- Artaxias I
Infobox Monarch
name =Artaxias I
title =King
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reign =Armenia : 190 BC/189 BC - 160 BC/159 BC
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predecessor =None
successor =Artavasdes I
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dynasty =Artaxiad Dynasty
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place of burial =|Artaxias I (also called Artaxes or Artashes, Armenian: Արտաշես Առաջին) (reigned 190 BC/189 BC-160 BC/159 BC) was the founder of the
Artaxiad Dynasty whose members ruled theKingdom of Armenia for nearly two centuries.By the end of the 3rd century BC, Armenia was a kingdom made up of around 120 dynastic domains ruled by
nakharar s, loosely united under the Orontid kings of Greater andLesser Armenia [Pliny, Natural history 6.9.] . Even thoughAlexander the Great did not conquer Armenia,Hellenistic culture had strongly impacted Armenian society. WhenAntiochus the Great wrestled Armenia from Orontid rule he appointed Artaxias asstrategos . Following his monarch's defeat by the Romans at theBattle of Magnesia in 190 BC, Artaxias and his co-strategosZariadres revolted and, with Roman consent, began to reign autonomously with the title of king; Artaxias overGreater Armenia and Zariadres overSophene /Lesser Armenia [Strabo, Geography 11.14.15] .Artaxias was married to Satenik, daughter of the king of
Alans . They had six sons: Artavasdes (Artavazd),Vruyr , Mazhan, Zariadres (Zareh), Tiran andTigranes (Tigran). Artaxias founded a capital,Artaxata on theAraks River nearLake Sevan .Hannibal took refuge there at his court when Antiochus could not protect him any longer. Artaxias was taken captive byAntiochus IV Epiphanes when he attacked Armenia around 165 BC.Quotes
* "It is said that when
Hannibal fled from the Romans and came toArmenia , 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." [Plutarchos, Greek historian (125-50 B.C.), Lucullus]Notes
External links
* [http://www.armenians.com/famous/artashes_k.html Artashes biography]
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