Urnayr
| Urnayr | |
|---|---|
| King of Vache I | |
| Successor | Vachagan II |
| Spouse | Daughter of Shapur II |
| Issue | Aswagen |
| House | Arsacid |
| Mother | Sasanian princess |
Urnayr (attested only as
Vache I
(r. 336–350).
Biography
The
shahanshah) Narseh (r. 293–303) and the Roman emperor Diocletian had ended disastrously for the Sasanians, who ceded them huge chunks of their territory, including the Caucasian kingdoms of Armenia and Iberia.[2] The Sasanians would not take part in the political affairs of the Caucasus for almost 40 years.[2]
The modern historian
battle of Bagrevand in 372, where he was injured by the Armenian general Mushegh I Mamikonian, who spared him.[5][6] When Urnayr returned to Albania, he sent a message to Mushegh thanking him for sparing his life, and also informed him of a surprise attack planned by Shapur II.[7] Urnayr was succeeded by Vachagan II in c. 375.[1]
Conversion to Christianity
According to a legend, Urnayr accepted Christianity as state religion of Caucasian Albania in 313 thanks to efforts of Tiridates III of Armenia and Gregory the Illuminator. However, researchers Wolfgang Schulze, Zaza Alexidze and Jost Gippert argued this is unlikely given Urnayr's political career, as well as his contemporariness with Pap of Armenia. It is most likely a later addition to the tradition.[8]
References
- ^ a b Gadjiev 2020, p. 33.
- ^ a b c d Gadjiev 2020, p. 31.
- ^ Gadjiev 2020, pp. 32–33.
- ^ Gadjiev 2020, p. 32.
- ^ Gadjiev 2020, p. 30.
- ^ Chaumont 1985, pp. 806–810.
- ^ Faustus of Byzantium, History of the Armenians, Book Four, Chapter 5
- OCLC 319126785.
Bibliography
Ancient works
- Faustus of Byzantium, History of the Armenians.
Modern works
- 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.