King of Armenia
Details
First monarchHydarnes I (satrap)
Orontes II (king)
Last monarchLeo V
Formation521 BC (satrapy)
336 BC (kingdom)
Abolition1375

This is a list of the monarchs of Armenia, rulers of the ancient Kingdom of Armenia (336 BC – AD 428), the medieval Kingdom of Armenia (884–1045), various lesser Armenian kingdoms (908–1170), and finally the Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia (1198–1375). The list also includes prominent vassal princes and lords who ruled during times without an Armenian kingdom, as well as later claimants to the position.

Ancient Armenia (521 BC – AD 428)

Early satraps (521–401 BC)

Orontid dynasty (401–200 BC)

Modern depiction of Orontes IV (r. 212–200 BC)

The Orontid dynasty lost power in 200 BC due to a revolt instigated by the Seleucid Empire. The Seleucid Empire then incorporated Armenia, which was placed under three vassal strategoi (military governors): Artaxias (Greater Armenia), Zariadres (Sophene) and Mithridates (Lesser Armenia). After a decade of vassalage, Armenian royal power was restored under Artaxias.[1]

Artaxiad dynasty (200 BC–AD 2)

Coin of Tigranes II (r. 95–55 BC)

Non-dynastic rulers (2–61)

Coin of Tigranes V (r. 6–12)

The first century AD was a time of intense conflict between the Roman and Parthian empires. In Armenia, this resulted in rapid appointments and depositions of Armenian client kings by both sides.[1]

Arsacid dynasty (61–428)

Statue of Tiridates I (r. 54–58, 61/66–75/88)
Modern depiction of Tiridates III (r. 298–330)

In 384, the Sasanian Empire appointed Khosrov IV as Armenian king, in opposition to the Roman-supported Arshak III. This resulted in Armenia becoming informally divided under the two kings. In 387, the division was made formal through an agreement between the Roman emperor Theodosius I and Sasanian king Shapur III. The agreement saw Armenia be partitioned into a western (under Roman influence) and a eastern (under Sasanian influence) kingdom.[18]

Western Armenia (387–389)

  • Arshak III, 387–c. 389,[18] former king of all of Armenia[18]

Upon the death of Arshak III in 389, Emperor Theodosius I chose to not appoint another king, ending the western kingdom.[19] Arshak's lands were instead incorporated into the Roman Empire.[5]

Eastern Armenia (384–428)

In 428, the Sasanian king Bahram V deposed Artaxias IV, with the permission of the Armenian nobility, and annexed his lands into the Sasanian Empire.[19]

Vassal lords and princes (428–884)

Marzbāns in Sasanian Armenia (428–646)

20th-century artwork of Vahan I Mamikonian, autonomous marzbān 485–505/510

The Sasanian-ruled Armenian territories were after 428 placed under the rule of an official with the title marzbān[20] (governor-general[20] or viceroy[1]). The first marzbān, appointed by Bahram V, was the military officer Veh Mihr Shapur.[1]

The list of marzbāns is not entirely contiguous. This is due to gaps in the historical record as well as there having been periods without any appointed marzbāns. It was relatively common for the office to be vacant since the Sasanian Empire periodically tried to assert more direct control.[21]

Presiding princes of Armenia (628–884)

Modern imaginary portrait of Ashot V Bagratuni, who served as the last presiding prince of Armenia 856–884 and later reigned as King of Armenia (as Ashot I) 884–890

In the sixth century, the Byzantine Empire established the position of presiding prince of Armenia (formally "prince of the Armenians"). This office was created in an attempt to legitimize a local vassal leader with Byzantine backing and counteract Sasanian efforts in the region. During later centuries, the princes often wavered in allegiance between Byzantium and the Islamic Caliphates, who competed over influence in the region. The princes were most often autonomous tributary vassals.[21] The earliest known presiding prince of Armenia is Mjej II Gnuni, appointed by the Byzantines in the early seventh century.[22]

Restored kingdom (884–1045)

Bagratuni dynasty (884–1045)

Statue of Ashot II (r. 914–928)

After more than four centuries of dormancy, the Armenian kingdom was restored under the Bagratuni dynasty, from which several presiding princes had hailed. The Abbasid caliphs were prominent supporters of the Bagratuni princes gaining power over other Armenian nobles due to fears of Byzantine influence in the region. In 884, Prince Ashot V Bagratuni was crowned king (as Ashot I) by his peers. Ashot's new position was recognised by both the Byzantine Empire and the Abbasid Caliphate; Emperor Basil I and Caliph Al-Mu'tamid each sent him a royal crown.[23]

The Bagratid kingdom and its capital of Ani was conquered by the Byzantine Empire under Emperor Constantine IX Monomachos in 1045.[23]

Lesser medieval Armenian kingdoms

Vaspurakan, Artsruni dynasty (908–1021)

The Artsruni family ruled in Vaspurakan as princes under the Bagratuni kings. The Artsruni family revolted after King Smbat ceded some of the Artsruni lands to the nearby princes of Syunik. Shortly thereafter, in 908, Vaspurakan became a separate kingdom with Gagik Artsruni's recognition as a king by Abbasid caliph.[23]

Senekerim-Hovhannes, the last king of Vaspurakan, surrendered his crown to the Byzantine Empire in 1021 under pressure from incursions by the Seljuk Turks and resettled with his family in Cappadocia.[15]

Vanand, Bagratuni dynasty (961–1065)

The Kingdom of Vanand was created as a vassal state by the Bagratuni kings in 961, ruled by members of their own dynasty.[24]

  • Mushegh, 961/962–984,[1] son of Abas I of Armenia[22]
  • Abas I, 984–1029,[1] son of Mushegh[22]
  • Gagik-Abas II, 1029–1065,[1] son of Abas I;[22] claimed the position of king of all Armenia after the collapse of the main Bagratid kingdom in 1045.[24]

Vanand was ceded to the Byzantine Empire by Gagik-Abas II[24] in 1065.[15][24]

Tashir-Dzoraget, Kiurikian dynasty (982–c. 1145)

Kiurike I of Tashir-Dzoraget (left, r. 982–989) and Smbat II of Armenia (right, r. 977–989)

The Kingdom of Tashir-Dzoraget was a vassal kingdom founded in 982 by Kiuriki I, youngest son of Ashot III of Armenia, and was thereafter ruled by his descendants. It was for most of its history ruled from the fortress of Lori.[25]

Tashir-Dzoraget was largely conquered by the Seljuk Turks in 1081/1089.[22] In the early 12th century, further conquests led to David II and Abas only retaining control of the fortress of Macnaberd. The kingdom was fully conquered by around 1145, though it is possible that some members of the Kiurikian dynasty retained control of fortresses and settlements in the region thereafter.[25]

Syunik, Siunia dynasty (970–1170)

The independent Kingdom of Syunik was established under the Siuni prince Smbat Sahak in 970.[15]

  • Smbat I Sahak, 970–998[15]
  • Vasak, 998–1019,[15] son of Smbat I[22]
  • Smbat II, 1019[22]–1044,[26] cousin and nephew of Vasak[22]
  • Grigor I, 1044–1084,[26] brother of Smbat II[22]
  • Senekerim Sevadian, 1084–1094,[26] adoptive son of Grigor I[22]
  • Grigor II, 1094–1166, [26] son of Senekerim[26]
  • Hasan of Gerakar, 1166–1170,[26] son-in-law of Grigor II

The Kingdom of Syunik was conquered by the Seljuk Turks in 1170.[27]

Shah-i Armens (1100–1185; 1420–1437)

Coin of Qara Iskander, the last Shah-i Armen (r. 1420–1437)

Ahlat Shah-i Armens (1100–1185)

In the decades following the Battle of Manzikert (1071), one of the Turkmen[28] vassal dynasties of the Seljuk Turks gained control of Ahlat, in the former Armenian heartland. These Muslim emirs took the title Shah-i Armen ("King of the Armenians");[29][30] the same title Islamic sources had previously used for the Bagratuni kings.[31]

Sökmen II left no heirs, his death in 1185 terminating the Shah-i Armen dynastic line. Ahlat was thereafter ruled by a series of slave emirs;[28] Seyfeddin Bektimur 1185–1193, Bedreddin Aksungur 1193–1198, Sücaeddin Kutlug 1198, Melukülmansur Muhammed 1198–1207, and Izzeddin Balaban 1207.[33] The city's period of relative autonomy came to an end when it was captured by the Ayyubid Sultanate in 1207.[28]

Qara Qoyunlu (1420–1437)

The title Shah-i Armen was temporarily revived in the 15th century under the rule of the Turkmen Qara Qoyunlu,[30] being used by Sultan Qara Iskander as part of his policy to cultivate the Armenian population.[34]

Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia (1080–1375)

The Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia was a state formed in the Middle Ages by Armenians who fled the Seljuk invasion of their homeland.[35] It was initially ruled by the Rubenids, an offshoot of the Bagratuni dynasty. While the Rubenid rulers were initially regional princes, their close ties with the Western world after the First Crusade saw the principality recognised as a kingdom under Leo I by the Holy Roman Empire in 1198.[36] The rulers of the Armenian Kingdom of Cilia thereafter styled themselves simply as "King of Armenia".[22]

Rubenid dynasty (1080–1252)

19th-century depiction of Leo I (r. 1198–1219)

Hethumid dynasty (1226–1341)

Coin depicting Isabella (r. 1219–1252) and Hethum I (r. 1226–1269)

The Hethumid dynasty gained power through marriage with Isabella of the Rubenid dynasty. Upon her death, her husband Hethum I became sole ruler and he was followed as king by their descendants.

Lusignan and Neghir dynasties (1342–1375)

Bust of Leo V, the last King of Armenia (r. 1374–1375)

After the death of Leo IV in 1341, Leo's cousin Guy de Lusignan was elected to succeed him as Constantine II, beginning the rule of the Lusignan dynasty. This dynasty ruled for just over three decades before Cilicia was captured by the Mamluks, bringing an end to the kingdom.

  • Constantine II, 1342–1344,[22] cousin[22] and chosen successor[37] of Leo IV (House of Lusignan)
  • Constantine III, 1344–1363,[22] elected by the Armenian nobility;[37] grandnephew of Hethum I (House of Neghir)
  • Leo (V) "the Usurper", 1363–1365,[37][38] unknown lineage; seized the throne and then abdicated after a reign of two years[37]
  • Constantine IV, 1365–1373,[22] cousin of Constantine III[22] (House of Neghir)
    • Peter de Lusignan, King of Cyprus, was invited to become king by some Armenian barons in 1368 but died in 1369 while making preparations to cross the sea to Cilicia with his forces[22][37]
  • Marie of Korikos, regent 1373–1374,[37] widow of Constantine III and Constantine IV; served as regent while delegations were sent to negotiate with prospective new candidates for the kingship[37]
  • Leo V (or VI), 1374–1375,[37] nephew of Constantine II[22] (House of Lusignan)

Later claimants

Lusignan claimants (1375–1489)

Leo V continued to claim the title "King of Armenia" in exile until his death in 1393. Leo's claims were then inherited by James I, his cousin (both were great-grandsons of the Cypriot king Hugh III) who ruled as King of Cyprus. From 1393 to the end of the Cypriot kingdom in 1489, the rulers of Cyprus claimed the full title "King of Cyprus, Jerusalem and Armenia".[39]

After the fall of the Kingdom of Cyprus in 1489, Catherine Cornaro sold her claims and titles (including her claim to Armenia) to the Republic of Venice, which at times thereafter advanced a shadowy claim to Cilicia or Armenia as a whole.[40]

Savoyard claimants (1485–1946)

The House of Savoy claimed the titular style "King of Cyprus, Jerusalem and Armenia" for centuries. It was in use as late as the 20th century, for instance by Victor Emmanuel III of Italy (pictured).[41]

Charlotte, who ruled as Queen of Cyprus 1458–1464, was deposed in 1464 but maintained claims to her titles in exile. In 1485, she ceded all her titular claims to her first cousin once removed, Charles I, Duke of Savoy.[42] As a consequence of Charlotte's sale, the House of Savoy is often seen as the heirs of the Lusignan kings of Cyprus and Armenian Cilicia.[40] For centuries thereafter, the heads of the family maintained the style "Duke of Savoy and titular King of Cyprus, Jerusalem and Armenia".[43]

The title "King of Cyprus, Jerusalem and Armenia" was maintained even after the Savoyard dynasts became kings of Italy, for instance being used by both Victor Emmanuel II[44] and Victor Emmanuel III.[41]

See also

Notes

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 Baumer, Christoph (2021). History of the Caucasus: Volume 1: At the Crossroads of Empires. Bloomsbury Publishing. pp. 125, 142, 166, 190, 305, 310–311. ISBN 978-0-7556-3969-4.
  2. ↑ Shahbazi, Shapur (1994). "Darius I the Great". Encyclopedia Iranica. Vol. 7. New York: Columbia University. pp. 41–50.
  3. 1 2 3 Lang, David Marshall (1980). Armenia, Cradle of Civilization. Allen & Unwin. p. 121. ISBN 978-0-04-956009-3.
  4. ↑ Boyce, Mary; Grenet, F. (2015). A History of Zoroastrianism, Zoroastrianism under Macedonian and Roman Rule. BRILL. p. 310. ISBN 978-90-04-29391-5.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 Redgate, Anne Elizabeth (2000). The Armenians. Wiley. pp. 62, 67, 77, 91–95, 133, 135, 137–138. ISBN 978-0-631-14372-7.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 Toumanoff, Cyrille (1963). Studies in Christian Caucasian History. Georgetown University Press. pp. 279–282.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Wijlick, Hendrikus A. M. van (2020). Rome and the Near Eastern Kingdoms and Principalities, 44-31 BC: A Study of Political Relations during Civil War. BRILL. p. 242. ISBN 978-90-04-44176-7.
  8. 1 2 3 Spier, Jeffrey; Potts, Timothy; Cole, Sara E. (2022). Persia: Ancient Iran and the Classical World. Getty Publications. p. 5. ISBN 978-1-60606-680-5.
  9. ↑ Wijlick, Hendrikus A. M. van (2020). Rome and the Near Eastern Kingdoms and Principalities, 44-31 BC: A Study of Political Relations during Civil War. BRILL. p. 138. ISBN 978-90-04-44176-7.
  10. ↑ Brijder, Herman (2014). Nemrud Dagi: Recent Archaeological Research and Preservation and Restoration Activities in the Tomb Sanctuary on Mount Nemrud. Walter de Gruyter GmbH & Co KG. p. 72. ISBN 978-1-61451-622-4.
  11. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Marek, Christian (2021). In the Land of a Thousand Gods: A History of Asia Minor in the Ancient World. Princeton University Press. p. 571. ISBN 978-0-691-23365-9.
  12. ↑ Vardanankʻ ew Vahaneankʻ (in Armenian). Diocese of the Armenian Church of America. 1984. p. 16.
  13. 1 2 Potts, Daniel T. (1988). Araby the Blest: Studies in Arabian Archaeology. Museum Tusculanum Press. p. 150. ISBN 978-87-7289-051-7.
  14. 1 2 3 Russell, James R. (1987). Zoroastrianism in Armenia. Harvard University, Department of Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations. pp. 161–162. ISBN 978-0-674-96850-9.
  15. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Adalian, Rouben Paul (2010). Historical Dictionary of Armenia. Scarecrow Press. pp. 174–176, xxxvii–xxxviii. ISBN 978-0-8108-7450-3.
  16. ↑ Spuler, Bertold (1977). Rulers and Governments of the World. Bowker. p. 36. ISBN 978-0-85935-021-1.
  17. ↑ "ARMENIA AND IRAN ii. The pre-Islamic period – Encyclopaedia Iranica". www.iranicaonline.org. Retrieved Sep 4, 2019.
  18. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Zakaria (2004). The Chronicle of Deacon Zakʻaria of Kʻanakʻer. Mazda Publishers. p. 9. ISBN 978-1-56859-121-6.
  19. 1 2 Hacikyan, Agop Jack; Basmajian, Gabriel; Franchuk, Edward S.; Ouzounian, Nourhan (2000). The Heritage of Armenian Literature: From the oral tradition to the Golden Age. Wayne State University Press. p. 84. ISBN 978-0-8143-2815-6.
  20. 1 2 Bauer-Manndorff, Elisabeth (1981). Armenia, Past and Present. Armenian Prelacy. p. 85.
  21. 1 2 Vacca, Alison (2017). Non-Muslim Provinces under Early Islam: Islamic Rule and Iranian Legitimacy in Armenia and Caucasian Albania. Cambridge University Press. pp. 123–124. ISBN 978-1-107-18851-8.
  22. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 Bury, John Bagnell (1966). The Cambridge Medieval History: Volume IV Part I: Byzantium and its Neighbours. University Press. pp. 780–785.
  23. 1 2 3 4 Chahin, Mack (2013). The Kingdom of Armenia: New Edition. Routledge. pp. 228, 230, 232. ISBN 978-1-136-85243-5.
  24. 1 2 3 4 Arakelyan, Babken; Vardanyan, Vrezh; Khalpakhchyan, Hovhannes (1979). "Կարս [Kars]". Armenian Soviet Encyclopedia Volume 5 (in Armenian). Yerevan: Armenian Encyclopedia. pp. 342–344.
  25. 1 2 3 4 Akopyan, Alexander; Vardanyan, Aram (2015). "A Contribution to Kiurikid Numismatics: Two Unique Coins of Gagik, King of Kakhet'i and of David II of Loři (Eleventh Century)". The Numismatic Chronicle. 175: 214. ISSN 0078-2696. JSTOR 43859792.
  26. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Khachʻatryan, Hayk; Merguerian, Barbara J. (2001). Queens of the Armenians: 150 Biographies Based on History and Legend. Amaras. pp. 84–85. ISBN 978-0-9648787-2-3.
  27. ↑ Holding, Deirdre (2014). Armenia: with Nagorno Karabagh. Bradt Travel Guides. p. 317. ISBN 978-1-84162-555-3.
  28. 1 2 3 4 5 Peacock, A. C. S.; Yildiz, Sara Nur; Yildiz, Dr Sara Nur (2012). "The World of Tutbeg b. Bahram al-Khilati". The Seljuks of Anatolia: Court and Society in the Medieval Middle East. Bloomsbury Publishing. ISBN 978-0-85773-346-7.
  29. ↑ Eastmond, Antony (2017). Tamta's World. Cambridge University Press. p. 5. ISBN 978-1-107-16756-8.
  30. 1 2 Payaslian, S. (2008). The History of Armenia: From the Origins to the Present. Springer. p. 104. ISBN 978-0-230-60858-0.
  31. ↑ Lynch, H. F. B. (2020). Armenia, Travels and Studies Vol 1: Volume 1. BoD – Books on Demand. p. 330. ISBN 978-3-7524-1017-4.
  32. ↑ Güzel, Hasan Celâl; Oğuz, Cem; Karatay, Osman (2002). The Turks: Middle ages. Yeni Türkiye. p. 496. ISBN 978-975-6782-57-6.
  33. 1 2 3 Bedirhan, Yaşar (2022). Türkiye Selçuklu Devleti Tarihi (in Turkish). Eğitim Yayinevi. pp. 123–. ISBN 978-625-8468-42-7.
  34. 1 2 Dickran Kouymjian, "Armenia from the Fall of the Cilician Kingdom (1375) to the Forced Emigration under Shah Abbas (1604)," The Armenian People from Ancient to Modern Times, Richard Hovannisian, editor (New York: St. Martin Press, 1997), vol. 2, p. 5
  35. ↑ (in Armenian) Poghosyan, S.; Katvalyan, M.; Grigoryan, G. et al. Cilician Armenia (Կիլիկյան Հայաստան). Soviet Armenian Encyclopedia. vol. v. Yerevan, Armenian SSR: Armenian Academy of Sciences, 1979, pp. 406–428
  36. ↑ Kurdoghlian, Mihran (1996). Badmoutioun Hayots, Volume II (in Armenian). Athens, Greece: Hradaragoutioun Azkayin Oussoumnagan Khorhourti. pp. 29–56.
  37. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Künker, Fritz Rudolf; Kirsch, Arne; Steinbach, Sebastian. 1000 Years of European Coinage, Part III: England, Ireland, Scotland, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Balkan, the Middle East, Crusader States, Jetons und Weights. Numismatischer Verlag Künker. pp. 340–341.
  38. ↑ Bedoukian, Paul Z. (1969). "The Copper Coins of the Later Kings of Cilician Armenia". Museum Notes (American Numismatic Society). 15: 131–135. ISSN 0145-1413. JSTOR 43574131.
  39. 1 2 3 Ghazarian, Jacob G. (2000). The Armenian Kingdom in Cilicia During the Crusades: The Integration of Cilician Armenians with the Latins 1080–1393. Oxford: Routledge. ISBN 0-7007-1418-9. Section "The seeds of Lusignan rule in Cilicia"
  40. 1 2 3 Fortescue, Adrian (1913). The Lesser Eastern Churches. London: Catholic Truth Society. OCLC 992420. p. 390
  41. 1 2 3 Arielli, Nir (2010). Fascist Italy and the Middle East, 1933–1940. London: Palgrave MacMillan. p. 173. ISBN 978-1349312047.
  42. 1 2 3 Hill, George (1948). A History of Cyprus. Vol. The Frankish Period, 1432–1571. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. OCLC 468917323. p. 612
  43. 1 2 Mauvillon, Eleazar (1742). The History of Francis-Eugene, Prince of Savoy. London: James Hodges. p. 1
  44. 1 2 Davies, Norman (2011). Vanished Kingdoms: The History of Half-Forgotten Europe. London: Penguin UK. ISBN 978-0141048864. Section "Sabaudia".
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