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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

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Artashisian Dynasty on the Armenian Throne

Artashes I founded the first Armenian royal dynasty which would grow and transform Armenia into one of the major powers in the region. This dynasty, which is known as Artashisian after its founder, ruled Armenia until 1 B.C.

Artashes I managed to defend the country against the Seleucid attacks and since he was also a competent politician, he did everything in his power to weaken the power of the Seleucids. When Timark, the leader of the Medes, revolted against the Seleucids Artashes I sent an army to their assistance which in turn led to the independence of the Medes.

Artashes I waged war against the Albans (Albania included the present-day Daghestan and the surrounding lands and shall not be confused with present-day Albania) and drove them back to the west side of the Kur River. During the war the Albanian price was captured and his father, the Albanian king, sent his daughter Satenik to Artashes in exchange for the release of his son and as a gesture of peace. Artashes fell in love with Satenik and married her 47. Artashes selected one of his relatives as the king for Iberia (present-day Georgia).

He built a new city by the Araxes River and named it after himself, Artashat (Artaxata), which later became the capital of Armenia.

Hannibal, the Carthaginian leader fled after the defeat against the Romans and took refuge with Antiochos, but was forced to leave when Antiochos was defeated by the Romans. He then searched for asylum at the court of Artashes and received a warm welcome from the Armenian king. Hannibal continued from Armenia to Bithynia (the Greek part of Ismid) and when he felt that the country was threatened by the Romans, he agreed to give himself up to them. He committed suicide in the year 183 B.C.

Plutarchos 50 wrote that it was Hannibal who suggested building the city of Artashat to King Artashes and that he personally supervised the construction of the city. "It is said that when Hannibal fled from the Romans and came to Armenia, he suggested different projects to the Armenian king and taught him several useful things. When he saw the beautiful landscape and nature in Armenia he drew a sketch for the future city. Then he took Artashes to the spot and asked him to personally supervise the building of the city. Thus a big and beautiful city was named after the king, Artashat, and became his capital." 51

Rohrbach wrote: "The great Carthaginian leader, who fled from the wrath and the revenge of the Romans and was forced to leave his home country, built this city for an Asian king. He did that as a token of gratitude for the hospitality of the Armenian king and in the hope of finding a future ally against the Roman Empire." 52

Artashes I ruled between 190 and 159 B.C. and was succeeded by Artavazd I (159-149 B.C.), Tigran I (149-123 B.C.) and Artavazd II (123-94 B.C.).

Artavazd I was, exactly like his predecessor, a great builder. He was also hotheaded and unyielding. This incited hatred and envy among the aristocratic families of Armenia because the king forced them to respect the general law and order of their country. He was rumoured to have been murdered. Tigran I I, was by contrast a king who loved hunting and arranging big festivals.