r. George
claimed the concession as a tribute to his own amiable qualities; but
it is probable that the Persian monarch acted rather on the grounds of
general policy than from any personal predilection.

Two years later the virtuous but perhaps over-rigid Maurice was deposed
and murdered by the centurion, Phocas, who, on the strength of his
popularity with the army, boldly usurped the throne. Chosroes heard
with indignation of the execution of his ally and friend, of the insults
offered to his remains, and of the assassination of his numerous sons,
and of his brother. One son, he heard, had been sent off by Maurice to
implore aid from the Persians; he had been overtaken and put to death
by the emissaries of the usurper; but rumor, always busy where royal
personages are concerned, asserted that he lived, that he had escaped
his pursuers, and had reached Ctesiphon. Chosroes was too much
interested in the acceptance of the rumor to deny it; he gave out that
Theodosius was at his court, and notified that it was his intention
to assert his right to the succession. When, five months after his
coronation, Phocas sent an envoy to announce his occupation of the
throne, and selected the actual murderer of Maurice to fill the post,
Chosroes determined on an open rupture. He seized Lilius, the envoy,
threw him into prison, announced his intention of avenging his deceased
benefactor, and openly declared war against Rome.

The war burst out the next year (A.D. 603). On the Roman side there was
disagreement, and even civil war; for Narses, who had held high command
in the East ever since he restored Chosroes to the throne of his
ancestors, on hearing of the death of Maurice, took up arms against
Phocas, and, throwing himself into Edessa, defied the forces of the
usurper. Germanus, who commanded at Daras, was a general of small
capacity, and found himself quite unable to make head, either against
Narses in Edessa, or against Chosroes, who led his troops in person into
Mesopotamia. Defeated by Chosroes in a battle near Daras, in which he
received a mortal wound, Germanus withdrew to Constantia, where he died
eleven days afterwards. A certain Leontius, a eunuch, took his place,
but was equally unsuccessful. Chosroes defeated him at Arxamus, and
took a great portion of his army prisoners; whereupon he was recalled by
Phocas, and a third leader, Domentziolus, a nephew of the emperor, was
appointed to the command. Against him the Persian m