written and sealed the letters, inscribed, by mistake, that which was intended for Marcianus with the name of Mondar, and that which should have gone to the king of Ghassan was directed to Marcianus. When, therefore, the Arabian chief read the orders of the emperor to his general, inflamed with rage, he made peace with the Persian Arabs, and joined them in the invasion of Syria, where they laid waste with fire and sword the whole country up to the walls of Antioch.[1]
On the accession of Tiberius, Mondar repaired to Constantinople, excused himself for his past conduct, shewed the emperor the letters of Justinian, and was again received with favour. The Arab chief, however, fell once more under suspicion, and a Syrian governor, named Magnes, under pretence of friendly converse, sent for him, threw him into chains, and carried him to Constantinople. Noman, his son, collected the Arabs of Ghassan, and invaded Syria, in revenue for the treacherous behaviour of the Byzantine court; but he narrowly escaped falling a victim to the same fraud which had twice been made use of towards his father, and afterwards was pardoned by Maurice, who liberated Mondar, on his swearing eternal friendship to the Romans, and enmity to the Persians. When it was proposed to him to subscribe to the council of Chalcedon, he positively refused, alleging that all the Arab tribes
- ↑ Barhebræi Chronicon Syr. p. 90.
