[15] Chamchean accounts for this change of policy towards the legitimate king by supposing that Yusuf wished to conciliate him prior to revolting from the caliph. [↑]
[16] I adopt the colouring of John Katholikos. Among the many opprobrious terms under which he alludes to Yusuf are the following: second Pharaoh, prince of wild beasts, man-eater, astute serpent, Satan, foul-breathed basilisk. Such is the language of clerical writers in every age. [↑]
[17] John Katholikos, ch. clxxxv. [↑]
[19] Samuel of Ani, in Migne, Patrologiæ cursus completus, series Græca, vol. xix. p. 718. [↑]
[20] Matthew of Edessa, translated by Dulaurier (Paris, 1858). [↑]
[21] Samuel of Ani ap. Migne, op. cit. vol. xix. p. 718. [↑]
[22] Matthew of Edessa (op. cit. iii. p. 2) gives the date as A.D. 959–960. He makes the event contemporary with the expedition of the imperial forces against Crete, which started in 960 and was continued during 961. Saint-Martin (op. cit. vol. i. p. 364) assigns the Armenian victory to the latter year, and Chamchean to the year 962. [↑]
[23] Matthew of Edessa, op. cit. pp. 14 seq. [↑]
[24] Vardan. See Brosset, Ruines d’Ani, St. Petersburg, 1860, p. 102. [↑]