Valens, pressed by his generals and fearing…

Valens, pressed by his generals and fearing that Pap will defect to the Persians, makes an unsuccessful attempt to capture the Armenian boy-king.

He then assigns Traianus to gain Pap's confidence and murder him; Traianus does so in 374 during a banquet which he had organized for the young ruler.

In his stead, Valens imposes another Arsacid, Varazdat, who rules under the regency of the notoriously pro-Roman sparapet Mushegh Mamikonian.

Shapur, who had long been courting Pap, is infuriated by Pap’s murder and the installation of a new Arsacid on the Armenian throne.

The Persians begin agitating again for compliance with the 363 treaty.