OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE.

437

slaughter ; y and Sapor, who encompassed thecamp with superior numbers, patiently waited,till the increasing rage of famine and pestilencehad ensured his victory. The licentious mur-murs of the legions soon accused Valerian asthe cause of their calamities; their seditiousclamours demanded an instant capitulation. Animmense sum of gold was offered to purchasethe permission of a disgraceful retreat. Butthe Persian , conscious of his superiority, refus-ed the money with disdain ; and detaining thedeputies, advanced in order of battle to the footof the Roman rampart, and insisted on a per-sonal conference with the emperor. Valerianwas reduced to the necessity of intrusting hislife and dignity to the faith of an enemy. Theinterview ended as it was natural to expect.The emperor was made a prisoner, and his as-tonished troops laid down their arms. 2 In sucha moment of triumph, the pride and policy ofSapor prompted him to fill the vacant thronewith a successor entirely dependent on his plea-sure. Cyriades, an obscure fugitive of Antioch ,stained with every vice, was chosen to dishon-our the Roman purple; and the will of the Per-sian victor could not fail of being ratified by theacclamations, however reluctant, of the captivearmy.*

1 Victor in Caesar. Eutropius , ix, 7.

z Zosimus, 1. i, p. 33. Zonaras , I. xii, p. 630. Peter Patricias inthe Excerpta Legat. p. 29.

* Hist. August, p. 185. The reign of Cyriades appears in thatcollection prior to the death of Valerian ; but I have preferred a pro*bable series of events to the doubtful chronology ot a most inaccuratewriter.

CHAP.

X.