In the history of Armenia there were both periods of prosperity and formation of the Great Empire, and years of power under the rulers of other states. The great Armenian kings Artashes I and Tigran the Great, Trdat I, Arshak and Pap became famous for their achievements in uniting Armenia into a rich and highly developed state, as well as the establishment of Christian authority in the country.
The article describes the numerous Armenian dynasties and the Byzantine emperors of Armenian descent.
History of Armenia
Armenia is the territory and state between the Caspian and Black Seas. The history of the Armenian state has about 2.5 thousand years, although its beginnings go back to the era of the fall of the states of Urartu and Assyria, when the kingdom of Arme-Shubria (12th century BC) existed, which later became Scythian-Armenian.
Ancient Armenian tribes came to these areas from the Balkan Peninsula, later in the 7th century. BC e. flies (the ancient name of the Armenians) occupied the territory of the part of Transcaucasia, which previously belonged to the kingdom of Urartu, and assimilated into the local population.
In the 6th century BC e. they created a sovereign state, then there was a period of its submission alternately to the Assyrians, the king of the Medes, Persians, Syrians, Alexander the Great. 200 years BC e. Armenia existed as part of the Seleucid kingdom, then again became independent. The state consisted of Great and Small Armenia. According to the research of historians, the first Armenian king of Great Armenia, Artashes I, took the throne in 189 BC. e. and became the founder of the Artashesid dynasty.
In 70 BC e. 2 parts united again into a single state. Starting from 63 AD, the Armenian lands were subordinate to the Roman Empire, and in the 3rd century the Christian religion became widespread here. After 4 centuries, Greater Armenia became dependent on Persia, then from 869 it gained independence again.
Beginning in 1080, some territories fell under the rule of the Greeks, others departed to Turkey. In 1828, the northern part of Armenia became part of the Russian Empire, then in 1878 the units were annexed along with Kars and Batumi.
Ancient dynasties of Armenian kings
Some of the oldest kings that ruled Armenia were confirmed to the throne by the Achaemenid kings and were considered their satraps.
Famous dynasties of Armenian kings:
- Yervidy - ruled the country from 401 to 200 years. BC e., until the defeat of the Seleucids: Yervand I and II, Kodoman, Yervand II (repeatedly); Mihran, Yervand III, Artavazd, Yervand IV.
- The next in chronology is the dynasty of the kings of Sofena, which arose after the conquest and unification of part of the Armenian lands into the satrapy of Sofena with the capital Armavir (in the Ararat valley). Reigned from 260 BC e. up to 95. The list of Armenian kings of this dynasty: Sam, Arsham, Xerxes, Zareh, Mitroborzan I (Artran), Yervand V. Then Sophena was conquered by Tigran the Great and annexed to Great Armenia.
- The most historically famous Artashesid dynasty ruled the country from 189 BC. e. and up to 1 year n. e. - these are the famous kings Artashes I, Tigran I and Tigran II the Great, Artavazd I and II, etc.
- the Arshakids dynasty (51-427), founded by Trdat I, brother of the Parthian king Vologhes I. At the end of their reign, the tsarist government was destroyed by the Persians, after which for many centuries kings appointed by the Persian authorities (marzpanes) and Byzantium began to rule Armenia partridges), as well as ostikans of Arab caliphs.
Kings of the Great Armenian Empire
The most famous is the dynasty of the kings of Great Armenia Artashesid, which entered into law in 189 BC. e. The Armenian king Artashes I came to the throne of Great Armenia after the proclamation of him by the Seleucid king Antiochus III. Artashes became the founder of the Artashesid dynasty and became famous as a famous reformer and conqueror. He was able to subjugate to Armenia the entire population of the Armenian Highlands and some neighboring regions. Thus, Greater Armenia quickly increased its territories and enriched during the hostilities.
The first city of Artashat was built on the left bank of the Araks River in 166 BC. e., the capital of the state was moved there. According to medieval traditions, Artashes I carried out a very important land reform, while delimiting the royal, urban and communal lands.
The military campaigns of this king were successful and helped to increase the territory of Great Armenia. Moreover, the king took these trips in all directions, gradually conquering all neighboring areas. One of the famous campaigns was when Artashes tried to capture the Hellenistic states of the Middle East, but with the help of the Seleucids they remained independent. The era of his reign lasted almost 30 years, until his death.
After the death of Artashes, his son, the Armenian king Tigran I, sat on the throne in 160 BC. e. He became known for joining the struggle against the Parthian state. The era of the war between Armenia and the Parthians was quite long - almost 65 years. Artavazd I, grandson of Artashes, became the next king of Armenia. And only in 95 BC. e. the king was his brother (according to some sources, his son), who later received the name Tigran the Great.
King Tigran the Great
Tigran II was born in 140 BC. e. and spent his youth as a prisoner at the court of Tsar Mithridates II, who captured him at the defeat of the Armenian army. When the news came of the death of the Armenian king Artavazd I, Tigran was able to redeem his freedom, giving in return a large territory of land in the Kurdistan region.
The Armenian king Tigran the Great stayed in power for 40 years, during which Armenia achieved incredible previously imperial power. His reign began in a favorable period when Roman power in this region was overthrown by the Evpatorian king Mithridates (king of Pontus), who was able to consolidate the entire Black Sea coast.
Tigran marries the daughter of Mithridates Cleopatra. His entire foreign policy was directed by large-scale military campaigns at first with the Romans (with the support of Mithridates of Pontus), as a result of which he was able to return the land he had given, conquer Assyria, Edessa and other territories, and annex the lands of Northern Mesopotamia.
In 83 BC. e. in agreement with the Syrian nobility and merchants, the Armenian army invaded Syria, capturing Cilicia and Phenicia to northern Palestine. Subjugating 120 provinces and satrapies, he began to call himself the King of kings and the Divine, issuing silver coins, which became the best (according to historians) among all that were minted by Armenian kings (see photo below).
Coins were minted in Antioch and Damascus and depicted Tigranes the Great in a 5-point tiara with a star and eagles. Later, he built his own mint. Having reigned in Syria for 14 years, the Armenian king Tigran II the Great helped their economic revival, bringing peace and prosperity to these lands.
During these years, his power spread over a vast territory, ranging from the Caspian Sea to the Mediterranean, from Mesopotamia to the Pontic Alps. The Armenian Empire became politically united, and each of the controlled states paid tribute to it, but at the same time retained its laws and the status of an autonomous principality.
In this era, Armenia represented a social structure, gradually moving to the nascent elements of feudalism. At the same time, the clan organization was combined with the widespread use of slave labor, in which prisoners captured in neighboring territories during various wars were involved.
Tigran the Great began the construction of his capital Tigranakert (the modern territory of southern Turkey), which he conceived as the political and economic center of the state, in which the Armenian kings would rule. To populate the city with people, he encouraged the emigration of Jews, and also forcibly resettled the inhabitants of the ruined provinces, according to some sources, even forced 12 cities of Greece to move - the total number of immigrants was estimated at 300 thousand.
However, in 72, due to his father-in-law Mithridates, Tigran entered the war with Rome, which was the beginning of his defeat and the collapse of the Armenian Empire. The Roman commander Lucullus inflicted a severe defeat on him, having rejected Syria and Phenicia, besieging the ancient capital Artaxata. Then in 66 the Parthian troops entered the war, and the king surrendered to the Romans, having made a hasty peace. The remaining 11 years, being already old and weak, the Armenian king continued to rule the country as a vassal of Rome.
Tsar Artavazd II
Artavazd became king in 55 BC. e. and was the most educated and learned. This king was fluent in Greek, known as a connoisseur of literature and even composed tragedies and historical works. Faithful to the alliance with Rome, Artavazd sent a 50,000th army to attack the Parthians. However, he later entered into an alliance with them, passing off his sister as the son of the Parthian king Orod.
He ruled the country for 20 years that have passed in peace and prosperity. However, speaking on the side of the Roman rulers Mark Anthony and Cleopatra, he was accused of treason. The Armenian king Artavazd and his family Mark Anthony brought in chains and gave to the mercy of Cleopatra, who tried to ruthlessly torture them to find the place of storage of treasures that the Armenian kings collected. And the army of Anthony at that time robbed the Armenian cities and destroyed the temple of the goddess Anahit. Having never learned anything, Cleopatra ordered to kill the king of Armenia, who is in prison.
Arshakid dynasty and the birth of Christianity
Arshakids - the dynasty that ruled in Parthia (now Iran) in 250-228 BC. e. This family was royal for many centuries; it was connected with the events of world history. The ancestor of the Armenian royal branch was Tiridat (Trdat I), who occupied the throne of Armenia at the end of the 1st century. All this time, endless Roman-Persian wars and conflicts continued.
Trdat I is the first Armenian king who introduced the Christian religion in Armenia. In the 2-3 centuries. this religion is widespread in the regions surrounding Armenia. Thus, the Apostolic Church of the State of Antioch and the ancient center of Edessa in Mesopotamia contributed to the spread of Christianity, then the writings of Bishop Theophilia and Marcus Aurelius, preaching the Christian doctrine, became popular.
One of the most famous historical names beloved by the Armenian people over the centuries: St. Gregory the Illuminator, who returned from Parthia to Armenia to preach the Christian faith here. Due to the fact that his father was the murderer of Tsar Khosrov I (238), the ruler of Armenia, Trdat III, threw Gregory into the dungeon of the royal castle, where he subsequently spent 15 years.
Trdat I later freed St. Gregory, who, as a sign of forgiveness, cured of a severe mental illness and christened him and the whole royal court. In 302, Gregory the Illuminator became a bishop and was elected head of the Armenian Christian Church.
In 359, the Persian-Roman war begins, the outcome of which is the defeat of Rome. At this time, Arshak II (345-367) reigned on the Armenian throne, who began a war with Persia, which at first was quite successful for Armenia, but then the Persian king Shaluh tricked and imprisoned Arshak, where he dies.
At this time, his wife, Parandzem, was besieged by enemy troops in the Artagers fortress along with an 11,000-strong army. After long battles, famine and the outbreak of the epidemic, the fortress fell, and Parandzem is killed, betraying her torture.
Her son Pap returns to Armenia and becomes king thanks to the Roman emperor Wages. The time of his reign (370-374) was a period of restoration of destroyed settlements, restoration of churches and putting government affairs in order. The Armenian king Pap at the head of the army defeated the Persian battle in Dzirav and restored peace in Armenia.
Having cleansed the country of foreign invaders, Tsar Pap worked intensively to restore the state, he limited the land tenure of the church and established the initial independence of the Armenian Catholic Church, strengthened the army, and carried out some reforms. However, by order of the Roman emperor Wages, he was lured to a magnificent feast, where they vilely dealt with a young Armenian patriot.
In history, he remained as one of the most active Armenian kings.
After the death of the Pope, kings Varazdat (374-378), Arshak (378-389), Khosrov, Vramshapuh (389-417), Shapur (418-422), Artashes Artashir (422-428) were on the throne.
In 428, the Persians captured Armenia - thus ended the period of greatness and prosperity of the state of Great Armenia, which was ruled by the famous Armenian kings.
The collapse of Great Armenia and the resettlement of Armenians
Armenians began to settle in Byzantium since the 4th century due to the unstable situation in their homeland, where there were constant military conflicts with neighboring states. When the destruction of tsarist power and the division of Great Armenia between Byzantium and Persia occurred, many princes rushed to Byzantium with their families and military detachments. They sought to use their military knowledge and talents in the administrative service.
In the same years, there was a massive resettlement of Armenians in the Balkans, Cyprus and Cilicia, North Africa. The tendency to recruit military and bodyguards of Armenian descent into the palace guard in the Byzantine state has existed for a long time. Armenian cavalry and other military formations were very much appreciated. Moreover, they were located not only in the capital, but also in other cities (in particular, in Italy and Sicily).
Armenian kings of Byzantium
Many Armenians held high military and spiritual posts, were engaged in scientific activities, teaching in monasteries and universities. Artists and architects have earned fame. The Armenian nobles, being descendants of the ancient royal families, gradually settled from Byzantium throughout Europe, entering into kinship with the noble and royal families.
In the history of Byzantium, more than 30 emperors of Armenian origin visited the throne. Among them: Mauritius (582-602), Emperor Heraclius I (610-641), Filippik Vardan (711-713), Leo the Armenian (813-820), Vasily I Macedonian (867-886), Roman I Lakapin (920- 944), John Tzimiskes (969-976) and many others.
Famous Byzantine kings of Armenian descent
According to historical information, in the 11-12 centuries. 10-15% of the ruling aristocracy in Byzantium had Armenian nationality, but among the kings there were natives of Armenian peasants who achieved the throne in various, not always righteous ways.
The most famous Byzantine kings of Armenian descent:
- Emperor Irakli I. Along with the Arshakid dynasty, was gifted with military talent, carried out reforms in command and troops, restored the power of Byzantium, concluded a mutually beneficial agreement with Great Bulgaria on economic and military assistance, conducted many military operations during the Iran-Byzantine War, returned to Jerusalem its main Christian shrine, the Life-Giving Cross (previously captured by the Persian king).
- Philippine Vardan. He claimed claims to the imperial throne, was exiled to the island of Kefalonia, then Chersonese, where he raised a rebellion, with the help of the Khazars captured Constantinople and became emperor. He was convinced that he was a Monofelite, which led to a conflict with the Roman Church, and was blinded by the conspirators.
- Leo Armenian. It came from the Arzruni clan, at the head of the army he repelled the Bulgarian attack on Constantinople, ousted the Patriarch of Nicephorus of Constantinople (815) and convened a local church council, proclaiming a return to the decrees of the iconoclastic cathedral in Hieria. He was killed during the Christmas service in December 820.
- The biography of Vasily I the Macedonian is full of twists of fate. By origin, a peasant, he spent all his childhood with his family in captivity in Bulgaria, then fled to Thrace. After moving to Constantinople, he entered the service of the imperial stables, his beautiful appearance attracted the attention of Emperor Michael the 3rd and became his favorite, and later married his mistress. After the removal of an influential imperial relative, Vasily became co-ruler in 866, after which, having killed the emperor, in 867 he took the throne, founding a new dynasty. Among his merits to Byzantium: the systematization of Byzantine legislation, the expansion of the army, etc. He died from an accident during the hunt (886).
- Roman I Lakapin. He also came from Armenian peasants, converted to Orthodoxy and rose to the rank of chief of the imperial fleet, seized power with the help of cunning and cunning, then passed off his daughter to the emperor and became a “Vasileopator” (tsar’s father), and then took the royal throne. His activity was aimed at combating the aristocracy, which owned large land territories, in favor of the small landowners of stratiotics. He became famous as a master of intrigue and conspiracy, but suffered precisely at the hands of the conspirators - their own sons, who arrested him and exiled him to the monastery, where they themselves joined him a year later as the same prisoners. He died in 948.
- John Tzimiskes. He came from a noble Armenian family and was a relative of the previous emperor Nicephorus, in the murder of which he participated. Having become king of Byzantium, he was actively engaged in charity affairs, building hospitals and distributing property to the poor. His military campaigns took place in the east, the result of which was the return of Syria and Phenicia under Byzantine rule. He was poisoned by his first minister Lekapen.
Dynasties of kings who ruled after the destruction of Great Armenia
The great Armenian kings - Artashes I, Tiger II the Great - were the rulers of Armenia during its heyday and wealth. After 428, an era came when the country was ruled by rulers appointed by other states. And only since the end of the 9th century Armenian dynasties returned to power:
- Bagratids (885-1045 gg.);
- Rubenides-Hetumids-Lusignans (1080-1375).
The first representatives of the princely clan of the Bagratids, uniting most of Armenia under their rule (after the period when the Arabs were in power), were the Armenian kings Ashot I and II Zhelezny, Smbat I, Ashot III the Gracious. The last representative of this kind, Gagik II, was captured and after negotiations with Byzantium renounced the kingdom.
The Armenian kings of the Rubenid dynasty: Ruben I, Constantine I, Toros I, Levon I, Toros II, Levon II, Isabella. The Rubenida-Khetumyan dynasty (Khetum I, Levon III, Khetum II, Toros III, Smbat and others) broke off on Levon V after an inter-dynastic marriage, as a result of which the power passed to the Frankish kings of Cyprus.
The Rubenida-Lusignan Dynasty: Constantine III, IV, Levon VI, Constantine V, Levon VII. In 1375, the state was attacked and destroyed by the troops of the Egyptian Mamluks and the Sultan of Iconium, and King Levon VII went to a monastery in Paris.