Aswagen
| Aswagen | |
|---|---|
| King of Caucasian Albania | |
| Reign | 415–440 |
| Predecessor | Asay |
| Successor | Vache II |
| Spouse | Unnamed daughter of Yazdegerd II |
| Issue | Vache II Vachagan III (?) |
| House | Arsacid |
| Father | Urnayr |
| Mother | Daughter of Shapur II |
| Religion | Church of Caucasian Albania |
Aswagen (also spelled Arsvaghen and Aswahen) was the eight Arsacid king of Caucasian Albania, ruling from approximately 415 to 440.[1] He was most likely the son of the previous Albanian king Urnayr, while his mother was a daughter of the Sasanian King of Kings (shahanshah) of Iran, Shapur II (r. 309–379).[2] Aswagen was himself married to a daughter of shahanshah Yazdegerd II (r. 438–457).[3] It was under Aswagen that the Caucasian Albanian script was created in c. 420.[4]
Aswagen is mentioned in a
Hephthalite coins. The Dagestani historian Murtazali Gadjiev suggests that the monogram was a symbol of their blood ties with the Sasanians, and therefore lineage from the gods.[4]
Aswagen was succeeded by Vache II, who was most likely his son.[7] The later Albanian king Vachagan III may have also been Aswagen's son.[2]
References
- ^ Gadjiev 2020, p. 33.
- ^ a b Gadjiev 2020, p. 32.
- ^ Gadjiev 2021, pp. 60.
- ^ a b Gadjiev 2021, pp. 63.
- ^ Gadjiev 2021, pp. 61–62.
- ^ Gadjiev 2021, pp. 59.
- ^ Gadjiev 2020, pp. 32–33.
Sources
- Chaumont, M. L. (1985). "Albania". Encyclopaedia Iranica, Vol. I, Fasc. 8. pp. 806–810.
- Gadjiev, Murtazali (2020). "The Chronology of the Arsacid Albanians". In Hoyland, Robert (ed.). From Albania to Arrān: The East Caucasus between the Ancient and Islamic Worlds (ca. 330 BCE–1000 CE). Gorgias Press. pp. 29–35. ISBN 978-1463239886.
- Gadjiev, Murtazali (2021). "The role and place of Middle Persian language and writing in Caucasian Albania". Vostok (Oriens): 59–70.