Middle East Kingdoms

Armenia

Armenia has generally been regarded as being two regions: Greater Armenia lay to the east of the Euphrates, while Little, or Lesser, Armenia was to the west of the river. Armenia is usually understood to have included north-eastern Turkey, the area covered by the modern republic of Armenia (the eastern part of ancient Armenia), and parts of Iranian Azerbaijan. Modern Armenia is the easternmost remnants of the former state(s).

According to legend, the Armenian kingdom was founded in the region of Lake Van by Haig / Haik, who was one of Noah's descendants. Modern scholars believe that the Indo-European Armenians crossed the Euphrates and entered Anatolia in the eighth century BC. Migrating into the Khaldian state which was called Urartu by the Assyrians, they intermarried with the local people and formed a homogeneous nation by the sixth century BC. This not only inherited influences from Urartu, but from earlier populations; Mushki, Luwians and Hurrians. The kingdom they created extended north and west into land around the Black Sea which had previously been the home of the Kaskans and the kingdom of Kummuhu.

1115 - 590 BC

Following the collapse of the Hurrian empire of Mitanni and the state of Ishuwa, the Assyrian empire rules much of the south of the region until its destruction in 612 BC, while Nairi and Urartu rule much of the north between them.

590 - 549 BC

The region is under the control of Media. The Orontid Armenian kings govern locally.

549 - 331 BC

A Persian satrapy governs the region.

331/0 - 323 BC

The satrapy is conquered by Alexander the Great's Greek empire.

323 - 320? BC

Armenia is governed by Neoptolemus, one of Alexander's generals.

323 - 320? BC

Neoptolemus

Greek satrap of Thrace.

320 - 228 BC

It becomes part of the Seleucid empire of Seleucus I and his descendants.

321 - 260 BC

Orontes III

Murdered.

302 BC

Orontes moves the capital from Armavir to Yervandashat.

c.220 BC

Armenia is divided into Armenia and Armenia Sophene.

Kingdom of Armenia

It took the Roman defeat of the Seleucid empire at the Battle of Magnesia to enable the Armenians the freedom of declaring their own independence. The declaration cut off some southern Georgian districts from the kingdom of Iberia.

(The list covering 628-806 plugs a gap that other lists miss. Some inconsistencies remain, and other gaps have been filled where possible from other sources.)

Artashesids
189 BC - AD 62

Native Armenian rulers.

c.220 - 210 BC

Unknown

c.210 - 170 BC

Artaxias

190 BC

Rome defeats the Seleucid empire at Magnesia. The Armenians declare their independence the following year under a native dynasty, the Artashesids.

? BC

Artavazde / Artavasdes I

123 - 95 BC

Artavazde / Artavasdes II

90 BC

Artaxias, the new king of Iberia in Georgia, may have been a son of Artavastes'.

90 BC

Armenia Sophene is reabsorbed by Armenia.

95 - 55 BC

Tigranes I the Great

Son of Artavadze. Son-in-law of Mithridates VI of Pontus.

89 - 69 BC

Tigranes conquers the Seleucids in Syria, also taking Harran from them.

69 - 67 BC

The imperialistic ambitions of King Tigranes lead to war with Rome, and a defeated Armenia becomes tributary to the republic following the campaigns of generals Lucullus (69 BC) and Pompey (67 BC). Seleucid Syria is lost and the Romans distinguish between Greater Armenia and Lesser Armenia, respectively east and west of the Euphrates.

63 BC

Pontus reduces Armenia during a brief resurgence.

55 - 30 BC

Artavazde / Artavasdes III

30 BC - AD 56

Competition between Rome and Parthian Persia affects Armenia, which is stuck in the middle of the two empires. The competition leads to the division of Armenia in AD 56.

30 BC

Alexander of Egypt

Armenia is protected by Rome.

30 BC

Artaxias II

Son of Artavadze II. Protected by Persia.

30 BC

Alexander of Egypt

Restored. Armenia is protected by Rome.

30 - 20 BC

Artaxias II

Restored. Protected by Persia.

20 - 12 BC

Tigranes III

Brother. Protected by Rome.

12 - ? BC

Tigranes IV

Protected by Persia.

? - 2 BC

Artavazde IV

Protected by Rome.

2 - 1 BC

Eratus

Brother of Tigranes IV. Protected by Persia.

1 BC - AD 2

Ariobarzane of Atropatene

Protected by Rome.

AD 2 - 11

Artavazde V

Son.

11 - 14/15

Eratus

Restored.

15 - 16

Vonones

King of Persia c.7-12. Protected by Rome.

16 - 18

Roman interregnum with Vonones as nominal ruler.

18 - 34

Zenon of Pont (Artaxias III)

Protected by Rome.

34 - 35

Arsaces of Armenia

Son of Artabanus II of Persia. Protected by Persia.

35

Orodes of Armenia

Brother. Pretender.

35 - 37

Mitridates

Brother of Pharasmanes King of Iberia. Protected by Rome.

37 - 42

Orodes

Gains the throne. Protected by Persia.

42 - 51

Mitridates

Restored. Protected by Persia.

51 - 53

Radamisto

Son of Pharasmanes King of Iberia. Protected by Rome.

51

Tiridates I

Son of Vologeses I of Persia. Protected by Rome.

53 - 54

Radamisto

Restored. Protected by Rome.

54 - 58/9

Tiridates I

Restored.

56

Tiridates, a Parthian prince, is placed on the throne without Rome's agreement, and Rome and Persia go to war. Armenia is divided by the war into (Greater) Armenia, Armenia Sophene and Little, or Lesser Armenia.

58 - 59

Rome occupies Armenia.

59 - 62

Tigranes V of Capadoce

Protected by Rome.

c.60

Lesser Armenia is annexed by Rome.

Arsacids
AD 62 - 386

The Arsacids were formerly a branch of the Parthian Persian rulers of the same name. They became a distinct Armenian dynasty who had their treasure-house and burial-place at Ingalova, formerly within the Bronze Age state of Hayasa-Azzi. Information about their rule is patchy in places.

62 - 72

Tiridates II of Armenia

Brother of Vologeses I of Persia.

63

Rome and Persia fight to a stalemate in Armenia. Rome annexes Armenia Sophene and negotiates a peace treaty with Persia whereby Tiridates lays down the crown and travels to Rome to have Nero personally hand it back as a Roman - and not Persian - gift to the Armenian princes. Armenia is protected by Persia 62-63, and by Rome 63-72.

Christianity is introduced very soon afterwards, although it doesn't become the official religion until the fourth century; Armenia is reckoned to be the oldest Christian state.

c.70

An attack by the warlike Alani tribe to the north of the Black Sea defeats an Armenian force.

72 - ?

Axidares

Son of Pacorus II of Persia. Protected by Rome.

? - 114

Parthamasiris

Brother. Protected by Persia.

114 - 118

Armenia is officially annexed as a Roman province by Trajan. Although Hadrian soon hands it back to be governed by nominal Parthian Arsacid rulers, it remains under indirect Roman control until the third century AD.

118 - ?

Vologases I

Protected by Rome.

? - 140/44

Aurelios Pocoros

c.140/144 - 161

Sohemo

161 - 163

Pakoros

163 - 180?

Sohemo

Second rule.

180 - 191

Vologases II / Valarsaces

Son of Sanatrik. This period of rule is not always mentioned.

189

Vologases' son, Rev, becomes ruler of the kingdom of Iberia in Georgia.

191? - 197

Sanatrik

197

Vologases II / Valarsaces

Restored?

197 - 238

Tiridates III of Armenia / Khosrov I

Son.

238 - 252

Ardashir I, founder of the Sassanids, comes to power in Persia and overruns Armenia. The subsequent persecution of Christians creates innumerable martyrs and kindles nationalism among the Armenians.

252 - 283

Artavazde VI

Protected by Persia.

283 - 330

Tiridates IV of Armenia

Son of Crosroes. Protected by Rome.

301

Probably in response to the Sassanid attacks, Christianity is officially adopted as Armenia's state religion. By joining the Roman Church, the state becomes the world's first Christian nation.

330 - 339

Khosrov II the Small

339 - c.350

Tigranes VII

Son.

c.350 - 368

Archak II

Son.

368 - 370

Persia occupies Armenia.

368 - 369

Cylax (Zig)

Persian governor.

368 - 369

Artaban (Karen)

Persian governor.

369 - 370

Vahan Mamikonian

Persian governor.

369 - 370

Merujan Ardzruni

Persian governor.

370 - 374

Pap

Son of Archak II.

374 - 378

Varazdat

Grandson of Tigranes VII.

378 - 379

Queen Zarmandukht

Wife of Pap.

378 - 379

Enmanuel Mamikonian

Provisional governor.

379 - c.380

Persia controls Armenia. A joint government is formed consisting of the Persian marzban (governor), Queen Zarmandukht, and Enmanuel Mamikonian.

c.380 - 384

The joint government continues without the Persian governor.

384 - 389

Archak III

Son of Zarmandukht. m Vardandukht, dau of Mamikonian.

384 - 386

Valarchak

Co-ruler. m dau of Sahak Bagratuni.

387 - 389

The kingdom is partitioned between Persia and Rome. Rome gains Lesser Armenia to the west of the Euphrates while Persia gains Greater Armenia to the east. Archak III is granted the throne of Lesser Armenia, while another member of the Arsacid family gains Greater Armenia's throne. Attempts at independence are short-lived, as Armenia becomes the constant prey of Persians, Byzantines, Red Huns, White Huns, tribal Khazars, and Arabs.

Kingdom of Greater Armenia (Persarmenia)
AD 387 - 1064

The Arsacids continue to rule eastern Armenia, but with an increasing Persian dominance which eventually removes all Armenian governance.

387 - 392

Khosrov III

Arsacid.

387 - 390

Zik

Regent.

392 - 414

Vram Shepuh

Brother of Khosrov III.

414 - 415

Khosrov III

Second rule.

415 - 421

Shahpur

Heir of Perse.

421

Narses Djidjrakatsi

Provisional governor.

421 - 423

Local independent governors rule.

423 - 428

Artaxes IV

Son of Vram Shepuh.

Marzban (Persian Governors)
AD 428 - 590

428 - 442

Veh Mihr Shahpur

442 - 451

Vasak

King of Siunik.

451 - 465

Adhur Hordmidz (Adrormizd)

465 - 481

Adhur Guschnasp (Ardervechnasp)

481 - 482

Sahak Bagratuni

482

General Mihran

Military occupation.

482 - 483

Vahan Mamikonian

Provisional governor.

483

General Zarmihr Karen

Military occupation.

483 - 484

Shahpur of Rayy

484 - 505/10

Vahan Mamikonian

Second rule. Provisional governor 484-485.

505/10 - 509/14

Vard Mamikonian

Brother.

509/14 - 518

Guschnasp Vahram

Dates uncertain.

518 - 548

Mjej Gnuni

548 - 552

Tan Shapur

552 - 554

Guschnasp Vahram

Second rule?

554 - 558/60

Tan Shapur

Second rule.

558/60 - 564

Varazdat

564 - 572

Sunen

572

Vardan Mamikonian

Provisional governor.

572

Mihran Mihrevandak

Military governor.

572 - 573

Vardan Mamikonian

573

Golon Mihran

Military governor.

573 - 577

Vardan Mamikonian

577 - 580

Tham Khusru

580 - 581

Varaz Vzur

581 - 582/88

Aspahbadh Pahlev

582/88 - 588/89

Frahat

588/89 - 590

Hrattin

590

Byzantium gains power in western Armenia but this causes the fragmentation of the kingdom. Persian control continues in the east, in a reduced Marzban.

Persian Marzban of Dwin
AD 590 - 628

590 - 591

Mouchel Mamikonian

Governor.

591

Hamaraker

Governor.

591 - 603

Unknown governors

603 - 611

Sembat Bagratuni

611 - 613

Chahrayanpet

Governor in the east.

611 - 613

Chahen Vahmanzadhaghan

Governor in the west.

613 - 616

Parsayenpet

616 - 619

Namdar Guchnasp

619 - 624

Charaplaken (Sarablagas)

624 - 627

Rozbihan

627 - 628

Persian rule in Armenia comes to an end with the Byzantine war of Heraclius to recover the parts of Byzantium recently occupied by the Persians. The defeat of the Sassanids fortuitously frees Armenia.

A small subdivision remains in the Persian Marzban of Eastern Armenia, while the Byzantines rule the greater (western) portion of Armenia.

Persian Marzban of Eastern Armenia
AD 628 - 646

628 - 634

Varaztirots Bagratuni

634 - ?

Unknown governors

646

Armenia is fully reunified under Byzantine control.

Governors of Western Armenia
AD 627 - 646

627 - 635

Mzhezh / Mjej Gnuni

635 - 638

David Saharuni

638 - 643

Several 'Nakharar'

643 - 645

Theodoros Rechtuni / Toros

645 - 646

Varaztirots Bagratuni

646

Armenia is fully reunified under Byzantine control.

Governors of Western Armenia
AD 646 - 705

646 - 653

Theodoros Rechtuni / Toros

Returned to power.

646 - 653

Sembat I Bagratuni

Co-governor.

653

The Islamic empire begins to threaten the region. Aided by Byzantine, Armenia defends itself.

653 - 654

Theodoros Rechtuni / Toros

Returned to power.

654

Mouchel Mamikonian / Mushegh

654

Maurianos

654 - 655

Theodoros Rechtuni / Toros

Returned to power.

655

Maurianos

Returned to power.

655

Theodoros Rechtuni / Toros

Returned to power.

655 - 661

Hamazasp Mamikonian

661 - 685

Grigor Mamikonian / Gregory I

686 - 690

Achot Bargatuni / Ashot II

Ashot I is unknown.

690 - 691

Nerseh Kamsarakan

691 - 695

Sembat II Bagratuni

Son of Vanaztirots Bagratuni.

695

The Islamic empire gains power in Armenia.

695 - 696

Abd Allh Hatim al-Bahili

696 - 705

Sembat II Bagratuni

Restored. Independent.

705 - 885

The Byzantines are expelled and the Armenians subjugated by the Islamic empire. A small Armenian principality eventually retains some nominal independence for the state.

Principality of Armenia
AD 732 - 782

732 - 745

Ashot III Bagratuni

745 - 746

Gregory II Mamikonian

746 - 750

Ashot III Bagratuni

Second rule.

750 - 751

Gregory II Mamikonian

Second rule.

751 - 755

Mushegh II Mamikonian

Brother.

751 - 754

A period of Islamic occupation occurs as the Abassids overthrow the Umayyad caliphs.

754 - 761

Sahak Bagratuni

Lord of Taron

761 - 772

Sambat VII Bagratuni

772 - 780

Interregnum.

780 - 785

Tachat / Tadjat Antzevari

785 - 806

Interregnum, leading to Bagratid rule.

Kingdom of Greater Armenia (Bagratids)
AD 806 - 1045

In the early 800s, Byzantium slowly recovered from the first wave of Islamic expansion, as well as from other enemies. Perhaps not coincidentally, shortly after the death of the powerful Empress Irene, Armenia also began to recover. Becoming independent, the large state in eastern Anatolia enjoyed nearly two centuries of independence. Armenia became a Christian ally of Constantinople against Islamic threats, but eventually became a victim of the Byzantine recovery. The later Macedonian emperors, perhaps a little obsessed with regaining this 'lost' portion of the empire, foolishly wasted strength reducing Armenia that would have been better spent against more threatening targets. Gagik II, invited to Constantinople, was imprisoned on his arrival.

(Additional information from the Historical Dictionary of the Ismailis, Farhad Daftary.)

806 - 826

Ashot IV

826 - 855

Smbat VIII

830 - 852

Bagarat II

856 - 890

Ashot I

885

Armenia is recognised as being independent by the Abbasid caliph, Ahmad al Mutamid.

890 - 914

Smbat I

Captured by the Amir of Azerbaijan in AD 913. Died in captivity.

915 - 928

Ashot II

928 - 951

Abas

940

Armenia briefly submits to Ali I Sayfud Dawla, founder of the splinter Hamdanids of Aleppo

951 - 977

Ashot III

977 - 989

Smbat II

989 - 1019

Gagik I

1020 - 1041

Smbat III

1020 - 1040

Ashot IV

1042 - 1045

Gagik II

Invited to Constantinople and imprisoned.

1045 - 1064

Armenia is occupied by Byzantium, a domination which lasts barely twenty years.

1064

Armenia is conquered by the Seljuqs.

1080

Prince Reuben sets up the Lesser Armenian state west of Greater Armenia.

1137

The pro-Armenian policies of the Fatamid vizier, Bahram, in Egypt provoke a military revolt led by Ridwan, the new governor of Gharbiyya. Bahram is forced out of office, and after the failure of his own revolt in Qus, he is granted permission by Caliph al Hafiz to retire to a monastery where he remains until 1139. Then al Hafiz recalls him to al Kahira (Cairo) and entrusts him with the responsibilities of the vizierate, without officially appointing him to the post, until his death in 1140.

1386 - 1394

The Chaghatayid conqueror, Timur, seizes Greater Armenia from his power base in Persia and massacres a large part of the population.

1405 - 1828

Timur dies and the Ottoman Turks, whom Timur had defeated in 1402, invade Armenia and by the sixteenth century hold all of it. Under Ottoman rule the Armenians, although often persecuted and always discriminated against because of their religion, nevertheless acquire a vital economic role. Constantinople and all other large cities of the Ottoman empire gain colonies of Armenian merchants and financiers. Eastern Armenia is chronically disputed between Turkey and Persia.

1489

Cyprus is handed over to the republic of Venice by Queen Caterina, although the kingdom, and those of Armenia and Jerusalem, continues to be claimed by the House of Savoy through Duke Charles I, relative and successor to the titles of the deposed Queen Charlotte.

Modern Armenia
AD 1828 - Present Day

The modern republic of Armenia is the easternmost part of ancient Armenia. Landlocked, it is bordered to the south by Turkey, and to the north by Georgia. The conflict over the predominantly Armenian-populated region of Nagorno-Karabakh in Azerbaijan overshadowed Armenia's return to independence in 1991, and the state remains the subject of a trade blockade, imposed by neighbouring Turkey and Azerbaijan. Relations with Turkey are non-existent anyway, until it recognises that the killing by the Ottoman empire of Armenians between 1915 and 1917 was genocide, which Turkey strongly disputes.

1828

Russia acquires eastern Armenia from Persia and makes it a province. The western section is still held by Turkey.

1894 - 1915

The attempted extermination of the Armenians is put into action under Ottoman Sultan Abd al-Hamid II. It is sporadically resumed, notably from 24 April 1915, when the Armenians are accused of aiding the Russian invaders during the First World War. Over 600,000 Armenians are killed by Turkish soldiers or die of starvation during their forced deportation to Syria and Iraq. The Armenians rise in revolt at Van (traditional location at which the Armenian state had been founded), which they hold until relieved by Russian troops.

1917 - 1920

Following the Bolshevik revolution in Russia, in November 1917 the Caucasus is permitted the right to form an independent state. The Federative Democratic Republic is proclaimed in April 1918, but it lasts all of a month as old tensions between Georgians, Armenians, and Turkic-speaking Azeris resurface. As the Russian Civil War draws to a conclusion, Soviet Russia invades Armenia and the new Azerbaijan state, incorporating both of them into the USSR.

1921

Russia and Turkey establish their respective borders with one another and the remaining independent Armenian lands fall forcibly under Russian control. Eastern Armenia is now the only surviving fragment of the old state.

1991

Upon the collapse of communist Russia the state becomes the independent Republic of Armenia, and remains Christian. Its first president elects to join the Russian-dominated Commonwealth of Independent States. Full-scale war breaks out in the same year as ethnic Armenians in Nagorno-Karabakh fight for independence, supported by troops and resources from Armenia proper. A ceasefire is put in place in 1994 but it fails to deliver any lasting solution.