had appeared to
their father--Abraham. Muhammad legislated that they were not
to [123] eat carrion, not to drink wine, not to speak falsehoods,
and not to commit adultery. He said: "God promised that country
to Abraham and to his son after him, for eternity. And what had
been promised was fulfilled during that time when [God] loved
Israel. Now, however, you are the sons of Abraham, and God shall
fulfill the promise made to Abraham and his son on you. Only love
the God of Abraham, and go and take the country which God gave
to your father, Abraham. No one can successfully resist you in
war, since God is with you."
Then all of them assembled together,
from Havilah to Shur, which is opposite Egypt [The text is corrupt
here. The citation is from Genesis 25.18], and they set out from
the P'arhan desert [being] twelve tribes [moving] in the order
[of precedence] of the Houses of the patriarchs of their tribe.
They were divided into 12,000 men, of which the sons of Israel
were in their own tribes, 1,000 to a tribe, to lead them to the
country of Israel. They travelled army by army in the order [of
precedence] of each patriarchy: Nebaioth, Kedar, Adbeel, Mibsam,
Mishma, Dumah, Massa, Hadad, Tema, Jetur, Naphish and Kedemah
[Genesis 25. 13-16]. These are the peoples of Ishmael. They reached
Moabite Rabbath, at the borders of [124] Ruben's [land]. The Byzantine
army was encamped in Arabia. [The Arabs] fell upon them suddenly,
struck them with the sword and put to flight emperor Heraclius'
brother, Theodosius. Then they turned and encamped in Arabia.
All the remnants of the sons of Israel
then assembled [g105] and united, becoming a large force. After
this they dispatched a message to the Byzantine emperor, saying:
"God gave that country as the inherited property [i
kaluats zharhangut'ean] of Abraham and of
his sons after him. We are the sons of Abraham. It is too much
that you hold our country. Leave in peace, and we shall demand
from you what you have seized, plus interest. The emperor rejected this. He did not provide a fitting response to the message but rather said: "The country is mine. Your
inheritance is the desert. So go in peace to your country." And [Heraclius]
started organizing brigades, as many as 70,000 [troops] giving
them as a general, a certain one of his faithful eunuchs. He ordered
that they were to go to Arabia, stipulating that they were not
to engage them [125] in war, but rather to keep on the alert until
he could assemble his other troops and send them to help. Now
[the Byzantines] reached the Jordan and crossed into Arabia. Leaving
their campsite on the riverbank, [the Byzantines] went on foot
to attack [the Arabs'] camp. [The Arabs], however, had placed
part of their army in ambuscades here and there, lodging the multitude
in dwellings around the camp. Then they drove in herds of camels
which they penned around the camp and the tents, tying them at
the foot with rope. Such was the fortification of their camp.
The beasts were fatigued from the journey, and so [the Byzantines]
were able to cut through the camp fortification, and started to
kill [the Arabs]. But suddenly the men in the ambuscades sprung
from their places and fell upon them. Awe of the Lord came over
the Byzantine troops, and they turned in flight before them. But
they were unable to flee because of the quicksand which buried
them to the legs. There was great anxiety caused by the heat of
the sun and the enemy's sword was upon them. All the generals
fell and perished. More than 2,000 men were slain. A few survivors
fled to the place of refuge.
[The Arabs] crossed the Jordan and encamped
at Jericho. Then dread of them came over the inhabitants of the
country, and all of them submitted [g106]. That night the Jerusalemites
took [126] the Cross of the Lord and all the vessels of the churches
of God, and fled with them by boat to the palace at Constantinople.
[The Jerusalemites] requested an oath [from the Arabs] and then
submitted.
The emperor of the Byzantines was no
longer able to assemble his troops against them. [The Arabs] divided
their army into three parts. One part went to Egypt, taking [territory]
as far as Alexandria. The second part went north [to war] against
the Byzantine empire. In the twinkling of an eye they had seized
[territory stretching] from the sea to the shores of
the great Euphrates river, as well as Edessa and all the cities
of Mesopotamia, on the other side of the [Euphrates] river. The
third part [of the Arab army] was sent to the east, against the
kingdom of Iran.
In that period the kingdom of Iran grew
weaker, and their army was divided into three parts. Then the
Ishmaelite troops who were gathered in the east, went and besieged
Ctesiphon, since the king of Iran resided there. Troops from the
land of Media [Marats'], some 80,000 armed men under their general Rostom assembled and went
against [the Arabs] in battle. Then [the Arabs] left the city
and crossed to the other side of [127] the Tigris river. [The
Iranians] also crossed the river, pursuing them. And they did
not stop until they reached their borders, at the village called
Hert'ichan. [The Arabs] continued to pursue them, [eventually]
going and encamping in the plain. Present were Mushegh Mamikonean,
son of Dawit', the general of Armenia with 3,000 armed men, and
also prince Grigor, lord of Siwnik', with 1,000 men. [The Iranian
and Arab armies] attacked each other, and the Iranian forces fled
before them. But [the Arabs] pursued them, putting them to the
sword. All the principal naxarars died, as did general
Rostom. They killed Mushegh and two of his sister's sons, as well
as Grigor, the lord of Siwnik', along with one son. Some [of the
Iranian troops] escaped and fled back to their own land. The remnants
of the Iranian forces assembled in Atrpatakan at one spot and
made Xorhoxazat their general. Then they hurried to Ctesiphon
and took the treasury of the [g107] kingdom, the inhabitants of
the cities, and their king, and then hurried to get back to Atrpatakan.
But as soon as they had departed and gone some distance, the Ishmaelite
army unexpectedly came upon them. Horrified, [the Iranians] abandoned
the treasury and the inhabitants of the city, and fled. Their
king also fled, winding up with the southern troops. Now [the
Arabs] took the entire treasury and returned to Ctesiphon, taking
the inhabitants of the cities along too. [128] And they pillaged
the entire country.
The venerable Heraclius ended his life
in ripe old age. He reigned for 30 years [610-40/41]. [Heraclius]
made his son Constantine swear to have clemency upon all those
transgressors whom he had ordered exiled. He made him vow to send
each back to his place, and to bring back the aspet, his
wife and son, and to establish him in his former rank.
"Should he want to go to his land, as I have sworn--and may my
oath not be false--release him, and let him go in peace."
Heraclius died and his son Constantine
ruled. But no one was chosen as general of the land of Armenia,
since the princes were disunited
and quit each other's presence.
The polluting army [of the Arabs] arose
from Asorestan and came through the valley route to the land of
Taron. They took [Taron], Bznunik' and Aghiovit and then, going
to the Berkri valley via Ordspoy and Gogovit, poured into Ayrarat.
None of the Armenian troops was able to carry the bad news to
the awan of Dwin. There were, however, three of the princes
who went and gathered the dispersed troops: T'eodoros Vahewuni,
[129] Xach'ean Arhaweghean, and Shapuh Amatuni. They fled to Dwin,
reached the Metsamor bridge, crossed it, destroyed it, and then
they went to take the bad news to the awan. All the people
of the land had assembled in the fortress, and they had come in
harvest time for the vineyards.
T'eodoros went to the city of Naxchawan.
The enemy Busha reached Metsamawr bridge but was unable to cross
over. [g108] However, [the Arabs] had as a guide Vardik, prince
of Mokk', who was called Aknik ["Little Eyes"]. Crossing
the Metsamawr bridge, they raided the entire country. They accumulated
a very great amount of loot and captives, then came and encamped
by the edge of the Xosrakert forest.
On the fifth day [of the Arabs' sojourn],
on a Friday, the 30th of the month of Tre [Tre: the fourth month in
the Armenian calendar, November], they came against the city [of
Dwin] and it was betrayed into their hands. For they set fires
here and there, and drove away the guards on the wall by smoke
and by shooting arrows. They then erected ladders, scaled the
wall and, once inside, opened the city gates. The army of the
enemy poured inside and put most of the city to the sword. Then,
taking the loot and booty of the city, they departed and encamped
at their same campsite. After passing some days there, they arose
and departed by the same route they had come. They had a multitude
of captives with them, some [130] 35,000 souls. Now the prince
of Armenia, the lord of Rshtunik', who had been concealed in an
ambuscade in the district of Gogovit, went against [the Arabs]
with few troops. But he was unable to resist, and so fled before
them. [The Arabs] pursued [Rshtunik's troops] killing many of
them. Then they went to Asorestan. This occurred in the days of
kat'oghikos Ezr.
As a result of that battle, an order
came from the emperor [granting] the military command
and the dignity of patrician to T'eodoros, lord of Rshtunik'.
All this took place as a result of kat'oghikos
Nerses who succeeded Ezr on the kat'oghikosal throne.
When the sons of Ishmael had arisen
and issued from the desert of Sinai, their king Amrh ['Umar] did not accompany
them. But when [the Arabs] had militarily routed both kingdoms,
seizing from Egypt to the great Taurus mountain, from the Western
Sea [the Atlantic Ocean] to Media and Xuzhastan, they then emerged
with the royal army [and went] to the [g109] natural borders of
the holdings of Ishmael. Then the [Arab] [131] king gave an order
to assemble boats and many sailors and to navigate southwardly,
going east to Pars, to Sagastan, to Sind, to Srman, to the land
of Turan and to Makuran as far as the borders of India. The troops
swiftly prepared and implemented the command. They burned every
country, taking loot and booty. They then turned and made expeditions
on the waves of the sea, and reached their own places.
We heard this [account] from men [who
had returned] from captivity in Xuzhastan Tachkastan, who themselves
had been eye-witnesses to the events described and narrated
them to us.
Regarding the Jews and their wicked
plans.
Now I shall speak about the plot of
the Jewish rebels, who, finding support from the Hagarenes for
a short time, planned to [re]build the temple of Solomon. Locating
the place called the holy of holies, they constructed [the temple
with a pedestal, to serve as their place of prayer. But the Ishmaelites
envied [the Jews], expelled them from the place, and named the
same building their own place of prayer. [The Jews] built a temple
for their worship, elsewhere. It [132] was then that they came
up with an evil plan: they wanted to fill Jerusalem with blood
from end to end, and to exterminate all the Christians of Jerusalem.
Now it happened that there was a certain grandee Ishmaelite who
went to worship in their private place of prayer. He encountered
three of the principal Jewish men, who had just slaughtered two
pigs and taken and put them [in the Muslim] place of prayer. Blood
[g110] was running down the walls and on the floor of the building.
As soon as the man saw them, he stopped and said something or
other to them. They replied and departed. The man at once went
inside to pray. He saw the wicked [sight], and quickly turned
to catch the men. When he was unable to find them, he was silent
and went to his place. Then many [Muslims] entered the place and
saw the evil, and they spread a lament throughout the city. The
Jews told the prince that the Christians had desecrated their
place of prayer. The prince issued an order and all the Christians
were gathered together. Just as they wanted to put them to the
sword, the man came and addressed them: "Why shed so much
blood in vain? Order all the Jews to assemble and I shall point
out the guilty ones." As soon as they were all assembled
and [the man] walked among them, he recognized the three men whom
he had previously [133] encountered. Seizing them, [the Arabs]
tried them with great severity until they disclosed the plot. And because
their prince was among the Jews present, [the Arab prince] ordered that six of the principals
involved in the plot be killed. He permitted the other [Jews]
to return to their places.
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