Vahan I Mamikonian: Difference between revisions
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==Marzban of Armenia== |
==Marzban of Armenia== |
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However, an unexpected event changed the course of events: the death of the Sasanian king [[Peroz I]] in 484 in war against the [[Hephthalites]], causing the withdrawal of the Persians in Armenia and recovery of [[Dvin]] and Vagarsapat. Struggling to suppress the revolt |
However, an unexpected event changed the course of events: the death of the Sasanian king [[Peroz I]] in 484 in war against the [[Hephthalites]], causing the withdrawal of the Persians in Armenia and recovery of [[Dvin]] and Vagarsapat. Struggling to suppress the revolt of his brother Zareh, Peroz's successor, [[Balash]] (r. 484-488), needed the help of the Armenians: in exchange for military support, he agreed to sign the [[Nvarsak Treaty]], which granted religious freedom to the Christians and the prohibition of [[Zoroastrianism]] in Armenia, including much greater autonomy for the [[Nakharar]]. Vahan was also recognized as [[Spahbed]] and the property of the Mamikonian family and its allies were returned. |
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During the same period, Vahan was appointed as [[marzban]] in 485, and appointed his brother Vard as [[Spahbed]]. According to |
During the same period, Vahan was appointed as [[marzban]] in 485, and appointed his brother Vard as [[Spahbed]]. According to John I Mandacuni and Babgeno, Christianity flourished during his reign<ref>{{harv|name=Dedey194|Dédéyan|2007|p=194}}</ref>; churches were restored, and the the church of St. Gregory was enlarged. The Cathedral Vagarsapat was also rebuilt. The country enjoyed relative peace, despite the failed attempt of the successor [[Balash]], [[Kavadh I]] (r. 488-496, 499-531), to impose on the propositions Nevarsak. In 489, Vahan along with Vatchagan III, King of [[Caucasian Albania|Albania]],<ref>{{harv|Dédéyan|2007|p=193}}</ref> repelled an [[Hephthalites|Hephthalite]] invasion of [[Transcaucasia]]. Vahan later died between 503 and 510 and was succeeded by his brother Vard Mamaikonian.<ref>{{harv|Dédéyan|2007|p=195}}</ref> According to [[Cyril Toumanoff]], Vahan Mamikonian hypothetically would have been the father of Artavasdes, the father of Samuel I, [[Spahbed]] at 555.<ref>{{harv|Toumanoff|1990|p=333}}</ref> |
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==Family tree== |
==Family tree== |
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| Vahan I Mamikonian Վահան Ա Մամիկոնյան | |
|---|---|
 Artwork of Vahan I | |
| Marzban of Persian Armenia | |
| Reign | 485 - 510 |
| Predecessor | Shapur of Ray |
| Successor | Vard Mamikonian |
| Born | 440-445 |
| Died | 503-510 |
| House | House of Mamikonian |
| Father | Hmayeak Mamikonian |
| Mother | Dzoyk Arçrouni |
| Religion | Christianity |
Vahan I Mamikonian (Armenian: Վահան Ա Մամիկոնյան) (born between 440-445 and died between 503-510) was an Armenian nobleman from the Mamikonian family. In 481 he rebelled against the Sasanian Empire that controlled the eastern part of Armenia known as Persian Armenia. He was appointed as marzban (governor) of Persian Armenia in 485, and would remain that until his death around 503-510.
Background
Since 387, the kingdom of Armenia was divided into two zones of influence, Byzantine Armenia and Persian Armenia. In addition, in 428, the the last Arsacid monarch, Artaxias IV, was desposed by his overlord Bahram V at the request of the Armenian Nakharar's, thus starting the Marzpanate period in Persian Armenia. Very quickly, the Armenians disillusioned: in 449, Yazdegerd II ordered the nobility to convert to Zoroastrianism.[1] The Armenians revolted under the leadership of Vardan Mamikonian, but were defeated on 2 June 451 (or May 26) at the battle of Avarayr; most Nakharar's who participated in the revolt were deported to Ctesiphon.[2]
Biography
Youth
Vahan was born around 440 - 445.[3] He was the eldest son of Hmayeak Mamikonian and Dzoyk, he had 3 younger siblings named Vard, Vasak, and Artaxias. His father was killed by guerrillas at Tao in the aftermath of the battle of Avarayr. Vahan, along with Vasak and Artaxias, was captured by the marzban of Armenia and was deported to Ctesiphon; sentenced to apostasy, and was "weakened in their faith," according to his childhood friend and contemporary historian Ghazar Parpetsi.[4]
The three brothers were sentenced to death, however, were released with the help of margrave of Gugark. Vahan then regained his possessions, however, he was accused of misappropriation of income of gold mines, a charge to which he responds by making spontaneously Ctesiphon with a large sum.[5]
Revolt
In the aftermath of battle of Avarayr, the Armenians were constantly ordered by the Sasanians to go to distant military expeditions, mostly in Eastern Persia. They were also required to accept the growing power of the apostasy, which resulted in the revolt of Vakhtang I of Iberia (r. 447/449 - 502/522), and was positively received by the Armenians. Vahan hesitated to join the rebellion in 481,[6] requiring other rebels to take an oath on the cross of the Gospel to remain faithful to the covenant he then proclaimed Spahbed. The oath was, however, reported directly to Varaz-Shapur Amatuni marzpan, Adhur Gushnasp who abandoned Dvin, the capital, and took refuge first in Artashat and then in Persia; Vahan replaced it with Isaac II Bagratuni, at that time one aspet ("cavalry commander"). However, Adhur Gushnasp led a force of 7000 horsemen against the insurgents, who were defeated by 400 horsemen led by Vahan in battle at Akori (northern slope of Ararat),[7] Adhur Gushnasp was killed during the battle. Vahan hitherto remained in Dvin to protect the capital, in early 483, the Persian reinforcements came, however, Vahan managed to defeat them at the battle of Nersehapat in Artaz (region of Maku.)
Vahan then received a letter from Vakhtang, who was with his troops near the Kura river searching after the Sasanian army under Shapur Mihran.[8] Crazed by the lack of promised reinforcements, the Armenians were defeated in 483 at the battle of Akesga[9] that among other consequences, caused the death of Isaac and Vasak Mamikonian Bagratuni II. Vahan then went to Tao while Shapur Mihran was returning to Ctesiphon, allowing the Armenians regain control of the Arax river during winter. In the spring of 484, Shapur Mihran returns as the head of an new army and forces Vahan to flee to refuge near the Byzantine frontier, at Tao and Taron.[10]
Marzban of Armenia
However, an unexpected event changed the course of events: the death of the Sasanian king Peroz I in 484 in war against the Hephthalites, causing the withdrawal of the Persians in Armenia and recovery of Dvin and Vagarsapat. Struggling to suppress the revolt of his brother Zareh, Peroz's successor, Balash (r. 484-488), needed the help of the Armenians: in exchange for military support, he agreed to sign the Nvarsak Treaty, which granted religious freedom to the Christians and the prohibition of Zoroastrianism in Armenia, including much greater autonomy for the Nakharar. Vahan was also recognized as Spahbed and the property of the Mamikonian family and its allies were returned.
During the same period, Vahan was appointed as marzban in 485, and appointed his brother Vard as Spahbed. According to John I Mandacuni and Babgeno, Christianity flourished during his reign[11]; churches were restored, and the the church of St. Gregory was enlarged. The Cathedral Vagarsapat was also rebuilt. The country enjoyed relative peace, despite the failed attempt of the successor Balash, Kavadh I (r. 488-496, 499-531), to impose on the propositions Nevarsak. In 489, Vahan along with Vatchagan III, King of Albania,[12] repelled an Hephthalite invasion of Transcaucasia. Vahan later died between 503 and 510 and was succeeded by his brother Vard Mamaikonian.[13] According to Cyril Toumanoff, Vahan Mamikonian hypothetically would have been the father of Artavasdes, the father of Samuel I, Spahbed at 555.[14]
Family tree
| Hmayeak Mamikonian | Dzoyk Arçrouni | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Artaxias | Vasak | Vahan II Mamikonian | Vard | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Artavasdes | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Samuel | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
References
- ^ Dédéyan 2007, p. 187
- ^ Dédéyan 2007, p. 190
- ^ Settipani 2006, p. 309-310.
- ^ Grousset 1947, p. 215.
- ^ Dédéyan 2007, p. 192.
- ^ (Grousset 1947, p. 217)
- ^ (Grousset 1947, p. 218)
- ^ (Dédéyan 2007, p. 193)
- ^ (Grousset 1947, p. 221)
- ^ (Grousset 1947, p. 223)
- ^ (Dédéyan 2007, p. 194)
- ^ (Dédéyan 2007, p. 193)
- ^ (Dédéyan 2007, p. 195)
- ^ (Toumanoff 1990, p. 333)
Bibliography
- Dédéyan, Gérard (2007). History of the Armenian people. Tolosa: Privat. ISBN 978-2-7089-6874-5.
{{cite book}}: Invalid|ref=harv(help) - Donabédian, Patrick (1987). Les arts arméniens. Paris: Éditions Mazenod. ISBN 2-85088-017-5.
{{cite book}}: Invalid|ref=harv(help); Unknown parameter|coauthor=ignored (|author=suggested) (help)
- Grousset, René (1947). Histoire de l’Arménie des origines à 1071. Paris.
{{cite book}}: Invalid|ref=harv(help)CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
- Jacobus, Donald Lines (1993). The American Genealogist, Volumes 68-69. Universidade de Wisconsin - Madison: D.L. Jacobus.
{{cite book}}: Invalid|ref=harv(help)
- Mutafian, Claude (2005). Atlas historique de l'Arménie. Autrement. ISBN 978-2746701007.
{{cite book}}: Invalid|ref=harv(help); Unknown parameter|coauthor=ignored (|author=suggested) (help)
- Settipani, Christian (2006). Continuité des élites à Byzance durant les siècles obscurs. Les princes caucasiens et l'Empire du vie au ixe siècle. Paris: de Boccard. ISBN 978-2-7018-0226-8.
{{cite book}}: Invalid|ref=harv(help)
- Toumanoff, Cyril (1990). As dinastias do Cáucaso cristão na Antiguidade ao século XIX: tabelas genealógicas e cronológicas. Rome.
{{cite book}}: Invalid|ref=harv(help)CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
- Yarshater, Ehsan (1983). The Cambridge History of Iran: The Seleucid, Parthian, and Sasanian periods. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 052120092X.
{{cite book}}: Invalid|ref=harv(help)