were killed, his camp was plundered, and he fled to the city of Maru. The city refused to open its gates; so he had to dismount at a miller's house standing on the bank of al-Mirghâb.[1] Some say that having heard of that, Mâhawaih sent his messenger who killed him in the miller's house. Others assert that Mâhawaih incited the miller and, by his orders, the miller killed Yazdajird, after which Mâhawaih said, "No slayer of a king should be kept alive", and he ordered that the miller himself be put to death. Still others claim that the miller offered Yazdajird food, which he ate, and drink, which intoxicated him. In the evening, Yazdajird took out his crown and put it on his head. Seeing that, the miller coveted the possession of the crown, and raising a mill-stone dropped it on Yazdajird. After killing him, he took his crown and clothes and threw the body into the water. When the news came to Mâhawaih, he put the miller and his family to death and took the crown and clothes. According to another story, Yazdajird was warned against the messengers of Mâhawaih and fled away, jumping into the water. When the miller was asked about him, he said, "The man has left my house." They found Yazdajird in the water, and he said, "If ye spare me I will give you my belt, ring and crown." He asked them for some money with which he could buy bread, and one of them gave him 4 dirhams. Seeing that, Yazdajird laughingly said, "I was told that I will some day feel the need of 4 dirhams!" Later he was attacked by certain men sent after him by Mâhawaih, and he said, "Kill me not; rather carry me to the king of the Arabs, and I will make terms with him on your and my behalf, and thus ye will be safe." They refused and choked him by means of a bow-string.
- ↑ or Marghâb or Murghâb, also called Nahr Maru. Ṭabari, vol. i, p. 2872; Ḥauḳal, p. 315.
