CAMPAIGN OF BEHRÂM CHUBÎN AGAINST, AND VICTORY OVER, SAWAH SHÂH; DEFECTION OF BEHRÂM CHUBÎN FROM HIS SOVEREIGN HORMUZ, AND THE MISFORTUNES OF THE LATTER.

Hormuz summoned Behrâm Chubîn from Armenia, and ordered him to collect an army numerous as locusts, wherewith to march against Sawah Shâh. Behrâm then picked out twelve thousand celebrated warriors, who were between forty and fifty years of age, and when Hormuz asked whether he intended with so small a number to attack a man whose army consisted of three millions, Behrâm’s reply was that the disadvantages entailed by a very large army are greater than the profit; he also men­tioned numerous generals who had with armies like his own vanquished opponents commanding numberless hosts.

After Behrâm had performed great marches, and had arrived in Khorâsân, Sawah Shâh sent him letters in which he promised him money and honours if he agreed to side with him. Behrâm, however, refused to become a traitor, and a desultory war ensued, in which Behrâm happened to shoot the King of Turkestân dead with an arrow: but this exploit did not put an end to the struggle, and the son of Sawah Shâh marched at the head of his army against Behrâm, and valiantly fought several battles, but was made prisoner at last.

According to the author of the Ghoniah—and the responsibility rests with him—Behrâm had, besides the son of Sawah Shâh, captured also two hundred and fifty thou­sand camels, together with all the cash, arms, gold and silver vessels, and camp-equipage of the army of the Turks, all of which he sent to Madâin. Hormuz considered this to be a great event, and extolled the prowess of Behrâm; but Yazdânbakhsh the wazir, who was an enemy of the general, told the king that what he had sent was merely the ear of the cow. These words so affected Hormuz that they induced him to send a yoke and a woman’s spindle [as marks of ignominy] to Behrâm. When these two gifts had reached the general, he placed the yoke on his own neck, and the spindle in front of himself. This exhibition displeased the officers so much that they swore allegiance to Behrâm, and agreed to revolt from Hormuz. The general, however, devised a stratagem, and coined money with the name of Khosru Parviz, the son of Hormuz, which he sent into the country in all directions. This proceeding excited the ire of Hormuz against Parviz, who, becoming afraid of his father, departed to Armenia and Azarbaijân. After the flight of Khosru, Hormuz imprisoned Panduiah and Bastâm, who were the maternal uncles of Khosru. They escaped, however, from prison, and conspired with a number of soldiers, who succeeded in taking possession of the person of Hormuz and depriving him of his eyesight. As soon as this news reached Khosru, he hastened with the speed of the wind and of lightning to the metropolis of Naushirvân. Arriving at Madâin, he placed the crown on his head, excused and justified himself to Hormuz, who believed his words, and entreated him to avenge him upon those who had injured him. This Khosru promised to do, after settling accounts with Behrâm.