Arshak III[1], also known as Arsaces III, Arsak III[2] and Arshak III-Vagharshak[3] (Armenian: ????? ?, flourished 4th century died 387) was a Prince who served as a Roman Client King of Arsacid Armenia from 378 until 387. Arshak III is often known as the last serving Roman Client King of Armenia in which the part of Armenia that Arshak III governed was under Roman rule from the Peace of Acilisene.
Family & Early Life
Arshak III was the first born son of the previous Roman Client Armenian King Papas (Pap) who reigned from 370 until 374 and his wife, the Armenian noblewoman called Zarmandukht[4] and he had a younger brother[5] called Vologases. His known grandparents who were his paternal ones were the previous ruling Arsacid Monarchs Arsaces II (Arshak II) and his wife Pharantzem.[6]
Arshak III was named in honor of his late paternal grandfather; his Parthian, Pontian and Armenian ancestors who ruled with this name as King. Arshak III was born at an unknown date in his fathers reign and was raised in Armenia. Following the assassination of his father in 374, as Arshak III and his brother were too young to rule, the Roman emperor Valens had sent their paternal first cousin Varasdates (Varazdat) to occupy the Armenian throne. Their cousin who was a young man highly reputed for his mental and physical gifts had lived in Rome for an unknown period of time. Varasdates began to rule under the regency of Musel Mamikonian, whose family were pro-Roman.
Rise to the Throne
In 378 with the failed reign of Varasdates and the murder of his regent Musel Mamikonian, the brother of Musel, Manuel Mamikonian[7], filled his late brothers position of Sparapet. Manuel being so mad at the Armenian King, with a military force drove out Varasdates from Armenia[8] back to Rome. Manuel raised Arshak III and Vologases to the throne as co-kings of Armenia, under the nominal regency of their mother Zarmandukht.[9]
To end the political anarchy in the country as Manuel being now the powerful regent-in-charge of Armenia, Manuel married Arsaces III to his daughter Vardanduxt[10] and he married Vologases to the daughter of Sahak from the Bagratuni Dynasty.[11] The Mamikonian government brought peace, stability to Armenia in which Manuel guided the country wisely.[12] Manuel treated Arshak III, Vologases and Zarmandukht with honor.[13] He raised Arshak III and Vologases[14] and Manuel nurtured them as if they were his own children.[15]
Arshak III like his paternal ancestors, aggressively pursue a policy on Christian Arianism.[16] In 386, Vologases died without leaving an heir and Arshak III became the sole-ruler of Armenia. As Manuel Mamikonian died at the same time as Vologases did, the authority of Arshak III became lessened by the Sassanid invasions from Persia of Armenia. In 387, being the last year of his Kingship, Arshak III resided in Ekeleac also known as Ekeghiats in Western Armenia[17], as he ruled only Western Armenia in which his small kingdom was of a line from Erzurum to Mush. Later that year Arshak III died, without leaving an heir. Western Armenia was annexed and became a province of the Byzantine Empire. Eastern Armenia was annexed by the Sassanid Empire and the remaining ruling Arsacid monarchs in Eastern Armenia became Client Kings of Armenia under Sassanid rule.
Hij is getrouwd met Vardanduxt Mamikonian.
Zij zijn getrouwdBron 2
Arsaces III van Armenië | ||||||||||||||||||
Vardanduxt Mamikonian | ||||||||||||||||||
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arshak_III
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vardanduxt