When rumors spread that King Nushin-Ravan had fallen gravely ill and his throne might soon be vacant, his son Nush-Zad cast off all restraint. Long harboring discontent and steadfast in his mother's Christian faith, Nush-Zad flung open his palace doors and raised the standard of rebellion. At his command, the heavy chains were struck off from the state prisoners and lawbreakers whom Nushin-Ravan had justly imprisoned, sending shockwaves through the realm. The Christian clergy and populace—from Catholicos to bishop—rallied to his cause, along with thirty thousand hardened, spear-bearing cavalrymen. Embracing the creed of the Roman Caesar, Nush-Zad dispatched letters to his co-religionists in Gondishapur, urging them to unite under his banner and pledge allegiance to Rome. Thus, a dark flame of insurrection erupted across the city, as ill-starred fate awoke to test the empire.