The Chaliphate - Muir - The Search For Mecca

CHAPTER XIV
YKZDEJIRD SUCCEEDS TO TIIK THRONE OF PERSIA.
liATTLE OK AE-KADISIVA
14 A.n. 635 A.D.
We left Al-Muthanna, after the crreat battle of Al-Buwcib, Yezdejird,
ravaging at will the
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terror-stricken coasts of Chalda,'a. But
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another wave of war was about to sweep over the unhappy End of
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land. A new movement was taking place at Al-Medain, l^^^.
The Persian nobles, chafing under the weakness of Rustem
and the feeble Queen, began to cry out that these were
dragging the Empire down to ruin. The ladies of the
Court assembled to search whether any king might not yet
be discovered of the royal blood. And so Yezdejird was
found, saved as a child from the massacre of Siroes, now
a youth of twenty-one. He was placed upon the throne.
Around the young King the nobles rallied loyally, and Revived
something was rekindled of ancient patriotic fire. Troops JJ^oygJ^nt,
were gathered, Mesopotamia reoccupicd, and the cities as
far as Al-Hlra strongly garrisoned.
The people returned to their allegiance ; and Al- Muthanna
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Muthanna, finding his diminished arm}' unable to cope ^|^^"
with the rising which in the Spring assumed such formidable
dimensions, again withdrew behind the Euphrates to Dhu
Kar. He sent an urgent message to 'Omar of the new perils
threatening all around. The danger was met bravcl\' b)'
the Caliph. " I swear by the Lord," was his emphatic word,
"that I will smite down the proud princes of Persia with the
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sword of the princes of Arabia." It was clearly impossible
permanently to hold Mesopotamia while it was domin^fted
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