a large share
in frustrating Julian's plans and causing the ill-success of his
expedition.

It appears that the Roman generals, in pursuance of the orders given
them, marched across Northern Mesopotamia to the Armenian borders, and
were there joined by an Armenian contingent which Arsaces sent to their
assistance. The allies marched together into Media, and carried fire
and sword through the fruitful district known as Chiliacomus, or "the
district of the Thousand Villages." They might easily have advanced
further; but the Armenians suddenly and without warning drew off and
fell back towards their own country. According to Moses of Chorene,
their general, Zurseus, was actuated by a religious motive; it seemed
to him monstrous that Armenia, a Christian country, should embrace the
cause of an apostate, and he was prepared to risk offending his own
sovereign rather than lend help to one whom he regarded as the enemy of
his faith. The Roman generals, thus deserted by their allies, differed
as to the proper course to pursue. While one was still desirous of
descending the course of the Tigris, and making at least an attempt to
effect a junction with Julian, the other forbade his soldiers to join in
the march, and insisted on falling back and re-entering Mesopotamia. As
usual in such cases, the difference of opinion resulted in a policy of
inaction. The attempt to join Julian was given up; and the second army,
from which he had hoped so much, played no further part in the campaign
of A.D. 363.

We are told that Julian heard of the defection of the Armenians while
he was still on his way to Ctesiphon, and immediately sent a letter to
Arsacos, complaining of his general's conduct, and threatening to exact
a heavy retribution on his return from the Persian war, if the offence
of Zurseus were not visited at once with condign punishment. Arsaces was
greatly alarmed at the message; and, though he made no effort to supply
the shortcomings of his officer by leading or sending fresh troops to
Julian's assistance, yet he hastened to acquit himself of complicity
in the misconduct of Zurseus by executing him, together with his whole
family. Having thus, as he supposed, secured himself against Julian's
anger, he took no further steps, but indulged his love of ease and his
distaste for the Roman alliance by remaining wholly passive during the
rest of the year.

But though the attitude taken by Armenia was thus, on the whole,
favorable to