Armenia - A Timeline
From 361 - 499 AD
361
Shapur II claims Mesopotamia and Armenia forcing
Arshak, King of Armenia to flee. Loyalties of the Armenian nobles are split
between accepting Persian dominance or remain with the West. King Arshak meets
with Constantius, but the emperor dies before the conclusion of any agreement.
363
Julian, now emperor,
launches a campaign against Persia but dies during the campaign leaving his
successor Jovianus to concede a humiliating treaty giving up gains made during
the campaign and the cessation of support to Armenia.
371
The Roman Empire now split in two spheres, the
Armenians renewed their appeal for assistance with eastern Rome. Negotiations
stumbled over a number of issues including religious ones prompting Rome to conclude
a treaty with Persia essentially leaving Armenia to her own devices.
Vassak Mamikonian continues the struggle against
Persia devastating the districts of Sophene and Akilisene. The Persians pin
Vassak in the province of Ararat and King Arshak makes an appeal to Shahpur for
a reconciliation to which the King of Persia accepts. During the royal welcome
and feast, King Arshak was seized and sent to the fortress of Oblivion (Anhoush
berd) were he met his end.
The son of the
slain king and exiled in Constantinople, Pap returned to Armenia escorted by an
Imperial legion. The Jovianus treaty, which had left Armenia to the mercy of
Persia, was now revoked by Valens.
384
Under Roman suzerainty the young king had to overcome
conflicts with unruly nobles and the recurring friction between Church and
state. To resolve the issue, Theodosius
the Great and Shahpur III concluded the partition of Armenia with the
larger portion becoming a vassal state under Persian suzerainty and the smaller
portion formed a Roman province.
385
Khosrov appointed King of Armenia by Shapur III
exceeds his authority during his six year period and is replaced by his brother
Vramshapouh. Vramshapouh won the confidence of Shapur III as well as of the
pro-Roman party of his country. With the accession of Yazdegert I, Vramshapouh’s
reign would confront new trials.
418
Abda, a fanatical Assyrian bishop, set fire to a
Mazdeian temple in Susa. Overnight, the tolerance shown toward Christians is irreparably
damaged.
422
The new Persian king, Bahram V is confronted by Rome
for the persecution of Christians in Armenia. His first expedition into Armenia
under Mihr-Nerseh meets with defeat and Bahram V is forced to suspend operations.
A peace treaty ensuring tolerance to both parties in each Armenia was signed.
428
Bahram V placed Artashir, the son of Vramshapouh, as the
King of Armenia. Artashir proved incapable of coping with the intractable
aristocracy and was summoned to Ctesiphon and later deprived of his title and
power. Armenia was now reduced in status to a Persian province ending the 376
rule of the Armenian-Arshakid dynasty.
The Marzbanate
Armenia was now governed by Marzbans. Nominated by the
Persian King, a Marzban was invested with supreme power, but he could not
interfere with the age-long privileges of the Armenian nakharars which included
the retaining an army to protect their domains. To an extent, the province of
Armenia enjoyed certain autonomy; maintaining its own courts, schools and
maintaining a military force. The question of religious freedom became a source
of friction during a number of periods as Christianity was seen to bring
Armenia closer to Byzantium. On three occasions this escalated to a situation
requiring excessive methods to control.
438
King Yazdegert II (438‑457) was set on a path to
revive the empire of Cyrus and to place all Asia under Persian influence. He
began with repudiating the Hundred Years' Treaty of 420 and invaded the Byzantine
territories of Mesopotamia destroying a number of cities, burning churches and
seizing captives.
441
Unable to counter the Persian threat, the Emperor
Theodosius II concluded a peace treaty which included the surrender of Persian
Christians who had taken refuge in the Byzantine domain.
442
Yazdegert II now campaigned against the Kushans. The
long struggle ended after dealing the Kushans a severe defeat at Marvroud, near
the River Murghab. Next, Yazdegert II
blocked the passages through the Caucasian Mountains to stop the incursions by
the Mazkouts or Black Huns. To do this, the great wall called the Jora Bahag or
Gate of Jor-Derbend was re-built.
448
Returning to internal issues, Yazdegert II viewed the
Christians of Armenia as a problem as their ties with Eastern Rome exerted an
influence over the northern territories including the mountain Kingdoms of Iberia
and Albania.
449
Against the advice of counselors, Yazdegert II imposed
heavy taxes and appointing Mazdeian mages to key judicial posts. This did not
hasten the result expected so an edict was made forcing Armenians to ‘give up’
Christianity. An assembly of bishops and nakharars rejected the edict forcing
Yazdegert II to call the chief dignitaries of Armenia to Ctesiphon. Threatened with
imprisonment the delegation returned to Armenia accompanied by 700 magi who
were given the task of converting the entire country in twelve months. The
experiment proved unworkable and in July the peasants of Douin rose in revolt
driving the Mages off.
Yazdegert II had rushed an army to Trans-Caucasia to
block any assistance from those parts. The Armenians gathered forces to defend key
locations and sent a delegation to Constantinople for aid. Not wanting to
antagonize the King of Persia, Constantinople refused aid as it was too
occupied with a major threat coming from the Huns.
450
A civil war ensued with pro-Persia followers from
central Armenia faced a pro-West faction lead by Vardan. The conflict turned
against Vardan who sent a last appeal to Yazdegert II pledging Armenian loyalty
if religious freedom could be observed. Returning from a less than successful
campaign against the Kushans, Yazdegert accepted the reconciliation from Vardan
and declared a general amnesty.
451
The reconciliation was received with mixed feeling by
the Nationalists and their suspicions proved correct as hostilities resumed in
the spring with Imperial troops under Mihr-Nerseh crossing the Arax River to
seize the Caucasus defiles blocking any assistance by the tribal allies of the
Armenians.
Now isolated, the Armenians faced their greatest
crisis as the Persian King had been assured of the absolute neutrality of the
Byzantine government. Despite the bleak outlook, Vardan and his colleagues assemble
all their forces for a final confrontation in the vicinity of Artaz.
On the plain of Avarair an outnumbered Armenian army met the Sassanid host. The result was a Pyrrhic
victory for the Sassanid as the Armenians remained defiant and continued the
war. Confronted by pressing issues elsewhere, Yazdegert II ordered the
Marzban Muskhan to cease hostilities and declare a general amnesty. Unconvinced
of its sincerity, the war continued with much guerilla activity with the Persians
suffering a number of setbacks. Another solution was needed.
452
To resolve the conflict a number of pro-Persian Armenian leaders responsible by starting the
conflict through their treacherous actions, they were summoned to Ctesiphon for
trial. Those found guilty were stripped of their offices and imprisoned.
During this period, the Kushans made another incursion
into Persia prompting Yazdegert II to ready a third expedition. This met with a
number of reverses including friction within the army and the King being
chastised by the Magi for the offenses committed in Armenia.
459
Peroz, the eldest son of Yazdegert II ascended the
throne in 459 and used persuasive means to bring the Armenians into the state
religion. Showered with gifts and promotions King Perez lured new followers
that many Armenians viewed the rise of a pro-Persian party as a serious threat.
481
King Vakhtank of Iberia (Georgia) revolted against
Persia which moved Armenian nakharars (nobles) to urge Vahan to join the Iberians
which he did. Hearing of the revolt, the Persian Marzban eluded capture but
lost possession of the treasury. In the four years following, the Armenians were
victorious in a number of engagements; Agori, Nersehapat, Erez and Shdev and guerilla
warfare continued in not only Armenia but also in Iberia.
484
King Peroz dies
during his final campaign against the Hephtalites. Succeeding to the throne of
his brother,
Valash resolved the Armenian question leading to the
Treaty of Nuvarsak. This set a compromise
between the court of Ctesiphon and the Armenian clergy and nobility. Vahan was
appointed Marzban (485 – 505) affording Armenia a period of peace and
prosperity. In contrast, Persia was occupied with pressing issues; internal
unrest and conflict against Byzantium.
Map: By Cplakidas - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=12023564
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