The soldiers were insubordinate, without confidence in their officers, and inclined to grumble at such an unwonted hardship as a campaign prolonged into the winter.

Thus all the conditions of the war were in favor of Persia.

But unfortunately for Kobad, it happened that, at the moment when his prospects were the fairest, a danger in another quarter demanded his presence, and required him to leave the conduct of the Roman war to others.

An Ephthalite invasion called him to the defence of his north-eastern frontier before the year A.D.503 was over, and from this time the operations in Mesopotamia were directed, not by the king in person, but by his generals.

A change is at once apparent.
In A.D.504 Celer invaded Arzanene, destroyed a number of forts, and ravaged the whole province with fire and sword.