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6. ARMENIA MINOR.
ARMENIA MINOR is bounded on the East with Euphrates, which parteth is from Armenia Ma••or; on the South with Mount Taurus, which separates it from Cilicia; on the West and North with a long chain of hills called Mons Scordiscus, by some called Mons Amanus, by others Anti-••aurus, according to the change of places; by which divided from Cappadocia. Of the rea∣son of the name hereafter.
The Countrey of the same nature with Cappadocia, before described, in some parts over-grown with Mountains, by which and by the River Euphr••••es so inclosed and fenced, that it is difficult of entrance: in others pleasant and delightfull; well watered with sweet streams, and some fair Rivers issuing out of the Mountains, the principall whereof is Melas, so called from the blacknesse of the water thereof, which ••alleth into the Euphr••••es.
Divided in the time of the Romans into these four Regions, that is to say, Laviana, Aravena, Me∣••••ene, lying on the Euphrates; Mar•••••••• more within the land towards Cappadocia: each of which had their severall C••••ies, whose names are to be found in Ptolomie. The principall 1. Meliten••, the chief City of the Region so called, and the Metropolis of the lesser Armenia. Called afterwards Ma∣laxia, and now Suur: the territory thereof abounding in Oyle and Wine, not inferiour to the best of Greece. The City said by Onuphrius to be a Colonie of the Romans: much spoken of by Eusebius and other writers of Ec•• estiasticall story, for the piety of the Christians there inhabiting in the fiery times of Per∣〈◊〉〈◊〉 2. Nicopolis, and 3. Oro••••andus in the Mountain Countries; the former built by Pompey, in memory of his victory there obtained against the forces of Tigranes, King of Syria and both Armonia's. 4. Garnace, a well ••ortified town, mentioned by Tac••tus in the twelfth book of his Annals, and by him called Gorneas. 5. Cuous••n, and 6. Arabyssus, memorable for the exile of Saint Crrsostome, Patriarch of Constantin∣ple, confined unto these places by the power and malice of the Empresse Eudoxia, by whom hated for his 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 in points of faith; who dying afterwards at Comana of Cappadocia, was there interred.
This Countrey was once part of Cappadocia, till the Armenians by their incursions and Colonies pes∣sessed themselves of it, and gave unto it the name of Armenia Minor: continuing part of their estate till the warre of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 against the Romans. Who being discomfited by Lucullus, fled with two thousand h••rse to the Court of Tigranes the Armenian, who had married his daughter. By whom at first neglected, and not suffered to come into his presence; but afterwards on the apprehension of the common danger more esteemed and set by: insomuch that his royall entertainment there, and the refusall of Tigranes to yield him up when required by the Roman••: occasioned Lucullus to bring his forces into these parts, subduing all before him to the bankes of Euphrate: His victories being seconded by Pomper, and confirmed by Augustus, this Countrey was made a Province of the Roman Empire: the greater Arm••nia, lying on the other side of that River, though conquered also in that warre, not being taken into the accompt of the Roman Provinces, till the time of Traian; Augustus thinking it an high point of wisdome (as no doubt it was) not to extend the Empire beyond those bankes. After this it conti∣nued Roman, till the declining times of the Eastern Empire; when wasted by the Persians, and subdued by the Turkes; by whom called Genech, or as some say Pegia.
And so much of the Provinces of the Pontick Diocese lying within Anatolia, or Asia Minor; convert∣ed to the Christian faith by the two great Apostles of Jews and Gentles; as appeareth by Saint Paul's E∣pistle to the Galatians, and Saint Peter's to the S••rangers dispersed in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynnta.