It was not, however, in the field of speculative thought, but in that of practical effort, that Chosroes chiefly distinguished himself and gained his choicest laurels.  The excellence of his domestic administration has been already noticed.  But, great as he was in peace, he was greater in war.  Engaged for nearly fifty years in almost uninterrupted contests, he triumphed in every quarter, and scarcely experienced a reverse.  Victorious over the Romans, the Abyssinians, the Ephthalites, and the Turks, he extended the limits of his empire on all sides, pacified the discontented Armenia, crushed internal revolt, frustrated the most threatening combinations, and established Persia in a position which she had scarcely occupied since the days of Darius Hystaspis.  Personally engaged in above a score of fights, by the admission of his enemies he was never defeated but once; and there are circumstances which make it probable that this single check was of slight importance.  The one real failure that can be laid to his charge was in another quarter, and involved no military, but only a political blunder.  In recoiling from the difficulties of the Lazic war, Chosroes had not to deplore any disgrace to his arms, but simply to acknowledge that he had misunderstood the temper of the Lazic people.  In depreciation of his military talents it may be said that he was never opposed to any great general.  With Belisarius it would certainly seem that he never actually crossed swords; but Justinian and Maurice (afterwards emperor), to whom he was opposed in his later years, were no contemptible antagonists.  It may further be remarked that the collapse of Persia in her struggle with Rome as soon as Chosroes was in his grave is a tolerably decisive indication that she owed her long career of victory under his guidance to his possession of uncommon military ability.

CHAPTER XXII.

Accession of Hormisdas IV.  His good Government in the Earlier Portion of his Reign.  Invasion of Persia by the Romans under Maurice.  Defeats of Adarman and Tamchosro.  Campaign of Johannes.  Campaigns of Philippicus and Heraclius.  Tyranny of Hormisdas.  He is attacked by the Arabs, Khazars, and Turks.  Bahram defeats the Turks.  His Attack on Lazica.  He suffers a Defeat.  Disgrace of Bahram.  Dethronement of Hormisdas IV. and Elevation of Chosroes II.  Character of Hormisdas.  Coins of Hormisdas.

At the death of Chosroes the crown was assumed without dispute or difficulty by his son, Hormazd, who is known to the Greek and Latin writers as Hormisdas IV.  Hormazd was the eldest, or perhaps the only, son borne to Chosroes by the Turkish princess, Fakim, who, from the time of her marriage, had held the place of sultana, or principal wife.  His illustrious descent on both sides, added to the express appointment of his father, caused him to be universally accepted as king; and we do not hear that even his half-brothers,