Arsaces I of Armenia, also known as Arsaces I, Arshak I and Arsak (ruled 35 AD[1]) was a Parthian prince who was king of Armenia during 35 AD.
| Arsaces 1 of Armenia | |
|---|---|
 King Arsaces 1,a 19th century depiction. | |
| Predecessor | Artaxias III |
| Successor | Mithridates of Armenia |
| Born | Unknown |
| Died | 35 |
| House | Arsacid dynasty |
| Father | Artabanus II of Parthia |
| Mother | Unknown |
Arsaces I was the first-born son of King Artabanus II of Parthia by a wife whose name is unknown.[2]After the death of the Roman client king of Armenia, Artaxias III, in 34 AD, Artabanus II decided to put his son on the Armenian throne. Artabanus II made Arsaces I king of Armenia and Arsaces was accompanied to Armenia with a strong army.[3] However, Roman emperor Tiberius, refused to accept Arsaces I as king. So Tiberius, with the support of King Pharasmanes I of Iberia, appointed Pharasmanes' brother, Mithridates, to be the new Roman client Armenian king.[4]
Meanwhile, Arsaces I's time as Armenian king was brief. Less than a year into his reign, Arsaces I was poisoned by his servants who had been bribed to carry out the deed.[5] After Arsaces I died, Artabanus II put another of his sons, Orodes, on the Armenian throne. However, Orodes soon had to face Mithridates in a military campaign.[6]
References
edit- ^ 35 Arsaces is assassinated. iranicaonline.org
- ^ Tacitus, Annals, 6.31
- ^ Dedeyan, History of the Armenian people, p.138
- ^ Grousset, History of Armenia from its origins to 1071, p.105
- ^ Tacitus, Annals, 6.33
- ^ Chaumont, Armenia between Rome and Iran I: the advent of Augustus to the accession of Diocletian, p.88
Sources
edit- Tacitus, Annals of Imperial Rome, 1st century
- R. Grousset, History of Armenia from its origins to 1071, Paris Payot, 1947 (reprinted again in 1984, 1995 & 2008)
- M.L. Chaumont, Armenia between Rome and Iran I: the advent of Augustus to the accession of Diocletian from Aufstieg und Niedergang der Welt Römischen II, 1976
- G. Dedeyan, History of the Armenian people, Privat Toulouse, 2007