According to Moses of Chorene, their general, Zurseus, was actuated by a religious motive; it seemed to him monstrous that Armenia, a Christian country, should embrace the cause of an apostate, and he was prepared to risk offending his own sovereign rather than lend help to one whom he regarded as the enemy of his faith.

The Roman generals, thus deserted by their allies, differed as to the proper course to pursue.

While one was still desirous of descending the course of the Tigris, and making at least an attempt to effect a junction with Julian, the other forbade his soldiers to join in the march, and insisted on falling back and re-entering Mesopotamia.

As usual in such cases, the difference of opinion resulted in a policy of inaction.

The attempt to join Julian was given up; and the second army, from which he had hoped so much, played no further part in the campaign of A.D.