Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1896-10-15

of the upper world.
This reads gloriously. But there is real
sonable room to believe that Tigranes be-
came tribute-payer as wen as friend to
Cyrus, and that this .'stnr among ma
tons" was even then satellite to Persia.
Nearly a century and half later, when
the younger Cyrus had ended promising
career in its first brilinnee by a reckless
death Mt Cunaxa, the brave Ten Thous-
and. spurning Persian capitulations, fight
their way back towards Hellas, and in their
march traverse the snow-clad plateaus
of Armenia, and rest and nurse their
wounds in her well-stocked villages; but
they find q satrap of the Great King"
waiting, with his puny opposition to their
march. From this the conclusion cannot
be escaped that despite the pleasant
yaunts of native historians, the Haikite
kings We're scarcely more than feudatory
lords under Persia through the entire
space between the two world conQuerors,
Cyrus and Alexander.
Nahi, the last of the dynasty of Haik,
was easily defeated by the Macedonian
victor in 32S b. O. But, eleven years
later. when Alexander was safely under
ground, and his SUCCESSORS displaying
their iniirmities, the Armenans banded
themselves martially, chose Ardvates king
and leader,and freed their impatient necks
from the yoke of Macedon. Ardyates,
who seems to have been manly fellow,
every inch regal, restored prosperity with
Independence to his people, and reigned
iiourishingly for thirty-thrce years. 1t
was bis misfortune, dying, TO leave none
strong enough to resist the Seleucids of
Syria, who soon reduced the nation once
more to tributary state. For a hundred
years again Armenia forgot the name of
freedom. But when Antiochus the Great
appointed Artnxius governor of Armenia
Major, he chose a man too powerful for
the place; for no sooner had Antiochus been
defeated by the Romans, than the new
governor proclaimed his province indie
pendent and himself prince owing suzer-
ainty to none. II was this leader who
gave asylum to the exiled Hannibal and
no doubt learned from the stern general
mixims of war and peace that helped him
to maintain, for his reign, II troubled posi-
ton, among independent sovercigns. In
Lesser Armenia, Zadriades followed the
example of successful rebellion, and his
| descendants held their petty kingdom in
| safety until conquered by Tigrancs ii,
nearly a numbered years after its revolt
| from the Selcucids.
But Parthia's greatness Swallowed the
East before Armenia Major had been free
half century, and Mthridntcs |. setting
his yoke upon Syria, also stretched grasp,
ing hands after her revolted province, and
here be established his brother, Val
arsaces, destined TO found one of the most
important branches of the great Arsacid
family. The new monarch restored tn,
best days Of Haikian prosperity, and went
\ far beyond them; he established laws ana
institutions that set his kingdom on leye
with her worthiest ncighbors, founded
cities of beauty and splendor, rewarded
talent, and encouraged arts and indust
ries. The most renowned of his success
sors was Tigranes ii, and under his earl,
reign the kingdom enjoyed her colder
age; he made himself master Of Syria
re-incorporated Armenia Minor with til,
greater power, and reduced to submission
numerous Parthian provinces. There il
no legitimate room to Doubt that he woul,
have founded an empire sufficiently broal
and strong to cope with Persia and Con
stantinople in later days, and not NTH
ridates of Pontus, whose daughter he ha,
married, unwisely pressed him into
struggle with the Romans. Soon Pom
pegs victorious legions were presenting
Armenian trophies to Latin penates. Zig
ranes ii, once conlneror, acknowledge,
allegiance to the paramount power, an,
i'll return for his submission. was permit
ted to retain kingdom and life, only erect
ing the provinces of Sophene and Cord
yene into a separate government for hi
son, Tigranes. The vanquished monarc
remained loyal ally and prompt tribute
payer to Rome until his death, 81 Is. c.
when another son, Artayasdes, taking til
reins of power, determined to emulate til
earlier sovcreigns who had thrown off tn
yoke and renowned vassalage. His indie
; pendent policy was not sustained by tru
! wisdom and strong resources, and the I'm
fortunate prince was made captive b.
Mare Antony, then touching the full mer
; dian of his brilliant Eastern career. Al
menia was left kingless, while the Re
man general conveyed his royal prisonc
TO Alexandria. there to present him as
. new toy to his capricious mistress, Cleo
.. patra, who found it both expedent an
amusing to behead him, in the year 3
b. G.
. During the century that followed, Rom
was too much occupied with strang
transitions at home to look zealously afte
!, her oriental conQuests, and Armenia wa
a reduced to poverty and disintegration b
j; the long years of nominal vice-gerenc
r but actual anarchy. One hundred an
seventy families set up claims to suprem
A power during this period, and n few G
them succeeded in erecting principalitit
9 OF ephemcral existence. At length, on
i of Arsacid blood through female tram
q mission, Erovant by name, strong of arr
and bold of scheme succeeded in maxim
!. himself master of most of the kingdom
/, and maintained semblance of sovereig
n state until more direct Representative
= OF the royal line named him usurpcr an
. collected sufficient forces to eXpel hil
4. and set the crown upon his own hea,
A This one, Ardashcs, despite numerous d,
4 thronements and recrownings, throug
A Parthian and Roman interference, col
; trived to do something for the bettermcr
! of his miserable countrys condition, an
: also to transmit the sceptre once more i
dynastic line.
v period of comparative peace, prospe
ity, and freedom succeeded. lasting farl
/. close to two hundred years. Before ii
# next deluge of blood and destruction role
r over Armenia, Christ had been born int
e the world, Bone had felt the throes whic
portended approaching dissolution, and
!. mighty Eastern Empire was dreamed o
= How sweetly through surrounding darl
h ness CLEANS the pure light of the ear
# Armenian church! Strip the dear trad
IL tiOn down as much as you may; deny thu