Vagharsh IV ARŠAKUNI, King of Parthia
(-191)
Parsman III K'UJISUNI, King of Iberia
(134-185)
Vagharsh II (V) ARŠAKUNI, King of Armenia & Parthia
(-207/8)
Unnamed K'UJISUNI, Princess of Iberia
(-)
Khosrov I ARŠAKUNI, King of Armenia
(-217)

 

Family Links

Spouses/Children:
Unknown

Khosrov I ARŠAKUNI, King of Armenia

  • Married:
  • Died: 217

  Orthographic variations: Khosraw / Khusrau / Chosroes / Xosrov

  Research Notes:

Khosrov, who ruled during the time of the Roman Emperors Septimus Severus and Caracalla, had to face renewed Roman expansion in Mesopotamia. Caracalla soon captured Khosrov, and then sent Roman officials to govern Armenia. Neither Rome nor Persia, however, expected what followed: the Armenians rose up in arms and even defeated the Roman general sent to quell them. The Armenian population was by the early third century, apparently tired of Roman interference in their affairs. More importantly, the Arsacid rulers who had remained in Armenia for long periods of time had become Armenian and considered Armenia their homeland. Meanwhile, the Armenians, accepting Parthian customs and finding their language similar to their own, and Parthian rule more lenient, favored the Parthians over the Romans. Following a new agreement between Rome and Persia, Khosrov’s son, Trdat II (217-252), was crowned King of Armenia. 1

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In ... 195 CE, the Roman emperor Septimius Severus invaded the Parthian Empire, focusing on the cities of Edessa and Nisibis, in the border area between Parthia and Armenia. Two years later, he launched a second attack on the Parthians, which culminated in the sack of their capital Ctesiphon. He also wanted to conquer Armenia, although this country was probably loyal to Rome.... The Greco-Roman author Herodian writes:

But the king of the Armenians forestalled him by sending money, gifts, and hostages to support his plea for peace and by promising pacts and good will. [Herodian, History of the Roman Empire 3.9.2.]

The name of this anonymous king has been deduced from a Greek graffito, found in a tomb in the Valley of Kings near the South-Egyptian city of Thebes. Its discoverer, Henry Salt, did not record the precise location; it was published by Jean-Antoine Letronne under the header "sans désignation des syringes ou elles se trouvent".

Χοσροῆς Ἂρμένιος ἴδὼν ἐθαύμασα
I, the Armenian Chosroes, was amazed when I saw this. [CIG 4821.]

Although the name "Chosroes" (also written as Osroes) is indeed a royal name in the Arsacid family, there is no reason to assume that this undated inscription refers to the anonymous king who saved Armenia.

If this king was the father of Tiridates II, he was at some point in control of pieces of Cappadocia and received Roman payments. [Cassius Dio, Roman History 79.27.]

That Armenia was, under normal circumstances, loyal to the Romans, may be deduced from the fact that there was a garrison, consisting of legionaries of XV Apollinaris. An inscription from Vagharshapat documents both the emperor Commodus (r.180-192) and a damnatio memoriae, which must have taken place at a later moment, perhaps during the reign of "Chosroes". 2

  Marriage Information:

Khosrov married . . . . . . .

Sources


1 A Concise History of the Armenian People, George A. Bournoutian, 5th ed., 2006, p. 44 (PDF).

2 Livius.org. Articles on ancient history, "Chosroes".


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