At the same time a Mesopotamian.

chieftain, called Tayer or Thair, made an attack upon Otesiphon, took the city by storm, and captured a sister or aunt of the Persian monarch.

The nobles, who, during Sapor's minority, guided the helm of the State, were quite incompetent to make head against these numerous enemies.

For sixteen years the marauding bands had the advantage, and Persia found herself continually weaker, more impoverished, and less able to recover herself.

The young prince is said to have shown extraordinary discretion and intelligence.