Such at least was the account given by those who had accompanied him, and generally believed by his subjects.

There were not, however, wanting persons to whisper that the story was untrue--that the real cause of the catastrophe which had overtaken the unhappy monarch was a conspiracy of his nobles, or his guards, who had overthrown his tent purposely, and murdered him ere he could escape from them.
The successor of Sapor III.

was Varahran IV., whom some authorities call his brother and others his son.

This prince is known to the oriental writers as "Varahran Kerm-an-sh-ah," or "Varahran, king of Carmania." Agathias tells us that during the lifetime of his father he was established as governor over Kerman or Carmania, and thus obtained the appellation which pertinaciously adhered to him.

A curious relic of antiquity, fortunately preserved to modern times amid so much that has been lost, confirms this statement.