Armenia

• Armenia was a State in the Classical World that was located in part of the area of modern Armenia in the Caucasus.

1. History

• Pre-Roman history:
  • Hayk Nahapet founded Armenia in c.2,107 BCE, according to Legend.
  • Several Bronze Age Cultures flourished afterwards.
  • c. 860-590 BCE the Kingdom of Van around the region of Lake Van.
  • c. 570-321 BCE the Satrapy of Armenia, part of the First Persian Empire.
  • 321 BCE part of the Greek Seleucid Empire.
  • 189 BCE – 12 CE Independent Kingdom of Armenia under the Artaxiad Dynasty.
  • 140-55 BCE Tigranes the Great.
• Acquisition by Rome:
  • Armenia became a Buffer State between the Roman Empire and the Persian Empire between 65 BCE-428 CE.
  • The Kings were either Client Kings to both Empires by mutual agreement or Client Kings to one Empire after an invasion.
• Under The Republic:
  • 65 BCE conquered by Rome under Pompey during the Third Mithridatic War (73-63 BCE), but the Kings continued to rule as a Roman Client Kingdom until 12 CE.
• Timeline of this Client Kingdom:
• After Augustus reconstituted the Roman Republic into an Empire (27 BCE):
  • 12-426 CE The Arsacid Dynasty ruled Armenia, alternating allegiance between Rome and Parthia.
  • 114-8 CE Trajan made Armenia a Roman Province.
  • He marched his armies from Antioch in Syria and conquered the Armenian Capital Artaxata.
  • The Province of Armenia then reached the Caspian Sea and had borders with two other Roman Client Kingdoms, Iberia and Albania.
  • It was administered from Cappadocia.
  • 118 CE Hadrian relinquished Armenia as a Roman Province and installed Parthamaspates as a Client King. When he was ousted by the Parthians, he was made co-ruler of Osroene.
  • 140 CE Antoninus Pius installed Sohemus as King, but he was ousted by the Parthians in 161 CE. Re-installed in 163 CE. He is buried in the reconstructed Temple of Garni, Kotayk, 175 CE, the only Roman Monument in Armenia.
  • Armenia continues to be under the Roman orbit.
  • 197 CE Septimius Severus sacked Ctesiphon, capital of the Sassanid Empire.
  • 283 CE Ctesiphon sacked by Emperor Carus
• After Diocletian’s Reforms (297 CE):
  • 299 CE Armenia ceded to Diocletian in exchange for Ctesiphon.
  • 301 CE King Trinidates III took Armenia to become the first country to adopt Christianity as the State Religion.
  • 363 CE When the Emperor Julian invaded the Sassanid Empire he took two Legions from Armenia with him, Legio I Armeniaca and Legio II Armeniaca. Julian died outside the Walls of Ctesiphon at the Battle of Ctesiphon.
  • 397 CE Peace of Acilisene divided Armenia, 20% to the Eastern Roman Empire and 80% to Persia.
• After Death of Theodosius and split of Eastern and Western Empire (395 CE):
  • 428 CE Armenia fell to the Sassanid Empire.
  • After c. 661 CE, Armenia became a Province of the Umayyad Caliphate.
• Famous Persons from this Province:
• Chief archeological Finds:
  • Zorats Karer (c. 5,500 BCE)
    • Also known as Carahunge or the Armenian Stonehenge, it is a group of 200 stone monoliths.
    • 80 monoliths appear to have man made holes that may have had an astronomical use.
  • Temple of Garni, Kotayk (175 CE)
    • The only Roman Monument in Armenia.
  • Etchmiadzin Cathedral (301-303 CE)
    • It is thought to be the oldest cathedral in the world and was built by Armenia’s Patron Saint, Gregory the Illuminator.
    • It is part of the Unesco World Heritage Site of the Monastic Complex of the Mother See.
• Historic Battle Sites:
• Main Historical Sources for this Province:

2. Geography

• Capital City:
  • Arsamosata (240 – 1st century BCE)
  • Artaxata (185 BCE – 120 CE)
  • Vagharshapat (120-330 CE)
• Chief Cities:
  • Yerevan (Erebuni)
• Location Today:
• Neighbouring Roman Provinces:
  • Cappadocia, The Roman Client Kingdom of Iberia and Albania
• Climate and Temperature Today:
• Main Geographical features:
• Main Rivers:
  • The Source of the Euphrates.
• Mountain Ranges:
• Islands:

3. Political Organisation

• Province Type
  • Imperial Propraetorial (114-118 CE)
    • The Province was ruled from Cappadocia
• Governor:
  • Propraetor of Cappadocia
• Tribes and Population:
  • Armenians
• Language:
  • Armenian, Aramaic, Greek and Parthian.

4. Military Organisation

• Legions:
• Navy:
• Defensive Works:
• Main Threats:

5. Economy

• Chief Exports:
• Agriculture and Fishing:
• Manufacturing:
• Mines:
• Mints:

6. Transport

• Roads:
• Waterways:
• Ports:
• Ancient Trade Routes:
• Number of Days taken to travel from this Province to Rome:

7. Relationship with Rome

• Due to its strategic position between east and west, Armenia proceeded to change hands frequently between the Parthian Empire and the Roman Empire.
• Armenia was only held as a Roman Province for four years under Trajan begtween 114-118 CE.
• For the rest of the time, it was ruled as a Roman Client Kingdom that was constantly changing hands with the Parthian Empire or Sassanid Empire by repeated invasions from both Empires.

8. History of Christianity in this Province

• Prior to 301 CE, Armenia practised Zoroastrianism.
• 301 CE Armenia was the first State to establish Christianity as the State Religion.
  • St. Gregory the Illuminator baptised Tiridates III and was allowed to convert the Armenian Nation from Zoroastrianism and Paganism.
  • He is the Patron Saint of the Armenian Apostolic Church.
• Other States then followed in adopting Christianity:
  • 312 CE, the Roman Empire recognised Christianity with the Edict of Milan.
  • 341 CE, the Ethiopian King Ezana adopted Christianity as the State Religion.
  • 380 CE, it become the Roman State Religion.

9. Roman Authors describing this Province

Arsamosata (Artaxata)