Arsaces had died two years after he became a Roman feudatory; and, at his death, Rome had absorbed his territories into her empire, and placed the new province under the government of a count.

No objection to the arrangement had been made by Persia, and the whole of Armenia had remained for four years tranquil and without disturbance.
But, about A.D.390, Chosroes became dissatisfied with his position, and entered into relations with Rome which greatly displeased the Armenian monarch.

Chosroes obtained from Theodosius his own appointment to the Armenian countship, and thus succeeded in uniting both Roman and Persian Armenia under his government.

Elated with this success, he proceeded further to venture on administrative acts which trenched, according to Persian views, on the rights of the lord paramount.

Finally, when Varahran addressed to him a remonstrance, he replied in insulting terms, and, renouncing his authority, placed the whole Armenian kingdom under the suzerainty and protection of Rome.