Page:Baladhuri-Hitti1916.djvu/323

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The Conquest of Armenia
307

Bâriḳah which lies on the Ṭarabazundah sea [Black Sea]. He also erected Bâb al-Lân, Bâb Samsakhi,[1] al-Jardamân fort, and Samshulda fort. Moreover, Anûshirwân conquered all the forts of Armenia held by the Greeks, built and fortified the city of Dabîl, built an-Nashawa—the capital of the al-Busfurrajân district, the fort of Waiṣ and other castles in the land of as-Sisajân including al-Kilâb and Sâhyûnis castles. In the forts and castles, he stationed Siyâsîjîyah men noted for valor and efficiency in warfare.

Anûshirwân builds a wall between his domain and that of the Turks. Anûshirwân then wrote to the king of the Turks asking for reconciliation and peace and for action in unison. In order to assure him of his friendliness, Anûshirwân sought his daughter's hand and expressed a desire to be his son-in-law. Meanwhile, he sent him a maid of his, who was adopted by one of his wives, and said she was his daughter. Consequently, the Turk presented his daughter to Anûshirwân and came to see him. The two met at al-Barshaliyah where they caroused together for some days, and each felt the other was friendly to him and expressed his loyalty. Anûshirwân ordered some of his friends in whom he confided to wait for nightfall and set fire to a part of the Turkish camp, which they did. In the morning, the Turkish king complained to Anûshirwân; but the latter denied having ordered it or known that his men had done it. After a few nights, Anûshirwân gave his orders to repeat the act, and his men did. The Turk grumbled so much at the act that Anûshirwân had to show sympathy for him and apologized to him, upon which he was appeased. By order of Anûshirwân, fire was set in a corner of his own camp where nothing but cottages of straw and twigs stood. In the morning, Anûshirwân grumbled to the Turk, saying,

  1. Brosset, Histoire de la Georgie, vol. i, p. 238.