Christian kingdom of Abyssinia. The Turks of Central Asia had sought his
friendship and offered to combine their attacks with his, if he would
consent to go to war. Moreover, there was once more discontent and
even rebellion in Armenia, where the proselytizing zeal of the Persian
governors had again driven the natives to take up arms and raise the
standard of independence. Above all, the Great King, who had warred with
such success for twenty years against his uncle, was now in advanced
age, and seemed to have given signs of feebleness, inasmuch as in his
recent expeditions he had individually taken no part, but had entrusted
the command of his troops to others. Under these circumstances, Justin,
in the year A.D. 572, determined to renounce the peace made ten
years earlier with the Persians, and to recommence the old struggle.
Accordingly he at once dismissed the Persian envoy, Sebocthes, with
contempt, refused wholly to make the stipulated payment, proclaimed his
intention of receiving the Armenian insurgents under his protection,
and bade Chosroes lay a finger on them at his peril. He then appointed
Marcian to the prefecture of the East, and gave him the conduct of the
war which was now inevitable.

No sooner did the Persian monarch find his kingdom seriously menaced
than, despite his advanced age, he immediately took the field in person.
Giving the command of a flying column of 6000 men to Adarman, a skilful
general, he marched himself against the Romans, who under Marcian had
defeated a Persian force, and were besieging Nisibis, forced them to
raise the siege, and, pressing forward as they retired, compelled them
to seek shelter within the walls of Daras, which he proceeded to
invest with his main army. Meanwhile Adarman, at the head of the troops
entrusted to him, crossed the Euphrates near Circesium, and, having
entered Syria, carried fire and sword far and wide over that fertile
province. Repulsed from Antioch, where, however, he burnt the suburbs