Kingdoms of Anatolia


Armenia Armenia has generally been regarded as being two regions: Greater Armenia lay east of the Euphrates; Little, or Lesser, Armenia was west of the river. Armenia is generally 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. The Armenians may also have borne some relationship to the Hurrian Empire of Mitanni or the kingdom of Hayasa-Azzi. Modern scholars believe that the Armenians crossed the Euphrates and entered Asia Minor in the eighth century BC. Invading 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. Armenia extended north and west into land around the Black Sea which had previously been the home of the Kaskians.
1115 - 590 BC	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.
320 - 228 BC	It becomes part of the Seleucid Empire of Seleucus I and his descendants.
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.
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 in the kingdom 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.
c.306 - 314	Probably in response to the Sassanid attacks, Christianity is officially adopted as Armenia's state religion.
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, White Huns, tribal Khazars, and Arabs.

The 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 Arab occupation occurs.
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.
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.

1386 - 1394	The Mongol conqueror Timur seizes Greater Armenia from his power base in Persia and massacres a large part of the population.
1405	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.

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 World War I. Over 600,000 Armenians are killed by Turkish soldiers or die of starvation during their forced deportation to Syria and Mesopotamia. The Armenians rise in revolt at Van (traditional location at which the Armenian state was founded), which they hold until relieved by Russian troops.
1921	Russia and Turkey establish their respective borders with one another and the remaining independent Armenian lands fall 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.

Middle East Kingdoms

Asia Minor