HISTORY OF ARMENIA. Page 33
signs of royalty, on his being seated on the throne of Nineveh, which was his object in heading the Assyrian insurgents. Paroyr and Belesis having accepted the offer of Arbaces, and joined him with their respective forces, the whole three advanced to Nineveh, and expelled Sardanapalus. Arbaces was then raised to the throne, and, pursuant to the promises he had made his two allies, solemnly crowned them kings of their respective countries. Belesis then proceeded to Babylon with his family, where he reigned for a long period with absolute power. Paroyr returned to Armenia, and forthwith assumed the crown and sceptre, which had been so lately conferred upon him. Arbaces did not retain possession of Nineveh, but returned to Media some time after he and his allies had separated. Assyria, by the succession of various events, was, after the expulsion of Sardanapalus, at first governed by Tiglathpileser; then by his son Shalmanazar, who conquered Samaria. Sennacherib, the son and successor of the latter, in an expedition against the Jews, then governed by king Hezekiah, lost the whole of his army by the sword of the avenging angel. On his return to Nineveh, he was plunged into the bitterest grief by the reflection of the late defeat and destruction of his soldiers, and superstitiously conceiving that
