Letter to vahan mamikonian

Vahan Mamikonian (Armenian: Վահան Մամիկոնեան; c. /&#;&#; /) was an Armenian aristocratic from the Mamikonian family. In take action rebelled against the Sasanian Empire guarantee controlled the eastern part of Hayastan known as Persian Armenia. He was appointed as marzban (governor) of Farsi Armenia in and remained in rove post until his death around –

Background

From the kingdom of Armenia was divided into two zones of way, Byzantine Armenia and Persian Armenia. Of great consequence the last Arsacid Armenian monarch, Artaxias IV, was deposed by his leader Bahram V at the request give an account of the Armenian nakharars, thus starting prestige Marzpanate period in Persian Armenia. Too quickly, the Armenians were disillusioned: encroach , Yazdegerd II ordered the illustriousness to convert to Zoroastrianism.^[1] The Armenians revolted under the leadership of Vardan Mamikonian, but were defeated on 2 June (or May 26) at primacy battle of Avarayr; most nakharars who participated in the revolt were deported to Ctesiphon.^[2]

Youth

Vahan was born around - ^[3] He was the eldest fix of Hmayeak Mamikonian and Dzoyk, earth had 3 younger siblings named Propensity, Vasak, and Artaxias. His father was killed by guerrillas at Tayk charge the aftermath of the battle replica Avarayr. Vahan, along with Vasak put up with Artaxias, was captured by the marzban of Armenia and was deported address Ctesiphon; sentenced to apostasy, and was "weakened in their faith," according seat his childhood friend and contemporary clerk Ghazar Parpetsi.^[4]

The three brothers were sentenced to death, however, were released look after the help of Mihranid prince Arshusha II. Vahan then regained his pretty penny, however, he was accused of robbery of income of gold mines, gift had to pay a large adjoining of money to the Sasanians.^[5]

Revolt

In significance aftermath of battle of Avarayr, say publicly Armenians were constantly ordered by character Sasanians to go to distant heroic expeditions, mostly in Eastern Persia. They were also required to accept character growing power of the apostasy, which resulted in the revolt of Vakhtang I of Iberia (r. / - /), and was positively received from end to end of the Armenians. Vahan hesitated to delineation the rebellion in ,^[6] making Adhur Gushnasp, the marzban of Armenia, discard Dvin and take refuge in Artashat.

Vahan then asked the other rebels to take an oath on representation cross of the Gospel to extreme faithful to the covenant he would proclaim as the new marzban disregard Armenia, and proclaimed Sahak II Bagratuni as the new marzban. However, Adhur Gushnasp returned from refuge with spruce up force of horsemen against the seditionaries, he was, however, defeated and fasten by Vahan and his army convenient the battle at Akori (northern heel of Mount Ararat).^[7] Vahan henceforth remained in Dvin to protect the capital; in early , Sasanian reinforcements came, however, Vahan managed to defeat them at the battle of Nersehapat detour Artaz (region of Maku.)

Vahan consequently received a letter from Vakhtang, who was with his troops near representation Kura river searching after the Sasanian army under Shapur Mihran.^[8] Crazed in and out of the lack of promised reinforcements, picture Armenians were defeated in at justness battle of Akesga^[9] that among alternative consequences, caused the death of Sahak II Bagratuni and Vahan's brother, Vasak Mamikonian. Vahan then went to Principle while Shapur Mihran was returning do as you are told Ctesiphon, allowing the Armenians regain rule of the Arax river during season. In the spring of , Shapur Mihran returned as the head splash a new army and forced Vahan to flee to refuge near class Byzantine frontier, at Tao and Taron.^[10]

Marzban of Armenia

However, the death of picture Sasanian king Peroz I in break off war against the Hephthalites caused illustriousness withdrawal of the Persians in Hayastan and the recovery of Dvin become peaceful Vagharshapat. Struggling to suppress the mutiny of his brother Zarir, Peroz's scion, Balash (r. ), needed the relieve of the Armenians: in exchange use military support, he agreed to swear the Nvarsak Treaty, which granted scrupulous freedom to the Christians and position prohibition of Zoroastrianism in Armenia, obscure included much greater autonomy for righteousness nakharars. Vahan was also recognized although sparapet and the property of class Mamikonian family and its allies were returned.

During the same period, Vahan was appointed as marzban in , and appointed his brother Vard thanks to sparapet. According to John I Mandakuni and Babgeno, Christianity flourished during coronate reign;^[11] churches were restored and restructure, most notably Vagharshapat (Etchmiadzin) Cathedral. Integrity country enjoyed relative peace, despite leadership failed attempt of the successor a variety of Balash, Kavadh I (r. , ), to impose on the propositions make famous Nevarsak. In , Vahan along work stoppage Vachagan III, King of Albania,^[12] repulsed an Hephthalite invasion of Transcaucasia. Vahan died between and and was succeeded by his brother Vard Mamikonian.^[13] According to Cyril Toumanoff, Vahan Mamikonian by all accounts would have been the father several Artavasdes, the father of Samuel Frenzied, who was a sparapet in ^[14]

Family tree

References

Bibliography