Accession of Siroe’s, or Kobad II.  His Letter to Heraclius.  Peace made with Rome.  Terms of the Peace.  General Popularity of the new Reign.  Dissatisfaction of Shahr-Barz.  Kobad, by the advice of the Persian Lords, murders his Brothers.  His Sisters reproach him with their Death.  He falls into low spirits and dies.  Pestilence in his Reign.  His coins.  Accession of Artaxerxes III.  Revolt of Shahr-Barz.  Reign of Shahr-Barz.  His Murder.  Reign of Purandocht.  Rapid Succession of Pretenders.  Accession of Isdigerd III.

“Kobades, regno prefectus, justitiam prae se tulit, et injuriam qua oppressa fuerat amovit.”—­Eutychius, Annales, vol, ii. p. 253.

Siroes, or Kobad the Second, as he is more properly termed, was proclaimed king on the 25th of February, 2 A.D. 628, four days before the murder of his father.  According to the Oriental writers, he was very unwilling to put his father to death, and only gave a reluctant consent to his execution on the representations of his nobles that it was a state of necessity.  His first care, after this urgent matter had been settled, was to make overtures of peace to Heraclius, who, having safely crossed the Zagros mountains, was wintering at Canzaca.  The letter which he addressed to the Roman Emperor on the occasion is partially extant; but the formal and official tone which it breathes renders it a somewhat disappointing document.  Kobad begins by addressing Heraclius as his brother, and giving him the epithet of “most clement,” thus assuming his pacific disposition.  He then declares, that, having been elevated to the throne by the especial favor of God, he has resolved to do his utmost to benefit and serve the entire human race.  He has therefore commenced his reign by throwing open the prison doors, and restoring liberty to all who were detained in custody.  With the same object in view, he is desirous of living in peace and friendship with the Roman emperor and state as well as with all other neighboring nations and kings.  Assuming that his accession will be pleasing to the emperor, he has sent Phaeak, one of his privy councillors, to express the love and friendship that he feels towards his brother, and learn the terms upon which peace will be granted him.  The reply of Heraclius is lost; but we are able to gather from a short summary which has been preserved, as well as from the subsequent course of events, that it was complimentary and favorable; that it expressed the willingness of the emperor to bring the war to a close, and suggested terms of accommodation that were moderate and equitable.  The exact formulation of the treaty seems to have been left to Eustathius, who, after Heraclius had entertained Phaeak royally for nearly a week, accompanied the ambassador on his return to the Persian court.