History of Aristakes Lastivertts'i

than many. Ashot, however, having a well-ordered physical form, was brave-hearted and fond of war. These two, having fallen into conflict with each other over the division of the country, lacked justice and judgment. The King of the Abkhaz, Gevorg, came and persuaded them toward peace. He gave to the first-born Smbat the portion of the stronghold of Ani and the districts surrounding it, because of his primogeniture; and to Ashot, the inner side of the land, which faces toward the Persians and the Georgians. Smbat agreed and returned to his city. On the way, having camped because of the heaviness of his body, he slept without care. But one of the princes from Ashot's side stood in judgment before Gevorg and said that "Shatik is my natural place, which Smbat took from me unjustly." Having heard this, Gevorg, stirred to anger with great fury, sent troops after him. They came and poured suddenly upon him, and he, because of the heaviness of his body, could not mount his horse.

But the princes who were with him turned and fled bravely, and they piled up many heaps of corpses of those who had followed them on the road up to the gate of Ani. Having turned from there, they plundered the churches of the catholicosate of their decorations. They removed the nails of the crosses, saying with insults that "We are taking them to make shoes for our horses." God, the righteous judge, repaid them for this at the appropriate time by the hand of the Romans, which we will recount in its own place. They captured Smbat and took him to Gevorg, who ordered him kept in custody. And then, having taken three fortresses, he released him.

As for Ashot, because there were great men around his borders who had taken many of his places unjustly, and against whom he could not