AtthesametimethatDiocletianchastisedthepastcrimesoftheEgyptians，heprovidedfortheirfuturesafetyandhappinessbymanywiseregulations，whichwereconfirmedandenforcedunderthesucceedingreigns。^49Oneveryremarkableedictwhichhepublished，insteadofbeingcondemnedastheeffectofjealoustyranny，deservestobeapplaudedasanactofprudenceandhumanity。Hecausedadiligentinquirytobemade\"foralltheancientbookswhichtreatedoftheadmirableartofmakinggoldandsilver，andwithoutpity，committedthemtotheflames；apprehensive，asweareassumed，lesttheopulenceoftheEgyptiansshouldinspirethemwithconfidencetorebelagainsttheempire。\"^50ButifDiocletianhadbeenconvincedoftherealityofthatvaluableart，farfromextinguishingthememory，hewouldhaveconvertedtheoperationofittothebenefitofthepublicrevenue。Itismuchmorelikely，thathisgoodsensediscoveredtohimthefollyofsuchmagnificentpretensions，andthathewasdesirousofpreservingthereasonandfortunesofhissubjectsfromthemischievouspursuit。Itmayberemarked，thattheseancientbooks，soliberallyascribedtoPythagoras，toSolomon，ortoHermes，werethepiousfraudsofmorerecentadepts。TheGreekswereinattentiveeithertotheuseortotheabuseofchemistry。Inthatimmenseregister，wherePlinyhasdepositedthediscoveries，thearts，andtheerrorsofmankind，thereisnottheleastmentionofthetransmutationofmetals；
andthepersecutionofDiocletianisthefirstauthenticeventinthehistoryofalchemy。TheconquestofEgyptbytheArabsdiffusedthatvainscienceovertheglobe。Congenialtotheavariceofthehumanheart，itwasstudiedinChinaasinEurope，withequaleagerness，andwithequalsuccess。Thedarknessofthemiddleagesinsuredafavorablereceptiontoeverytaleofwonder，andtherevivaloflearninggavenewvigortohope，andsuggestedmorespeciousartsofdeception。Philosophy，withtheaidofexperience，hasatlengthbanishedthestudyofalchemy；
andthepresentage，howeverdesirousofriches，iscontenttoseekthembythehumblermeansofcommerceandindustry。^51
[Footnote49:Hefixedthepublicallowanceofcorn，forthepeopleofAlexandria，attwomillionsofmedimni；aboutfourhundredthousandquarters。Chron。Paschal。p。276Procop。Hist。
Arcan。c。26。]
[Footnote50:JohnAntioch，inExcerp。Valesian。p。834。SuidasinDiocletian。]
[Footnote51:SeeashorthistoryandconfutationofAlchemy，intheworksofthatphilosophicalcompiler，LaMotheleVayer，tom。
i。p。32—353。]
ThereductionofEgyptwasimmediatelyfollowedbythePersianwar。ItwasreservedforthereignofDiocletiantovanquishthatpowerfulnation，andtoextortaconfessionfromthesuccessorsofArtaxerxes，ofthesuperiormajestyoftheRomanempire。
Wehaveobserved，underthereignofValerian，thatArmeniawassubduedbytheperfidyandthearmsofthePersians，andthat，aftertheassassinationofChosroes，hissonTiridates，theinfantheirofthemonarchy，wassavedbythefidelityofhisfriends，andeducatedundertheprotectionoftheemperors。
TiridatesderivedfromhisexilesuchadvantagesashecouldneverhaveobtainedonthethroneofArmenia；theearlyknowledgeofadversity，ofmankind，andoftheRomandiscipline。Hesignalizedhisyouthbydeedsofvalor，anddisplayedamatchlessdexterity，aswellasstrength，ineverymartialexercise，andeveninthelesshonorablecontestsoftheOlympiangames。^52
ThosequalitiesweremorenoblyexertedinthedefenceofhisbenefactorLicinius。^53Thatofficer，intheseditionwhichoccasionedthedeathofProbus，wasexposedtothemostimminentdanger，andtheenragedsoldierswereforcingtheirwayintohistent，whentheywerecheckedbythesinglearmoftheArmenianprince。ThegratitudeofTiridatescontributedsoonafterwardstohisrestoration。LiciniuswasineverystationthefriendandcompanionofGalerius，andthemeritofGalerius，longbeforehewasraisedtothedignityofCaesar，hadbeenknownandesteemedbyDiocletian。Inthethirdyearofthatemperor\'sreignTiridateswasinvestedwiththekingdomofArmenia。Thejusticeofthemeasurewasnotlessevidentthanitsexpediency。ItwastimetorescuefromtheusurpationofthePersianmonarchanimportantterritory，which，sincethereignofNero，hadbeenalwaysgrantedundertheprotectionoftheempiretoayoungerbranchofthehouseofArsaces。^54
[Footnote52:SeetheeducationandstrengthofTiridatesintheArmenianhistoryofMosesofChorene，l。ii。c。76。Hecouldseizetwowildbullsbythehorns，andbreakthemoffwithhishands。]
[Footnote53:IfwegivecredittotheyoungerVictor，whosupposesthatintheyear323Liciniuswasonlysixtyyearsofage，hecouldscarcelybethesamepersonasthepatronofTiridates；butweknowfrommuchbetterauthority，Euseb。Hist。
Ecclesiast。l。x。c。8，thatLiciniuswasatthattimeinthelastperiodofoldage:sixteenyearsbefore，heisrepresentedwithgrayhairs，andasthecontemporaryofGalerius。SeeLactant。c。32。Liciniuswasprobablybornabouttheyear250。]
[Footnote54:Seethesixty—secondandsixty—thirdbooksofDionCassius。]
WhenTiridatesappearedonthefrontiersofArmenia，hewasreceivedwithanunfeignedtransportofjoyandloyalty。Duringtwenty—sixyears，thecountryhadexperiencedtherealandimaginaryhardshipsofaforeignyoke。ThePersianmonarchsadornedtheirnewconquestwithmagnificentbuildings；butthosemonumentshadbeenerectedattheexpenseofthepeople，andwereabhorredasbadgesofslavery。Theapprehensionofarevolthadinspiredthemostrigorousprecautions:oppressionhadbeenaggravatedbyinsult，andtheconsciousnessofthepublichatredhadbeenproductiveofeverymeasurethatcouldrenderitstillmoreimplacable。WehavealreadyremarkedtheintolerantspiritoftheMagianreligion。ThestatuesofthedeifiedkingsofArmenia，andthesacredimagesofthesunandmoon，werebrokeinpiecesbythezealoftheconqueror；andtheperpetualfireofOrmuzdwaskindledandpreserveduponanaltarerectedonthesummitofMountBagavan。^55Itwasnatural，thatapeopleexasperatedbysomanyinjuries，shouldarmwithzealinthecauseoftheirindependence，theirreligion，andtheirhereditarysovereign。Thetorrentboredowneveryobstacle，andthePersiangarrisonsretreatedbeforeitsfury。ThenoblesofArmeniaflewtothestandardofTiridates，allallegingtheirpastmerit，offeringtheirfutureservice，andsolicitingfromthenewkingthosehonorsandrewardsfromwhichtheyhadbeenexcludedwithdisdainundertheforeigngovernment。^56ThecommandofthearmywasbestowedonArtavasdes，whosefatherhadsavedtheinfancyofTiridates，andwhosefamilyhadbeenmassacredforthatgenerousaction。ThebrotherofArtavasdesobtainedthegovernmentofaprovince。OneofthefirstmilitarydignitieswasconferredonthesatrapOtas，amanofsingulartemperanceandfortitude，whopresentedtothekinghissister^57andaconsiderabletreasure，bothofwhich，inasequesteredfortress，Otashadpreservedfromviolation。AmongtheArmeniannoblesappearedanally，whosefortunesaretooremarkabletopassunnoticed。HisnamewasMamgo，^!hisoriginwasScythian，andthehordewhichacknowledgehisauthorityhadencampedaveryfewyearsbeforeontheskirtsoftheChineseempire，^58whichatthattimeextendedasfarastheneighborhoodofSogdiana。^59Havingincurredthedispleasureofhismaster，Mamgo，withhisfollowers，retiredtothebanksoftheOxus，andimploredtheprotectionofSapor。TheemperorofChinaclaimedthefugitive，andallegedtherightsofsovereignty。ThePersianmonarchpleadedthelawsofhospitality，andwithsomedifficultyavoidedawar，bythepromisethathewouldbanishMamgototheuttermostpartsoftheWest，apunishment，ashedescribedit，notlessdreadfulthandeathitself。Armeniawaschosenfortheplaceofexile，andalargedistrictwasassignedtotheScythianhorde，onwhichtheymightfeedtheirflocksandherds，andremovetheirencampmentfromoneplacetoanother，accordingtothedifferentseasonsoftheyear。
TheywereemployedtorepeltheinvasionofTiridates；buttheirleader，afterweighingtheobligationsandinjurieswhichhehadreceivedfromthePersianmonarch，resolvedtoabandonhisparty。
TheArmenianprince，whowaswellacquaintedwiththismeritaswellaspowerofMamgo，treatedhimwithdistinguishedrespect；
and，byadmittinghimintohisconfidence，acquiredabraveandfaithfulservant，whocontributedveryeffectuallytohisrestoration。^60
[Footnote55:MosesofChorene。Hist。Armen。l。ii。c。74。ThestatueshadbeenerectedbyValarsaces，whoreignedinArmeniaabout130yearsbeforeChrist，andwasthefirstkingofthefamilyofArsaces，seeMoses，Hist。Armen。l。ii。2，3。ThedeificationoftheArsacidesismentionedbyJustin，xli。5，
andbyAmmianusMarcellinus，xxiii。6。]
[Footnote56:TheArmeniannobilitywasnumerousandpowerful。
MosesmentionsmanyfamilieswhichweredistinguishedunderthereignofValarsaces，l。ii。7，andwhichstillsubsistedinhisowntime，aboutthemiddleofthefifthcentury。SeetheprefaceofhisEditors。]
[Footnote57:ShewasnamedChosroiduchta，andhadnottheospatulumlikeotherwomen。Hist。Armen。l。ii。c。79。Idonotunderstandtheexpression。
Note:Ospatulumsignifiesmerelyalargeandwidelyopeningmouth。OvidMetam。xv。513says，speakingofthemonsterwhoattackedHippolytus，patulopartemmarisevomitore。ProbablyawidemouthwasacommondefectamongtheArmenianwomen。—G。]
[Footnote!:MamgoaccordingtoM。St。Martin，notetoLeBeau。
ii。213belongedtotheimperialraceofHon，whohadfilledthethroneofChinaforfourhundredyears。DethronedbytheusurpingraceofWei，MamgofoundahospitablereceptioninPersiainthereignofArdeschir。Theemperorofchinahavingdemandedthesurrenderofthefugitiveandhispartisans，Sapor，thenking，threatenedwithwarbothbyRomeandChina，counselledMamgotoretireintoArmenia。\"Ihaveexpelledhimfrommydominions，heansweredtheChineseambassador；Ihavebanishedhimtotheextremityoftheearth，wherethesunsets；Ihavedismissedhimtocertaindeath。\"CompareMem。surl\'Armenie，ii。
25。—M。]
[Footnote58:IntheArmenianhistory，l。ii。78，aswellasintheGeography，p。367，ChinaiscalledZenia，orZenastan。Itischaracterizedbytheproductionofsilk，bytheopulenceofthenatives，andbytheirloveofpeace，abovealltheothernationsoftheearth。
Note:SeeSt。Martin，Mem。surl\'Armenie，i。304。]
[Footnote59:Vou—ti，thefirstemperoroftheseventhdynasty，whothenreignedinChina，hadpoliticaltransactionswithFergana，aprovinceofSogdiana，andissaidtohavereceivedaRomanembassy，HistoiredesHuns，tom。i。p。38。InthoseagestheChinesekeptagarrisonatKashgar，andoneoftheirgenerals，aboutthetimeofTrajan，marchedasfarastheCaspianSea。WithregardtotheintercoursebetweenChinaandtheWesterncountries，acuriousmemoirofM。deGuignesmaybeconsulted，intheAcademiedesInscriptions，tom。xxii。p。355。
Note:TheChineseAnnalsmention，undertheninthyearofYan—hi，whichcorrespondswiththeyear166J。C。，anembassywhicharrivedfromTathsin，andwassentbyaprincecalledAn—thun，whocanbenootherthanMarcusAureliusAntoninus，whothenruledovertheRomans。St。Martin，Mem。surl\'Armaenic。ii。
30。SeealsoKlaproth，TableauxHistoriquesdel\'Asie，p。69。
TheembassycamebyJy—nan，Tonquin。—M。]
[Footnote60:SeeHist。Armen。l。ii。c。81。]
Forawhile，fortuneappearedtofavortheenterprisingvalorofTiridates。HenotonlyexpelledtheenemiesofhisfamilyandcountryfromthewholeextentofArmenia，butintheprosecutionofhisrevengehecarriedhisarms，oratleasthisincursions，intotheheartofAssyria。Thehistorian，whohaspreservedthenameofTiridatesfromoblivion，celebrates，withadegreeofnationalenthusiasm，hispersonalprowess:and，inthetruespiritofeasternromance，describesthegiantsandtheelephantsthatfellbeneathhisinvinciblearm。ItisfromotherinformationthatwediscoverthedistractedstateofthePersianmonarchy，towhichthekingofArmeniawasindebtedforsomepartofhisadvantages。Thethronewasdisputedbytheambitionofcontendingbrothers；andHormuz，afterexertingwithoutsuccessthestrengthofhisownparty，hadrecoursetothedangerousassistanceofthebarbarianswhoinhabitedthebanksoftheCaspianSea。^61Thecivilwarwas，however，soonterminated，eitherbyavictororbyareconciliation；andNarses，whowasuniversallyacknowledgedaskingofPersia，directedhiswholeforceagainsttheforeignenemy。Thecontestthenbecametoounequal；norwasthevaloroftheheroabletowithstandthepowerofthemonarch，Tiridates，asecondtimeexpelledfromthethroneofArmenia，oncemoretookrefugeinthecourtoftheemperors。Narsessoonreestablishedhisauthorityovertherevoltedprovince；andloudlycomplainingoftheprotectionaffordedbytheRomanstorebelsandfugitives，aspiredtotheconquestoftheEast。^62
[Footnote61:IpsosPersasipsumqueRegemascitisSaccis，etRussis，etGellis，petitfraterOrmies。Panegyric。Vet。iii。1。
TheSaccaewereanationofwanderingScythians，whoencampedtowardsthesourcesoftheOxusandtheJaxartes。TheGelliwheretheinhabitantsofGhilan，alongtheCaspianSea，andwhosolong，underthenameofDilemines，infestedthePersianmonarchy。Seed\'Herbelot，Bibliotheque]
[Footnote*:MSt。Martinrepresentsthisdifferently。LeroidePerse***profitsd\'unvoyagequeTiridateavoitfaitaRomepourattaquerceroyaume。Thisreadsliketheevasionofthenationalhistorianstodisguisethefactdiscreditabletotheirhero。SeeMem。surl\'Armenie，i。304。—M。]
[Footnote62:MosesofChorenetakesnonoticeofthissecondrevolution，whichIhavebeenobligedtocollectfromapassageofAmmianusMarcellinus，l。xxiii。c。5。LactantiusspeaksoftheambitionofNarses:\"ConcitatusdomesticisexemplisavisuiSaporisadoccupandumorientemmagniscopiisinhiabat。\"DeMort。
Persecut。c。9。]
NeitherprudencenorhonorcouldpermittheemperorstoforsakethecauseoftheArmenianking，anditwasresolvedtoexerttheforceoftheempireinthePersianwar。Diocletian，withthecalmdignitywhichheconstantlyassumed，fixedhisownstationinthecityofAntioch，fromwhencehepreparedanddirectedthemilitaryoperations。^63TheconductofthelegionswasintrustedtotheintrepidvalorofGalerius，who，forthatimportantpurpose，wasremovedfromthebanksoftheDanubetothoseoftheEuphrates。ThearmiessoonencounteredeachotherintheplainsofMesopotamia，andtwobattleswerefoughtwithvariousanddoubtfulsuccess；butthethirdengagementwasofamoredecisivenature；andtheRomanarmyreceivedatotaloverthrow，whichisattributedtotherashnessofGalerius，who，withaninconsiderablebodyoftroops，attackedtheinnumerablehostofthePersians。^64Buttheconsiderationofthecountrythatwasthesceneofaction，maysuggestanotherreasonforhisdefeat。ThesamegroundonwhichGaleriuswasvanquished，hadbeenrenderedmemorablebythedeathofCrassus，andtheslaughteroftenlegions。Itwasaplainofmorethansixtymiles，whichextendedfromthehillsofCarrhaetotheEuphrates；
asmoothandbarrensurfaceofsandydesert，withoutahillock，withoutatree，andwithoutaspringoffreshwater。^65ThesteadyinfantryoftheRomans，faintingwithheatandthirst，couldneitherhopeforvictoryiftheypreservedtheirranks，norbreaktheirrankswithoutexposingthemselvestothemostimminentdanger。Inthissituationtheyweregraduallyencompassedbythesuperiornumbers，harassedbytherapidevolutions，anddestroyedbythearrowsofthebarbariancavalry。
ThekingofArmeniahadsignalizedhisvalorinthebattle，andacquiredpersonalglorybythepublicmisfortune。HewaspursuedasfarastheEuphrates；hishorsewaswounded，anditappearedimpossibleforhimtoescapethevictoriousenemy。InthisextremityTiridatesembracedtheonlyrefugewhichappearedbeforehim:hedismountedandplungedintothestream。Hisarmorwasheavy，theriververydeep，andatthosepartsatleasthalfamileinbreadth；^66yetsuchwashisstrengthanddexterity，thathereachedinsafetytheoppositebank。^67WithregardtotheRomangeneral，weareignorantofthecircumstancesofhisescape；butwhenhereturnedtoAntioch，Diocletianreceivedhim，notwiththetendernessofafriendandcolleague，butwiththeindignationofanoffendedsovereign。Thehaughtiestofmen，clothedinhispurple，buthumbledbythesenseofhisfaultandmisfortune，wasobligedtofollowtheemperor\'schariotaboveamileonfoot，andtoexhibit，beforethewholecourt，thespectacleofhisdisgrace。^68
[Footnote63:Wemayreadilybelieve，thatLactantiusascribestocowardicetheconductofDiocletian。Julian，inhisoration，says，thatheremainedwithalltheforcesoftheempire；averyhyperbolicalexpression。]
[Footnote64:Ourfiveabbreviators，Eutropius，Festus，thetwoVictors，andOrosius，allrelatethelastandgreatbattle；butOrosiusistheonlyonewhospeaksofthetwoformer。]
[Footnote65:ThenatureofthecountryisfinelydescribedbyPlutarch，inthelifeofCrassus；andbyXenophon，inthefirstbookoftheAnabasis]
[Footnote66:SeeFoster\'sDissertationinthesecondvolumeofthetranslationoftheAnabasisbySpelman；whichIwillventuretorecommendasoneofthebestversionsextant。]
[Footnote67:Hist。Armen。l。ii。c。76。IhavetransferredthisexploitofTiridatesfromanimaginarydefeattotherealoneofGalerius。]
[Footnote68:Ammian。Marcellin。l。xiv。Themile，inthehandsofEutropoius，ix。24，ofFestusc。25，andofOrosius，vii25，easilyincreasedtoseveralmiles]
AssoonasDiocletianhadindulgedhisprivateresentment，andassertedthemajestyofsupremepower，heyieldedtothesubmissiveentreatiesoftheCaesar，andpermittedhimtoretrievehisownhonor，aswellasthatoftheRomanarms。IntheroomoftheunwarliketroopsofAsia，whichhadmostprobablyservedinthefirstexpedition，asecondarmywasdrawnfromtheveteransandnewleviesoftheIllyrianfrontier，andaconsiderablebodyofGothicauxiliariesweretakenintotheImperialpay。^69Attheheadofachosenarmyoftwenty—fivethousandmen，GaleriusagainpassedtheEuphrates；but，insteadofexposinghislegionsintheopenplainsofMesopotamiaheadvancedthroughthemountainsofArmenia，wherehefoundtheinhabitantsdevotedtohiscause，andthecountryasfavorabletotheoperationsofinfantryasitwasinconvenientforthemotionsofcavalry。^70AdversityhadconfirmedtheRomandiscipline，whilethebarbarians，elatedbysuccess，werebecomesonegligentandremiss，thatinthemomentwhentheyleastexpectedit，theyweresurprisedbytheactiveconductofGalerius，who，attendedonlybytwohorsemen，hadwithhisowneyessecretlyexaminedthestateandpositionoftheircamp。Asurprise，especiallyinthenighttime，wasforthemostpartfataltoaPersianarmy。
\"Theirhorsesweretied，andgenerallyshackled，topreventtheirrunningaway；andifanalarmhappened，aPersianhadhishousingtofix，hishorsetobridle，andhiscorselettoputon，beforehecouldmount。\"^71Onthisoccasion，theimpetuousattackofGaleriusspreaddisorderanddismayoverthecampofthebarbarians。Aslightresistancewasfollowedbyadreadfulcarnage，and，inthegeneralconfusion，thewoundedmonarchforNarsescommandedhisarmiesinpersonfledtowardsthedesertsofMedia。Hissumptuoustents，andthoseofhissatraps，affordedanimmensebootytotheconqueror；andanincidentismentioned，whichprovestherusticbutmartialignoranceofthelegionsintheelegantsuperfluitiesoflife。Abagofshiningleather，filledwithpearls，fellintothehandsofaprivatesoldier；hecarefullypreservedthebag，buthethrewawayitscontents，judgingthatwhateverwasofnousecouldnotpossiblybeofanyvalue。^72TheprincipallossofNarseswasofamuchmoreaffectingnature。Severalofhiswives，hissisters，andchildren，whohadattendedthearmy，weremadecaptivesinthedefeat。ButthoughthecharacterofGaleriushadingeneralverylittleaffinitywiththatofAlexander，heimitated，afterhisvictory，theamiablebehavioroftheMacedoniantowardsthefamilyofDarius。ThewivesandchildrenofNarseswereprotectedfromviolenceandrapine，conveyedtoaplaceofsafety，andtreatedwitheverymarkofrespectandtenderness，thatwasduefromagenerousenemytotheirage，theirsex，andtheirroyaldignity。^73