This is a list of the monarchs of Armenia, rulers of the ancient Kingdom of Armenia (331 BC – AD 428), the medieval Kingdom of Armenia (884–1045), various lesser Armenian kingdoms (908–1170), and finally the Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia (1198–1375). The list also includes prominent vassal princes and lords who ruled during times without an Armenian kingdom, as well as later claimants to the position.
Ancient Armenia (521 BC – AD 428)
Early satraps (521–401 BC)
Hydarnes I, satrap in the late 6th century BC?, granted Armenia by the Achaemenid king Darius I as a semi-hereditary satrapy Hydarnes II, satrap in the early 5th century BC? Hydarnes III, satrap in the middle of the 5th century BC Terituchmes, satrap in the second half of the 5th century BC
Orontid dynasty (401–200 BC)
PortraitNameReignSuccessionLife detailsOrontes I 401–344 BC (satrap)(c. 57 years)Made satrap of Armenia under the Achaemenid king Artaxerxes II. Governed virtually autonomously.Orontes II 344–331 BC (satrap)(c. 13 years) 331 BC (king)(c. less than a year)Died fighting on the side of the Achaemenid Empire against Alexander the Great at the Battle of GaugamelaMithrenes 331–317 BC(c. 14 years)Son of Orontes II, defected to join Alexander the Great and named the new ruler of Armenia by Alexander after his father's deathNeoptolemus323–321 BC (satrap)(2 years)Orontes III 317–260 BC(c. 57 years)Sames 260 BC(less than a year)Arsames 260–228 BC(c. 32 years)Xerxes 228–212 BC(c. 16 years)Orontes IV 212–200 BC(c. 12 years)
Artaxiad dynasty (200 BC–AD 2/12)
PortraitNameReignSuccessionLife detailsArtaxias I 190–130 BC(c. 30 years)Unclear succession. According to Strabo, Artaxias I was a general under the Seleucid king Antiochus III who seized power in Armenia, but according to Artaxias's own inscriptions he appears to have been part of a junior line of the Orontid dynasty.Artavasdes 160–115 BC(c. 45 years)Tigranes I 120–95 BC(c. 35 years; disputed)Tigranes II "the Great" 95–55 BC(c. 40 years)Artavasdes II 55–34 BC(c. 21 years)Artaxias II 34–20 BC(c. 14 years)Tigranes III 20–8 BC(c. 12 years)Tigranes IV 8–5 BC (first), 2 BC–AD 1 (second)(c. 5 years)Erato 8–5 BC (first), 2 BC–AD 2 (second), 6–12 AD (third)(c. 13 years)Artavasdes III5–2 BC
Non-dynastic rulers (2–61)
The first century AD was a time of intense conflict between the Roman and Parthian empires. In Armenia, this resulted in rapid appointments and depositions of Armenian client kings by both sides.
Ariobarzanes, 2–4, a Median prince and matrilineal descendant of Tigranes II Artavasdes IV, 4–6, son of Ariobarzanes Tigranes V, 6–12, a Herodian prince Vonones, 12–18, former king of the Parthian Empire Artaxias III, 18–34, a Pontic prince Arsaces (Arshak I), 34–35, son of the Parthian king Artabanus II Mithridates (first reign), 35–37, brother of the Iberian king Pharasmanes I Orodes, 37–41, son of the Parthian king Artabanus II Mithridates (second reign), 41–52 Rhadamistus, 52–54, son of the Iberian king Pharasmanes I Tiridates I (first reign), 54–58, son of the Parthian king Vonones II Tigranes VI, 58–61/62, nephew of Tigranes V
Arsacid dynasty (61–428)
Tiridates I (second reign), c. 61/66–c. 75/88 Sanatruk, c. 75/88–c. 110, son of Tiridates I? Axidares, c. 110–c. 112, son of the Parthian king Pacorus II Parthamasiris, c. 112–c. 114, son of the Parthian king Pacorus II Interregnum 114–117: Armenia is temporarily incorporated as a province of the Roman Empire Vologases I, 117–144, son of Sanatruk Sohaemus (first reign), 144–160, a Roman consul with Arsacid and Achaemenid heritage Aurelius Pacorus, 160–163, son of the Parthian king Vologases IV Sohaemus (second reign), 164–c. 180 Vologases II, c. 180–190, son of the Parthian king Vologases IV, later ruled Parthia (as Vologases V) 190–208 Khosrov I, c. 190–214/216, son of Vologases II Tiridates II, 217–252, son of Khosrov I Hormizd-Ardashir, 252/253– c. 270, son of the Sasanian king Shapur I; made king of Armenia by his father after the Sasanians conquered the kingdom, later king of the Sasanian Empire (as Hormizd I) Narseh, c. 270–293, brother of Hormizd-Ardashir, later king of the Sasanian Empire Khosrov II, 279/280–287 (in western Armenia), son of Tiridates II?, enthroned by the Romans after Narseh ceded parts of western Armenia to Emperor Probus Tiridates (III), 287–298, brother of Khosrov II, initially king of only western Armenia but later granted the rest of the kingdom after Narseh became king of the Sasanian Empire Tiridates III (or IV) "the Great", 298–330, son of Khosrov II Khosrov III "the Small", 330–338, son of Tiridates III Sanesan, a Sasanian-backed usurper belonging to the Arsacid dynasty, held much of Armenia for about a year in circa 336. Hannibalianus, son of Roman emperor Constantine I, was nominated by the Romans as king of Armenia in 335/336 but died in 337 without Khosrov III having been displaced. Tiran (Tigranes VII), 338–350, son of Khosrov III Arshak II, 350–368, son of Tiran Pap, 368–374, son of Arshak II Varazdat, 374–378, nephew of Pap (perhaps son of Pap's younger brother, Tiridates) Arshak III, c. 378–387 and Vologases III, c. 378–386, sons of Pap
In 384, the Sasanian Empire appointed Khosrov IV as Armenian king, in opposition to the Roman-supported Arshak III. This resulted in Armenia becoming informally divided under the two kings. In 387, the division was made formal through an agreement between the Roman emperor Theodosius I and Sasanian king Shapur III. The agreement saw Armenia be partitioned into a western (under Roman influence) and an eastern (under Sasanian influence) kingdom.
Western Armenia (387–389)
Arshak III, 387–c. 389, former king of all of Armenia
Upon the death of Arshak III in 389, Emperor Theodosius I chose to not appoint another king, ending the western kingdom. Arshak's lands were instead incorporated into the Roman Empire.
Eastern Armenia (384–428)
Khosrov IV, 384–389, son of Varazdat? Vramshapuh, 389/401–417, son of Varazdat? Khosrov V, 417–418, possibly the same person as Khosrov IV Shapur, 418–422, son of the Sasanian king Yazdegerd I, later king of the Sasanian Empire (as Shapur IV) Artaxias IV, 422–428, son of Vramshapuh
In 428, the Sasanian king Bahram V deposed Artaxias IV, with the permission of the Armenian nobility, and annexed his lands into the Sasanian Empire.
Vassal lords and princes (428–884)
Marzbāns in Sasanian Armenia (428–646)
The Sasanian-ruled Armenian territories were after 428 placed under the rule of an official with the title marzbān (governor-general or viceroy). The first marzbān, appointed by Bahram V, was the military officer Veh Mihr Shapur.
The list of marzbāns is not entirely contiguous. This is due to gaps in the historical record as well as there having been periods without any appointed marzbāns. It was relatively common for the office to be vacant since the Sasanian Empire periodically tried to assert more direct control.
Veh Mihr Shapur, marzbān 428–442, Sasanian military officer Vasak Siwni, marzbān c. 442–451, Armenian noble Adhur Hormizd, marzbān c. 452–465 Adhur Gushnasp, marzbān 465–482 Sahak II Bagratuni, insurgent marzbān 482–483, Armenian noble Vahan I Mamikonian, autonomous marzbān 485–505/510, Armenian noble Vard Mamikonian, autonomous marzbān 505/510–509/514, Armenian noble Mjej I Gnuni, marzbān 518–548, Armenian noble Philip Siwni, marzbān 574–576, Armenian noble Mushegh II Mamikonian, marzbān 591?, Armenian noble Varaztirots II Bagratuni, marzbān 628 – after 631, Armenian noble
Presiding princes of Armenia (628–884)
In the sixth century, the Byzantine Empire established the position of presiding prince of Armenia (formally "prince of the Armenians"). This office was created in an attempt to legitimize a local vassal leader with Byzantine backing and counteract Sasanian efforts in the region. During later centuries, the princes often wavered in allegiance between Byzantium and the Islamic Caliphates, who competed over influence in the region. The princes were most often autonomous tributary vassals. The earliest known presiding prince of Armenia is Mjej II Gnuni, appointed by the Byzantines in the early seventh century.
Mjej II Gnuni, 628–635 (for the Byzantine Empire) David Saharuni, 635–638 (for the Byzantine Empire) Theodore Rshtuni (first time), 638–c. 645 (for the Byzantine Empire) Varaztirots II Bagratuni, c. 645 (for the Byzantine Empire) Theodore Rshtuni (second time), 645–653 (for the Byzantine Empire), 653–655 (for the Rashidun Caliphate) Mushegh IV Mamikonian, 654 (for the Byzantine Empire) Hamazasp Mamikonian, 655–657 (for the Rashidun Caliphate), 657–658 (for the Byzantine Empire) Grigor I Mamikonian, 662–684/685 (for the Umayyad Caliphate) Ashot II Bagratuni, 686–689/690 (for the Umayyad Caliphate) Nerseh Kamsarakan, 689/690–691 (for the Byzantine Empire) Smbat VI Bagratuni, 691–697; 700–711 (for the Byzantine Empire), 697–700 (for the Umayyad Caliphate) Ashot III Bagratuni "the Blind", 732–748 (for the Umayyad Caliphate) Grigor II Mamikonian, 748–750 (for the Umayyad Caliphate) Mushegh VI Mamikonian, c. 750; head of insurgent members of the nobility Sahak III Bagratuni, c. 755–761 (for the Abbasid Caliphate) Smbat VII Bagratuni, 761–772 (for the Abbasid Caliphate) Tatzates Andzevatsi, 780–782/785 (for the Abbasid Caliphate) Ashot IV Bagratuni "the Carnivorous", 806–826 (for the Abbasid Caliphate) Smbat VIII Bagratuni "the Confessor", 826–855 (for the Abbasid Caliphate) Bagrat II Bagratuni, "Prince of Princes" 830–852 (for the Abbasid Caliphate) Ashot V Bagratuni "the Great", 856–884 (for the Abbasid Caliphate); "Prince of Princes" in 856 and king in 884
Restored kingdom (884–1045)
Bagratuni dynasty (884–1045)
After more than four centuries of dormancy, the Armenian kingdom was restored under the Bagratuni dynasty, from which several presiding princes had hailed. The Abbasid caliphs were prominent supporters of the Bagratuni princes gaining power over other Armenian nobles due to fears of Byzantine influence in the region. In 884, Prince Ashot V Bagratuni was crowned king (as Ashot I) by his peers. Ashot's new position was recognised by both the Byzantine Empire and the Abbasid Caliphate; Emperor Basil I and Caliph Al-Mu'tamid each sent him a royal crown.
Ashot I "the Great", 884–890, previously prince Smbat I "the Martyr", 890–913, son of Ashot I Ashot II "the Iron", 914–928, son of Smbat I Ashot of Bagaran, c. 915–920; usurper installed by Yusuf Ibn Abi'l-Saj Abas I, 928–953, son of Smbat I Ashot III "the Merciful", 953–977, son of Abas I Smbat II "the Conqueror", 977–989, son of Ashot III Gagik I, 989–1017/1020, son of Ashot III Hovhannes-Smbat III, 1017/1020–1040/1041 (in Ani), son of Gagik I Ashot IV "the Valiant", 1017/1020–1040/1041 (in Talin), son of Gagik I Gargis of Ani (usurper) 1040/1041–1042 Gagik II, 1042–1045, son of Ashot IV
The Bagratid kingdom and its capital of Ani was conquered by the Byzantine Empire under Emperor Constantine IX Monomachos in 1045.
Lesser medieval Armenian kingdoms
Vaspurakan, Artsruni dynasty (908–1021)
The Artsruni family ruled in Vaspurakan as princes under the Bagratuni kings. The Artsruni family revolted after King Smbat ceded some of the Artsruni lands to the nearby princes of Syunik. Shortly thereafter, in 908, Vaspurakan became a separate kingdom with Gagik Artsruni's recognition as a king by Abbasid caliph.
Gagik Artsruni, 908–937/943 Derenik-Ashot Artsruni, 937/943–953, son of Gagik Abusahl-Hamazasp Artsruni, 953–969/972, son of Gagik Ashot-Sahak Artsruni, 969/972–991, son of Abusahl-Hamazasp Gurgen-Khachik Artsruni, 991–1003, son of Abusahl-Hamazasp Senekerim-Hovhannes Artsruni, 1003–1021, son of Abusahl-Hamazasp