Vahan I Mamikonian
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| Vahan II Mamikonian Վահան Ա Մամիկոնյան | |
|---|---|
 Artwork of Vahan II | |
| 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 II 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. He was appointed 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 inaugurating 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 II, 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 friend of childhood 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 are gold mines, a charge to which he responds by making spontaneously Ctesiphon with a large amount.[5]
Revolt
In the aftermath of battle of Avarayr, the Armenians were constantly ordered by the Sasanians to go to distant military expeditions, and are also required to accept the growing power of the apostasy. In this context, the appeal positively received the revolt of Vakhtang I of Iberia (r. 447/449 - 502/522), who had rebelled against the Persians. Vahan II hesitated to join the rebellion in 481,[6] requiring other rebels did oath on the cross of the Gospel to remain faithful to the covenant he then proclaimed Spahbed. The oath is, however, reported directly to Varaz-Shapur Amatuni marzpan, Adhur Gushnasp who abandoned Dvin, the capital, and took refuge first in Artaxata and then in Persia; Vahan II replaced it with Isaac II Bagratuni, at that time one aspet ("cavalry commander"). However, Adhur Gushnasp led a force 7000 Knights against the insurgents, who were defeated by 400 horsemen led by Vahan II in battle Akori (northern slope of Ararat), the marzban was also killed. Baanes hitherto remained in Dvin in defense of the capital, but in early 483 met reinforcements Persians, defeating them at the Battle of Nersehapat in Artaz (region of Maku.)
Vahan II then received a letter from Vakhtang who was with his troops near the Kura river to find the Sasanian army under Shapur Mihran. Crazed by the lack of promised reinforcements, the Armenians were defeated in 483 at the battle of Akesga that among other consequences, caused the death of Isaac and Vasak Mamikonian Bagratuni II. Vahan II then went to Tao while Shapur Mihran was returning to Ctesiphon, allowing Armenians regain control of the Arax river during winter. In the spring of 484, Shapur Mihran returns as head of a new army and forces Vahan II to go to refuge near the Byzantine frontier, at Tao and Taron.[7]
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 Zariadres, 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 II was also recognized as Spahbed and the property of the Mamikonian family and its allies were returned.
During the same period, Vahan II was appointed as marzban in 485, and appointed his brother Vard as Spahbed. According to catholicoi John I Mandacuni and Babgeno, Christianity flourished during his reign; 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 II along with Vatchagan III, King of Albania,[8] repelled an Hephthalite incursion. Vahan II later died between 503 and 510 and was succeeded by his brother Vard Mamaikonian. According to Cyril Toumanoff, Vahan II Mamikonian hypothetically would have been the father of Artavasdes, the father of Samuel I, Spahbed at 555.[9]
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. 223)
- ^ (Dédéyan 2007, p. 193)
- ^ (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.
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- Grousset, René (1947). Histoire de l’Arménie des origines à 1071. Paris.
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- Jacobus, Donald Lines (1993). The American Genealogist, Volumes 68-69. Universidade de Wisconsin - Madison: D.L. Jacobus.
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- Mutafian, Claude (2005). Atlas historique de l'Arménie. Autrement. ISBN 978-2746701007.
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- 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.
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- Toumanoff, Cyril (1990). As dinastias do Cáucaso cristão na Antiguidade ao século XIX: tabelas genealógicas e cronológicas. Rome.
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- Yarshater, Ehsan (1983). The Cambridge History of Iran: The Seleucid, Parthian, and Sasanian periods. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 052120092X.
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