# A Dictionary of the Book of Mormon/Shiz

​SHIZ. The last of the great military commanders opposed to Coriantumr in the final war between the Jaredite factions. Shiz was the brother of Lib, another mighty warrior who did battle with Coriantumr. In one of the many engagements fought during this series of wars. Lib was slain, when Shiz took command of his forces and routed Coriantumr, following him in quick pursuit from the plains of Agosh, where the battle took place, to the sea shore. His march was one of horror and terror to the people. As he swiftly pressed forward, he destroyed everything within his reach, burning the cities and slaying their inhabitants, sparing neither man, woman nor child, as he swept along, and a cry of despair went up through all the land, “Who can stand before the army of Shiz? Behold, he sweepeth the earth before him!" So rapid were the movements of the contending armies, that the slain remained unburied, and the stench from their bodies filled the air with pestilence. Those yet alive hastened to join one or the other of the contending hosts, either from predilection or because they were forced into the ranks Shiz was filled with the spirit of murderous revenge. He swore he would avenge the blood of his brother, whom Coriantumr had slain. When he caught up with the latter's armies, he threw himself upon them with all the energy that hatred inspires. The battle lasted three days and ended in the repulse of Shiz, whose warriors fled to the land of Corihor, sweeping off the inhabitants of the lands they passed through who would not join them. ​In the valley of Corihor. Coriantumr again sought battle. He challenged Shiz, from the hill Coranor, by the sound of the trumpet, and Shiz was in no temper to disregard the challenge. Twice he attacked his over-confident foe, with the horde of men, women and children who followed his banner, and twice he was repulsed. On the third occasion he bore so heavily upon Coriantumr that the latter was wounded and fainted from the loss of blood. Their leader stricken, his motley following of old and young fell back; but Shiz was in no condition to take advantage of his victory. Both had lost so heavily that they were unable to renew the contest. Two millions of men, with their wives and children, had already fallen in this inhuman, relentless war.
At this point the heart of Coriantumr was touched with the miseries of his people, and he wrote to Shiz, stating that he would surrender the kingdom if the lives of his people could be spared. Shiz's brutal soul was yet untouched; he replied that if Coriantumr would give himself up so that he (Shiz) might slay him with his own sword, he would spare the lives of the people. To this proposal Coriantumr would not accede. With rekindled anger and hatred the two hosts prepared for renewed hostilities. Shiz was victorious in the first battle, and the enemy retired to the neighborhood of the great lakes. Another furious conflict followed, and Coriantumr triumphed, while Shiz retreated southward, to a place called Ogath, near the hill Ramah. Here the two commanders gathered their hosts for the final struggle. All, babe and grandsire, men and women, had to join one side or the other. The spirit of bloody vengeance filled every heart. Into the trembling hands of age and the feeble grasp of infancy alike, were thrust the sword and spear, while shield and breastplate defended the body strong enough to bear their weights. When once ​begun, the dwindling fight kept on from day to day, while night was made hideous by the yells and lamentations, the curses and oaths of the survivors, who were frenzied with anger, even as a man is drunken with wine. Thus they fought, struggled and fell, until one night there remained of all the race but fify-two of the people of Coriantumr and sixty-nine of the followers of Shiz. But they rested not. The next evening, thirty-two of the adherents of Shiz confronted twenty-seven of Coriantumr's. Next day the battle was continued, until the remnants grew faint from exertion and loss of blood. After three hours' desperate fighting the men of Coriantumr attempted to flee, but Shiz and his warriors prevented them. And so they continued until the two commanders remained alone on the field, all their followers having being slain, and Shiz himself had fainted. Then Coriantumr, having rested to gain sufficient strength, smote off the head of Shiz, who in his dying throes raised himself on his hands and knees as if to renew the contest, fell over, struggled for breath and died.