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Around 645, after gaining total control of Persia, the Arabs were able to pass through the Araxes Valley and concentrate their war on the centre of Armenia. Soon they took control over the valleys of Araxes and Euphrates, but the resistance continued successfully in the high fortresses, which were situated around these valleys. Finally the Arabs were left with no choice but to negotiate. The Armenians were very disappointed with the Byzantine Empire, which in this decisive moment did not come to their aid, apart from a minor assistance. The negotiations began between General Theodoros Rshtouni and the Arabs, and they agreed on the following counts: the Arabs acknowledged the independence of the Armenian principalities and in return the Armenians would recognize the Arab rule with the same terms that the Armenians had held with the Sasanids. The Arabs appointed a general-governor (Vostikan) for Armenia, General Theodoros Rshtouni, and Armenia committed itself, as in the days of the Sasanids, to provide the Arabs with a group of its famous cavalry in their war against their enemies.

The following is a fragment from the treaty which was mentioned in a letter from the caliph: "This is a treaty between me and you for as long as it pleases you. In entire three years I will not demand any taxes from you and after that you shall pay the sum that you seem fair. You shall prepare 15,000 riders in your country and have them in readiness and pay their expenses from the sum which you will have to pay to me. I will not call this cavalry to Syria [in other words, the caliph would not use this cavalry in the war against Byzantine], but it must serve me in any other place as I command it. I do not send any emirs to rule over you and will not send any Arabic officer or rider at you. If the Greeks attack you I will send the assistance which you request and swear by Allah that I will stand by my words." 35

This treaty was a harsh blow against Byzantine, since the empire was powerless against the attacks of the Arabs and its soldiers fled away from the advance of the Arab soldiers. Byzantine hoped that Armenia, with its continuous resistance, would keep the main part of their forces occupied so that Byzantine would have the time to recover and reorganize its armies. But the Armenians had no plans for sacrificing themselves in order to defend an empire which had shown itself incapable of defending itself.

The resistance of the Armenians against the Arabs and their strong defence against their forces, at a time when all other nations in Mesopotamia were powerless against the Arabs, became one of the most beautiful pages in the Armenian history. In his book, "The History of the Arabs", Sédillot has expressed himself in the following manner: "After the fall of Mesopotamia, the Arabs attacked Armenia. But in this country with its high mountains they were met by a warrior and proud people who had always managed to stand against its powerful neighbours and maintain its independence. The Armenians, who were use to defending themselves, stood bravely against the Arab invasion and had they been even more united, they might even have managed to strike back." 37