Tigranes the Great
Tigranes the Great | |
---|---|
King of Armenia | |
Reign | 95–55 BC |
Predecessor | Tigranes I |
Successor | Artavasdes II |
Born | 140 BC |
Died | 55 BC (aged 85) |
Burial | |
Consort | Cleopatra of Pontus |
Issue | Four sons: Zariadres Unnamed Tigranes Artavasdes II Three daughters: Ariazate Unnamed Unnamed |
Dynasty | Artaxiad |
Father | Artavasdes I or Tigranes I |
Mother | Alan princess[1] |
Religion | Zoroastrianism[2][3] |
Tigranes II, more commonly known as Tigranes the Great (Tigran Mets in
Either the son or nephew of
Armenia came into direct conflict with Rome after Mithridates VI was forced to seek refuge in Tigranes' court. In 69 BC, Tigranes was decisively defeated at the Battle of Tigranocerta by a Roman army under the command of Lucullus, and a year later he met another major defeat at Artaxata, the old Armenian capital. The recall of Lucullus gave Tigranes a brief respite, but in 66 BC Armenia faced another Roman invasion led by Pompey, aided by Tigranes' own son, Tigranes the Younger. Tigranes chose to surrender and was allowed to retain the heartland of his kingdom as a Roman buffer state, while all of his conquests were annexed. He continued to rule Armenia as a formal ally of Rome until his death around 55 BC at the age of 85.
Early years
In approximately 120 BC, the Parthian king Mithridates II (r. 124–91 BC) invaded Armenia and made its king Artavasdes I acknowledge Parthian suzerainty.[9] Artavasdes I was forced to give the Parthians Tigranes, who was either his son or nephew, as a hostage.[9][10] Tigranes lived in the Parthian court at Ctesiphon, where he was schooled in Parthian culture.[1] Tigranes remained a hostage at the Parthian court until c. 96/95 BC, when Mithridates II released him and appointed him as the king of Armenia.[11][12] Tigranes ceded an area called "seventy valleys" in the Caspiane to Mithridates II, either as a pledge or because Mithridates II demanded it.[13] Tigranes' daughter Ariazate had also married a son of Mithridates II, which has been suggested by the modern historian Edward Dąbrowa to have taken place shortly before he ascended the Armenian throne as a guarantee of his loyalty.[12] Tigranes would remain a Parthian vassal until the late 80s BC.[14]
When he came to power, the foundation upon which Tigranes was to build his Empire was already in place, a legacy of the founder of the Artaxiad Dynasty, Artaxias I, and subsequent kings. The mountains of Armenia, however, formed natural borders between the different regions of the country and as a result, the feudalistic nakharars had significant influence over the regions or provinces in which they were based. This did not suit Tigranes, who wanted to create a centralist empire. He thus proceeded by consolidating his power within Armenia before embarking on his campaign.[15]
He deposed Artanes, the last king of the Kingdom of Sophene and a descendant of Zariadres.[16]
Alliance with Pontus
During the
He rapidly built up his power and established an alliance with Mithridates VI, marrying his daughter
The French historian René Grousset remarked that in their alliance Mithridates was somewhat subservient to Tigranes.[18]
Wars against Roman and Parthian client kingdoms
After the death of Mithridates II of Parthia his son Gotarzes I succeeded him.[19] This was disputed by Sinatruces which caused a Parthian civil war. Tigranes, with Rome involved in a Social War and Parthia involved in a succession dispute, quickly invaded Cappadocia but was forced out by the Roman consul Sulla. Between 88-85 BC, he retook Adiabene, Gordyene, and Media-Atropatene.[10]
In 83 BC, after bloody strife for the throne of
At its height, his empire extended from the
Tigranes' coins consist of
Wars against Rome
Tigranes, to whom Lucullus had sent an ambassador, though of no great power in the beginning of his reign, had enlarged it so much by a series of successes, of which there are few examples, that he was commonly surnamed "King of Kings." After having overthrown and almost ruined the family of the kings, successors of the great Seleucus; after having very often humbled the pride of the Parthians, transported whole cities of Greeks into Media, conquered all Syria and Palestine, and given laws to the Arabians called Scenites, he reigned with an authority respected by all the princes of Asia. The people paid him honors after the manners of the East, even to adoration.[25]
Lucullus' reaction was an attack that was so precipitate that he took Tigranes by surprise. According to Roman historians Mithrobazanes, one of Tigranes' generals, told Tigranes of the Roman approach. Tigranes was, according to Keaveney, so impressed by Mithrobazanes' courage that he appointed Mithrobazanes to command an army against Lucullus – Tigranes sent Mithrobarzanes with 2,000 to 3,000 cavalry to expel the invader. Mithrobarzanes charged the Romans while they were setting up their camp, but was met by a 3,500-strong sentry force and his horsemen were routed. He perished in the attempt.[26][27] After this defeat, Tigranes withdrew north to Armenia to regroup, leaving Lucullus free to besiege Tigranocerta.[28]
When Tigranes had gathered a large army, he returned to confront Lucullus. On October 6, 69 BC, Tigranes' much larger force was decisively defeated by the Roman army under Lucullus in the Battle of Tigranocerta. Tigranes' treatment of the inhabitants (the majority of the population had been forced to move to the city) led disgruntled city guards to open the gates of the city to the Romans. Learning of this, Tigranes hurriedly sent 6000 cavalrymen to the city in order to rescue his wives and some of his assets.[15] Tigranes escaped capture with a small escort.
On October 6, 68 BC, the Romans approached the old capital of Artaxata. Tigranes' and Mithridates' combined Armeno-Pontic army of 70,000 men formed up to face them but were resoundingly defeated. Once again, both Mithridates and Tigranes evaded capture by the victorious Romans.[29] However, the Armenian historians claim that the Romans lost the battle of Artaxata and Lucullus' following withdrawal from the Kingdom of Armenia in reality was an escape due to the above-mentioned defeat.[citation needed] The Armenian-Roman wars are depicted in Alexandre Dumas' Voyage to the Caucasus.
The long campaigning and hardships that Lucullus' troops had endured for years, combined with a perceived lack of reward in the form of plunder,[15] led to successive mutinies among the legions in 68–67. Frustrated by the rough terrain of Northern Armenia and seeing the worsening morale of his troops, Lucullus moved back south and put Nisibis under siege. Tigranes concluded (wrongly) that Nisibis would hold out and sought to regain those parts of Armenia that the Romans had captured.[30] Despite his continuous success in battle, Lucullus could still not capture either one of the monarchs. With Lucullus' troops now refusing to obey his commands, but agreeing to defend positions from attack, the Senate sent Pompey to recall Lucullus to Rome and take over his command.
Pompey and submission to Rome
In 67 BC
In 66 BC, Pompey advanced into
Tigranes continued to rule Armenia as a formal ally of Rome until his death in 55/54,[37] at age 85.
Offspring
Tigranes had four sons and three daughters.
One daughter of Tigranes according to Cassius Dio married Mithridates I of Atropatene.[39][44] Another daughter married Parthian prince Pacorus, son of Orodes II.[40][45] Parchments of Avroman also mention his third daughter, Ariazate "Automa", who married Gotarzes I of Parthia.[2][45]
Although
Imperial ideology
Tigranes is a typical example of the mixed culture of his period. The ceremonial of his court was of
Like the majority Armenia's inhabitants, Tigranes was a follower of
Legacy and recognition
Over the course of his conquests, Tigranes founded four cities that bore his name, including the capital of Tigranocerta (Tigranakert).[54]
Historical
Tigranes is mentioned in Macrobii, a Roman essay detailing the famous long livers of the day, which is attributed to Lucian.[55]
In
According to one count, 24 operas have been composed about Tigranes by European composers,[57] including by prominent Italian and German composers, such as Alessandro Scarlatti (Tigrane, 1715), Antonio Vivaldi (La virtu trionfante dell'amore e dell'odio ovvero il Tigrane, 1724),[58] Niccolò Piccinni (Tigrane, 1761), Tomaso Albinoni, Giovanni Bononcini, Francesco Gasparini, Pietro Alessandro Guglielmi, Johann Adolph Hasse, Giovanni Battista Lampugnani, Vincenzo Righini, Antonio Tozzi, and others.[59]
Modern
According to Razmik Panossian, Tigranes' short-lived empire has been a source of pride for modern Armenian nationalists.[60] Nevertheless, his empire was a multi-ethnic one.[61]
The phrase "sea to sea Armenia" (Armenian: ծովից ծով Հայաստան, tsovits tsov Hayastan) is a popular expression used by Armenians to refer to the kingdom of Tigranes which extended from the Caspian Sea to the Mediterranean Sea.[62][63]
See also
Notes
- ^ Armenian: Տիգրան, Tigran, attested in written Armenian sources since the 5th century AD.[5] Western Armenian pronunciation: Dikran Medz.
- ^ The largest expansion took place during the reign of Tigran (II) the Great, who ruled between 95 and 55 bce and whose empire at one time stretched from the Mediterranean to the Caspian Sea...The court ceremonial was Achaemenid, containing also Parthian elements. However, perhaps due to the influence of the queen, Cleopatra of Pontus, there were Greek rhetoricians and philosophers at court..[..]..At court Greek may have been spoken; Tigran's heir Artawazd II wrote his plays and other literary works, which were still known in the second century ce...Tigran's religion was probably Mazdaism, a variety of Zoroastrianism."[2]
References
- ^ a b Mayor 2009, p. 136.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Romeny 2010, p. 264.
- ^ Curtis 2016, p. 185; de Jong 2015, pp. 119–120, 123–125; Chaumont 1986, pp. 418–438
- ^ Manaserian, R. (1985). "Tigran B Mets" Տիգրան Բ Մեծ. In Arzumanian, Makich (ed.). Haykakan sovetakan hanragitaran Հայկական սովետական հանրագիտարան [Armenian Soviet Encyclopedia] (in Armenian). Vol. 11. Erevan: Haykakan SSH Gitutʻyunneri Akademia. pp. 697–698.
- ^ Achaṛyan, Hrachʻya (1965). "Tigran" Տիգրան. Hayotsʻ andznanunneri baṛaran Հայոց անձնանունների բառարան [Dictionary of Armenian personal names] (in Armenian). Vol. V. Erevan: Petakan hamalsarani hratarakchʻutʻyun. pp. 147-148.
- ^ Ubbo Emmius (1620). Appendix Genealogica: illustrando operi chronologico adjecta. Excudebat Ioannes Sassivs. p. D5.
- ISBN 9780691150260.
- S2CID 119357985.
- ^ a b Olbrycht 2009, p. 165.
- ^ a b Garsoian 2005.
- ^ Olbrycht 2009, p. 168.
- ^ a b Dąbrowa 2018, p. 78.
- ^ Olbrycht 2009, pp. 165, 182 (see note 57).
- ^ Olbrycht 2009, p. 169.
- ^ a b c d Kurdoghlian, Mihran (1996). Պատմութիւն Հայոց [History of Armenia, Volume I] (in Armenian). Athens: Council of National Education Publishing. pp. 67–76.
- ^ Strabo. Geographica, 11.14.15.
- ^ Appian. The Civil Wars, 1.55.
- ^ René Grousset (1946), Histoire de l'Arménie (in French), Paris, p. 85,
Dans l'alliance qui fut alors conclus entre les deux souverains, Mithridates faisait un peu figure client de Tigran.
{{citation}}
: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) - ^ Assar 2006, p. 62; Shayegan 2011, p. 225; Rezakhani 2013, p. 770
- ^ Litovchenko 2015, p. 179–188.
- ^ The House Of Seleucus V2 by Edwyn Robert Bevan.
- ^ Theo Maarten van Lint (2009). "The Formation of Armenian Identity in the First Millennium". Church History and Religious Culture. 89 (1/3): 264.
- ^ Boyajian, Zabelle C. (1916). An Anthology of Legends and Poems of Armenia. Aram Raffi; Viscount Bryce. London: J.M. Dent & sons, Ltd. p. 117.
- ^ Greenhalgh 1981, p. 74.
- ^ Rollins, Charles (1844). Ancient History, vol. 4: History of the Macedonians, the Seleucidae in Syria, and Parthians. New York: R. Carter. p. 461.
- ^ Philip Matyszak, Mithridates the Great, pp 127-128; Lee Frantatuono, Lucullus, pp 83-84; Plutarch, Life of Lucullus, XII.84.
- ^ Keaveney 1992, pp. 106–107.
- ^ Keaveney 1992, p. 107.
- ^ Steel 2013, p. 141.
- ^ Keaveney 1992, p. 119.
- ^ The Encyclopaedia of Military History, R E Dupuy and T N Dupuy
- ^ Greenhalgh 1981, p. 105.
- ^ Greenhalgh 1981, p. 105, 114.
- ^ Greenhalgh 1981, p. 114.
- ^ Greenhalgh 1981, p. 115.
- ^ Scullard, H.H. (1959). From the Gracchi to Nero: A History of Rome from 133 B.C. to A.D. 68. New York: F.A. Praeger. p. 106.
- ^ ISBN 978-0-306-80422-9.
- ^ Chaumont, M. L. (2001–2002). "Tigrane le Jeune, fils de Tigrane le Grand". Revue des Études Arméniennes (in French). 28: 225–247.
- ^ a b Sargsyan 1991, p. 51.
- ^ a b Redgate 2000, p. 77.
- ^ Sargsyan 1991, p. 49, 52.
- ^ Valerius Maximus. Factorum ac dictorum memorabilium libri IX, Liber IX, ext.3.
- ^ a b c d Sargsyan 1991, p. 49.
- ^ Cassius Dio. The Roman History, XXXVI, 14.
- ^ a b Minns 1915, p. 42.
- ^ Sargsyan 1991, p. 51, 52.
- ^ a b Sargsyan 1991, p. 50.
- ^ Assar 2006, p. 67, 74.
- ^ a b Sargsyan 1991, p. 53.
- ^ Sargsyan 1991, p. 52.
- ^ Curtis 2016, p. 185; de Jong 2015, pp. 119–120, 123–125
- ^ a b c Curtis 2016, pp. 182, 185.
- ^ "Banknotes out of Circulation - 500 dram". cba.am. Central Bank of Armenia. Archived from the original on 19 February 2022.
The tetradrachm of the King Tigran the Great, mountain of Ararat
- ISBN 9785808004689.
The data of records referring to these four towns, all of which were called Tigranakert and differed only by provinces, were often confused, if the name of the province; Aldznik, Goghtn, Utik or Artsakh...
- ^ Lucian. Macrobii, 15.
- ISBN 978-1-4039-7467-9.
- ^ Kharmandarian, M. S. (1975). "OA Portal in Armenia" Опера «Тигран» Алессандро Скарлатти. Lraber Hasarakakan Gitutyunneri (in Russian) (3): 59–69.
- ^ "Vivaldi as opera composer". Long Beach Opera. Retrieved 31 August 2013.
- ^ Towers, John (1910). Dictionary-catalogue of Operas and Operettas which Have Been Performed on the Public Stage: Libretti. Acme Publishing Company. pp. 625–6.
- ISBN 9780231139267.
- ISBN 9781139789387.
- ISBN 9780814325278.
- ISBN 9781412070225.
Bibliography
- English
- Assar, Gholamreza F. (2006). "A Revised Parthian Chronology of the Period 91-55 BC". Parthica. Incontri di Culture Nel Mondo Antico. 8: Papers Presented to David Sellwood. Istituti Editoriali e Poligrafici Internazionali. ISSN 1128-6342.
- Brosius, Maria (2006), The Persians: An Introduction, London & New York: Routledge, ISBN 978-0-415-32089-4.
- Dąbrowa, Edward (2018). "Arsacid Dynastic Marriages". Electrum. 25: 73–83. .
- Olbrycht, Marek Jan (2009). "Mithridates VI Eupator and Iran". In Højte, Jakob Munk (ed.). Mithridates VI and the Pontic Kingdom. Black Sea Studies. Vol. 9. Aarhus University Press. pp. 163–190. ISSN 1903-4873.
- Chaumont, M. L. (1986). "Armenia and Iran ii. The pre-Islamic period". Encyclopaedia Iranica, Vol. II, Fasc. 4. pp. 418–438.
- Garsoian, Nina (2004). "Armeno-Iranian Relations in the pre-Islamic period". Encyclopaedia Iranica.
- Garsoian, Nina (2005). "Tigran II". Encyclopaedia Iranica.
- Romeny, R. B. ter Haar (2010). Religious Origins of Nations?: The Christian Communities of the Middle East. Brill. ISBN 9789004173750.
- Seager, Robin (2008). Pompey the Great: A Political Biography. John Wiley & Sons. ISBN 9780470775226.
- Keaveney, Arthur (1992). Lucullus: A Life. London: ISBN 9781134968558.
- Greenhalgh, P. A. L. (1981). Pompey, the Roman Alexander, Volume 1. University of Missouri Press. ISBN 9780826203359.
- Walton Dobbins, K. (1974). "Mithradates II and his Successors: A Study of the Parthian Crisis 90-70 B.C.". S2CID 151370496.
- Traina, Giusto (2013). "Tigranu, the Crown Prince of Armenia": Evidence from the Babylonian Astronomical Diaries". S2CID 159478619.
- Downey, Glanville (1962). A History of Antioch in Syria. Princeton University Press. ISBN 9781400876716.
- Sullivan, Richard (1990). Near Eastern royalty and Rome, 100-30 BC. University of Toronto Press. ISBN 9780802026828.
- Brunner, C. J. (1983). "ADRAPANA". Encyclopaedia Iranica.
- Clive, Foss (1986). "The Coinage of Tigranes the Great: Problems, Suggestions and a New Find". The Numismatic Chronicle. 146: 19–66. JSTOR 42667454.
- Christoph F., Konrad (1983). "Reges Armenii Patricios Resalutare Non Solent?". JSTOR 294542.
- Keaveney, Arthur (1981). "Roman Treaties with Parthia circa 95-circa 64 B.C". JSTOR 294311.
- Boccaccini, Gabriele (2012). "Tigranes the Great as "Nebuchadnezzar" in the Book of Judith". In Xeravits, Géza G. (ed.). A Pious Seductress: Studies in the Book of Judith. Berlin: Walter de Gruyter. pp. 55–69. ISBN 9783110279986..
- Dumitru, Adrian (2016). "Kleopatra Selene: A Look at the Moon and Her Bright Side". In Coşkun, Altay; McAuley, Alex (eds.). Seleukid Royal Women: Creation, Representation and Distortion of Hellenistic Queenship in the Seleukid Empire. Historia – Einzelschriften. Vol. 240. Franz Steiner Verlag. pp. 253–272. ISSN 0071-7665.
- ISBN 9780415239028.
- Curtis, Vesta Sarkhosh (2016). "Ancient Iranian Motifs and Zoroastrian Iconography". In Williams, Markus; Stewart, Sarah; Hintze, Almut (eds.). The Zoroastrian Flame Exploring Religion, History and Tradition. I.B. Tauris. pp. 179–203. ISBN 9780857728159.
- de Jong, Albert (2015). "Armenian and Georgian Zoroastrianism". In Stausberg, Michael; Vevaina, Yuhan Sohrab-Dinshaw; Tessmann, Anna (eds.). The Wiley Blackwell Companion to Zoroastrianism. John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
- ISBN 978-0674968509.
- S2CID 164177124.
- ISBN 9780631143727.
- Mayor, Adrienne (2009). The Poison King: The Life and Legend of Mithradates, Rome's Deadliest Enemy. Princeton University Press. pp. 1–448. ISBN 9780691150260.
- Manandyan, Hakob (2007) [1943 in Russian]. Tigranes II and Rome: A New Interpretation Based on Primary Sources. Translated by George Bournoutian. Costa Mesa, CA: Mazda Publishers.
- ISBN 978-0199733309.
- Sellwood, David (1976). "The Drachms of the Parthian "Dark Age"". The Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland. 1 (1). Cambridge University Press: 2–25. S2CID 161619682. (registration required)
- Shayegan, Rahim M. (2011), Arsacids and Sasanians: Political Ideology in Post-Hellenistic and Late Antique Persia, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, ISBN 978-0-521-76641-8
- Steel, Catherine (2013). End of the Roman Republic 146 to 44 BC: Conquest and Crisis. Edinburgh University Press.
- Russian
- Hakobyan, Hayk (1983). "Тигранакертская битва в новом освещении (The battle of Tigranocerta under new light)". ISSN 0320-8117.
- Litovchenko, Sergey (2015). "Царствование Тиграна II Великого в Сирии: проблемы хронологии (The reign of Tigranes the Great in Syria: chronology problems)". Ancient World and Archaeology. 17: 176–191. ISSN 0320-961X.
- Litovchenko, Sergey (2011). "Царство Софена в восточной политике Помпея (The kingdom of Sophene in the eastern policy of Pompey)". Drevnosti. 10: 34–40. OCLC 36974593.
- Litovchenko, Sergey (2007). Малая Армения и каппадокийские события 90-х гг. І в. до н. э. (Lesser Armenia and Cappadocian events in the 90s BC.). pp. 48–56. )
- Manandyan, Hakob (1943). Тигран Второй и Рим (Tigran II and Rome). Yerevan: Armfan.
- Manaseryan, R.L. (1982). "Процессы образования державы Тиграна II (The formation of the empire of Tigranes II)". Journal of Ancient History. 2: 122–139. ISSN 0321-0391.
- Manaseryan, R.L. (1985). "Борьба Тиграна против экспансии Рима в каппадокии 93-91 гг. до. н.э. (The struggle of Tigranes II against Roman expansion in Cappadocia)". Journal of Ancient History. 3: 109–118. ISSN 0321-0391.
- Manaseryan, R.L. (1992). "Международные отношения на Переднем Востоке в 80-70-х годах до н.э. (Тигран II и войска с берегов Аракса) International relations in the Near East. in the years 80-70 BC (Tigranes II and the troops from the banks of the Araxes)". Journal of Ancient History. 1: 152–160. ISSN 0321-0391.
- ISSN 0135-0536.
- Vardanyan, Ruben (2011). "Борьба за титул "царя царей" в контексте восточной политики Рима I века до н. э. (по нумизматическим, эпиграфическим и нарративным источникам) ։ The Fight for the "King of Kings" Title in the Context of Rome's Eastern Policy in the 1st Century B. C. ( on numismatic, epigraphic and narrative sources)". ISSN 0135-0536.
- French
- Duyrat, Frédérique (2012). "Tigrane en Syrie: un prince sans images". Cahiers des études anciennes. 49: 167–209. ISSN 0317-5065.
- ISSN 0317-5065.
- Sartre, Maurice (2014). "Syrie romaine (70 av. J.-C.-73 apr. J.-C.)". Pallas: Revue d'études antiques. 98 (96): 253–269. ISSN 0031-0387.
- Thérèse, Frankfort (1963). "La Sophène Et Rome". Latomus. 22 (2): 181–190. ISSN 0023-8856.
- German
- Engels, David (2014). "Überlegungen zur Funktion der Titel "Großkönig" und "König der Könige". In Cojocaru, Victor; Coşkun, Altay; Dana, Mădălina (eds.). Interconnectivity in the Mediterranean and Pontic World during the Hellenistic and the Roman Periods. Romania: Cluj-Napoca. pp. 333–362. ISBN 9786065435261.
- Schottky, Martin (1989). Media Atropatene und Gross-Armenien in hellenistischer Zeit. ISBN 9783774923942.
- Armenian
- Manaseryan, Ruben (2007). Տիգրան Մեծ՝ Հայկական Պայքարը Հռոմի և Պարթևաստանի Դեմ, մ.թ.ա. 94–64 թթ [Tigran the Great: The Armenian Struggle Against Rome and Parthia, 94–64 B.C.] (in Armenian). Yerevan: Lusakan Publishing.