Map Close  
Person info Close  
Information Close  
Source reference Close  
  Svenska
 
Index

Armenia

The Urartu Civilisation

Victory for Independence

Artashisian Dynasty on the Armenian Throne

Armenia caught between Rome and the Arsacids

The Acceptance of Christianity

Defending Christianity

Armenia Under the Bagratouni Dynasty

Cilicia - the New Armenia

Armenia Under Turanian Rule

The Renaissance or the Resurrection of Armenia

The Eastern Question

Russia in the Caucasus

The Armenian Question

Battle on Two Fronts

Tsarist Russia Against the Armenians

The Revolution of the Young Turks and the Armenian People on the Eve of World War I

The First World War

The Resurrection of Armenia

Armenia on the Road to Independence, 1918

- Armenia on the Road to Independence, 1918

Eastern Armenia

Western Armenia

"The Fateful Years" (1914-1917)

"Hopes and Emotions" (March-October, 1917)

The Bolshevik Revolution and Armenia

Transcaucasia Adrift (November, 1917

Dilemmas (March-April, 1918)

War and Independence (April-May, 1918)

The Republics of Georgia, Azerbaijan, and Armenia

The Suppliants (June-October, 1918)

In conclusion

Soviet Armenia

The Second Independent Republic of Armenia

Epilogue

Previous page Page 25 Next page Smaller font Larger font Print friednly version  
According to the same author, the Armenian light cavalry had such a good reputation that the Armenians, besides using the cavalry in their own wars, lent it to other armies for their military campaigns.

But the main source and core of Tigran's military power was his famous heavily armoured cavalry which was covered, head to toe, in steel armour and armed with spears. These soldiers were exclusively selected from among the Armenian aristocrats.

Another source of strength for the Armenian military forces were the Armenian architects and their engineering knowledge. Especially in the southern part of the country "the Armenians were famous for being excellent military building engineers and Tigran used them for that same reason." 33 New Armenian inventions of military weapons, tools and equipment were one of the most important reasons for the successes of the Armenian army. "Tigran used these artisans to build roads, bridges and to open rivers, cutting down trees and other emergency tasks. Their number was around 35 000, and they continuously accompanied the army" 34

The Roman Empire and its Expansion in the East

By 70 B.C. Tigran had reached the peak of his power. Armenia ruled over the entire Middle East and he had, beside the Medes, never met another serious rival.



During the coming years Tigran met a foreign power that until today is considered as the most complete power that the ancient world ever knew, namely Rome.

Armenia in the north bordered Pontos, which included the areas along the coast of the Black Sea and Asia Minor (present-day Turkey). At the time of Tigran's reign, Pontos was ruled by king Mithradates Eupator who had come to the power in year 111 B.C. He began shortly to expand westward and conquered Cappadocia, Phrygia and drove away the Romans from the Greek regions.

It was first in 84 B.C. that Rome was able to regain these regions, through a peace agreement with Pontos. It was not long before these two countries once more engaged in war and in 73 B.C. came a decisive victory for the Roman army, led by General Lucullus, took place. After this defeat Mithradates fled to Armenia and asked for asylum at the court of his son in law, Tigran II.

Tigran had until that point of time been able to stay neutral in the war between Rome and Pontos, despite the strong bond with Pontos. Lucullus wanted to get to Mithradates at any price and bring him back to Rome as a trophy and proof of his major victory. Hence he sent a delegation to the court of Tigran II and demanded the extradition of Mithradates.

In spite of the fact that Tigran was not especially fond of Mithradates, he refused to comply with the delegation's demand since Mithradates was a guest of his and it would be against the principles of hospitality to surrender him to the enemy. However, at the same time Tigran made it clear that he wished for continued peace and friendship between Rome and Armenia and assured the messengers that he did not have any plans to expand westward, neither towards Asia Minor nor Pontos.