Research Notes:

Currently, Tigranes I is assumed to be the successor and brother of Artavasdes I ... and the son of Artaxias I. Manandian, citing Strabo, mentions that Tigranes I put a strong resistance against the Parthians and successfully defended Armenia. Armenian historian Movses Khorenatsi in his work mentions a Tiran, "son of Artaxias and brother of Artavasdes", who has been identified as Tigranes I. According to Khorenatsi, after the death of Artaxias I and against his wishes, the priests of the Vahuni family moved the gold-plated copper statue of Heracles from Armavir to their own temple-complex in Ashtishat. Once Tigranes I assumed the throne, he stripped Vahunis of priesthood and converted Ashtishat into a royal domain.

After his death, Tigranes II, who was given as hostage to the Parthians by Artavasdes I, returned from his captivity in Parthia and assumed the throne. According to Appian, Tigranes II was the son Tigranes I. This view has also been supported by modern research.

Barring the conflict with Parthians, the reign of Tigranes I has been described as generally peaceful and devoid of major external events.

Several copper coins have been attributed to Tigranes I, which for the most part have survived in a very bad condition. A unique feature of Tigranes I's coins is that on them he is facing left: this has helped in distinguishing his coins from that of his son Tigranes II. This is also a deviation from all other coins of subsequent Artaxiads, on which the kings face right. One possible explanation is that Tigranes I tried to emulate the Parthian custom, which was the result of a strong cultural and political alignment with the Parthian Empire at the time. Whereas Tigranes II and his successors encouraged the hellenization of Armenia and depicted themselves after the Greek and Seleucid custom.... ¹