Sykes' History of Persia - Heritage Institute

NOSHIRWAN THE JUST 493
aided by the II-Khan of the Turks. The Persian
arms were entirely successful, the White Hun monarch
was slain, and his territories were divided between
Noshirwan and his allies. So far as is known, the
Oxus was made the boundary once again, and by this
agreement Persia recovered historical Balkh. Noshirwan,
to seal the treaty, married a daughter of Mokan Khan,
and his heir was the offspring of this marriage.
The Campaign against the Khazars.—Of less importance
than the campaign against the Ephthalites was the
attack on the
been defeated
who ravaged
Khazars. This people, which had already
by Kobad, was attacked by Noshirwan,
their
territory and massacred the wild
tribesmen by thousands.
The Arabian Campaign^ circa a.d. 576.—About the
beginning of the sixth century of our era, the Abyssinians,
who were a Christian people, had invaded and taken
possession of the Yemen, which became a province of
Abyssinia. Under Abraha, a famous warrior, the hold
of the conquerors was greatly strengthened and several
churches were erected, among other places at Sana. The
results of these campaigns were naturally pleasing to
Rome, and just
as
naturally displeasing to Noshirwan,
who thirsted for fresh conquests and decided to reduce
Arabia and incidentally
to drive out the Abyssinians. At
his
old
court there
Himyarite
happened to be a
refugee prince of the
stock, who had escaped to Persia and
repeatedly urged Noshirwan to add to his laurels by
expelling the invader. An expedition was prepared which
sailed down the Persian Gulf, doubled Ras-ul-Hadd, and,
coasting along the southern side of Arabia, reached Aden
in
safety. There the rallied Himyarites
in
large numbers
to their Prince, the Abyssinians were attacked and defeated,
and the Himyarite prince was placed on the throne
as the Viceroy of Noshirwan. Truly a remarkable
expedition ; especially, if, as stated by Tabari,
it consisted
of only eight hundred prisoners commanded by an
octogenarian general !
According to the same chronicler, Noshirwan also
despatched an expedition
to India which resulted in the