226 
TABREEZ. 
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in the valley: and, as an additional argument of the earthquakes 
having been guiltless of any very formidable attack on the heights, 
we still see the hermitage almost entire, which Chardin mentions 
as having been a favourite resort of the natives during his sojourn 
at Tabreez. He wrote before the earthquakes had occurred ; 
and the place in question occupies the summit o f a h ill, on the 
north-east of the town, not far from the old fortress. 
Most antiquarians are agreed, that the ancient name of Tabreez 
was Ganzaca ; but we do not find any notice of its being consi¬ 
dered the capital of Azerbijan, (the Antropatia of the old histo¬ 
rians,) till the fourth century of the Christian era; when, 
according to a treaty made between the Persian King Narsus, 
and the Emperor Galerius, that province came into the posses¬ 
sion of Tiridates; and the Armenian prince, influenced pro¬ 
bably by the commanding strength of the fortress of Ganzaca, 
not only enlarged the city but adorned its buildings, in proud 
emulation of the splendours of Ecbatana the metropolis of Media. 
From that period, the place, under the names of Ganzaca, Tauris, 
or Tabreez, has been esteemed the capital of the province. 
Yet, only three hundred years subsequent to this account, we 
see that its extent, at least, must have suffered considerable 
diminution ; for when Heraclius took possession of Tabreez, and 
the royal treasures of Ivosroes Purviz, the houses of the city 
only amounted to three thousand. Such were the fluctuations 
of power and population, in those days of leading into captivity, 
or of general massacre ! War continued changing the face of the 
province and its towns, for ages afterwards ; and it was not until 
the accession of the Sefi race, that Tabreez regained its old im¬ 
portance. Chardin mentions that in his time the capital of 
Azerbijan contained half a million of people. The consequence 
