Vologases I of Armenia

With the consent of the Roman Emperor, Vologases I (Vagharsh I), the son of Sanatruk, was established on the Armenian throne. Vologases was an acceptable figure for Rome, as he was not from the main Parthian line of the Arsacids, but rather from a newly forming Armenian branch of this dynasty. This branch, seeking independence sooner or later, was bound to oppose the Parthians. H. Asturian^[4] and Hakob Manandyan^[5] refute the opinion existing in historiography that Partamaspates had received the Armenian throne from his father, the Parthian king Khosrov, in 116 AD.

As H. Manandyan correctly notes:

«During the uprisings that broke out in Mesopotamia, Assyria, and Armenia in 116 AD, Armenia was reconquered by Vologases, the son of Sanatruk.»

In confirmation of this statement, he cites the following testimony of Cassius Dio:

«Because Vologases, the son of Sanatruk, while preparing for battle against the army of Severus, had requested and signed a truce before the clash, (Emperor Trajan) sent envoys to him and granted him a part of Armenia due to the peace.»

The Severus mentioned in this testimony is the aforementioned Lucius Catilius Severus, who was appointed legate (governor) of the newly created Cappadocia military district in 114 AD. After the suppression of the 116 AD uprisings, Northern Mesopotamia and Armenia remained as Roman provinces. Accordingly, as H. Manandyan continues:

«It becomes clear why Vologases was given only a part of Armenia.»

That part, according to the historian, was likely northeastern Armenia, where the Romans could not establish firm control. Upon coming to power, Emperor Hadrian (117–138 AD) recognized Vologases as the king of the entire Greater Armenia. Hadrian's biographer, Aelius Spartianus, reports that the emperor:

«Allowed the Armenians to have a king, whereas in the time of Trajan they had had a deputy (procurator).»

Partamaspates received the kingdom of Osroene (Edessa) from Hadrian. Thus, this individual remained a dangerous candidate and rival for the Parthian throne, enjoying the patronage of the Roman Emperor.

This circumstance severely strained relations between the Parthians and Rome. The Parthian king Vologases II (105–147 AD) expressed his dissatisfaction. The peace-loving Hadrian, considering the situation, entered into negotiations in 123 AD, as a result of which Partamaspates was removed from his new kingdom as well. The throne of Edessa was returned to the previous local dynasty (the Abgarids).

The period of prolonged peace was favorable for the further economic and cultural rise of Armenia and the entire Middle East, especially for the development of international trade.

Emperor Trajan paid special attention to organizing the collection of customs duties on goods transported near the Euphrates and Tigris rivers. Apparently, trade between the warehouses on the eastern borders of Syria and the cities on the banks of the Euphrates was never as vibrant as during the era of Hadrian and Antoninus Pius. This development was also evident in major trading centers on the northern highways, such as Artashat and Nisibis.

The development of society and the new revitalization of international trade, with Armenia at its center, created a need for the founding of new cities. During the reign of Vologases I, the city of Vagharshapat was founded, information about which was preserved by Movses Khorenatsi. According to his information, the city of Vardgesavan, known since the times of the Yervanduni Dynasty, was located near the Shresh Hill. South of it, in the area of the present-day Etchmiadzin Cathedral and its surroundings, Vologases I founded a new city, which he named Vagharshapat after himself^[6]․

Movses Khorenatsi also reports that Vologases I founded the settlement of Vagharshavan (modern Hasankale or Köprüköy) in the Basen province at the confluence of the Murts and Yeraskh rivers^[7]․

The death of Trajan and the subsequent temporary weakening of the empire led to an intensification of the Alans' invasions. They raided the border regions of Armenia and Atropatene and penetrated as far as Cappadocia. King Pharasmanes IIof Iberia (30s–50s of the 2nd century), who ascended the throne after Mihrdat III, took advantage of the situation. He expanded his domains toward the Black Sea coast—territories populated by the Zidrit tribe, which stretched from the Parhar Mountains north to the mouth of the Chorokhi River^[8]․

• Pharasmanes II had close ties with the nomadic tribes of the North Caucasus, especially the Alans. According to historians Cassius Dio and Flavius Arrian:
• The Alans, with the support of Pharsman II, invaded Aghvank and Atropatene.
• Then they passed through Armenia into Cappadocia.
• The Armenian king Vologases I managed to stop their attacks through «gifts» (ransom).

The legate of Cappadocia, Arrian, undertook military preparations, terrified by which the Alans ceased their invasion^[9]․

In 138 AD, Vologases I sent envoys to Rome, protesting against the actions of Pharsman II. The emperor (Antoninus Pius) invited the Iberian king to visit him for the purpose of holding him accountable, but Pharasmanes IIreturned to his homeland after receiving new honors from the emperor.

The newly ascended Antoninus Pius (138–161 AD), dissatisfied with certain aspects of Armenian King Vologases I's policy, likely deposed him in 144 AD. In his place, he appointed Sohaemus^[10] as King of Armenia, who was the «king» of the city of Emesa. Sohaemus, being a descendant of the famous Achaemenid dynasty, was considered a worthy candidate for the Armenian throne.

A copper sestertius minted in Rome by Antoninus Pius on the occasion of appointing Sohaemus as King of Armenia has been preserved. This coin allows for the precise determination of the year of Vologases I's deposition and the beginning of Sohaemus's reign: 144 AD.

Interesting information about Sohaemus has been preserved, which reached us through Photius. Speaking of the poet Iamblichus, who authored the novel "Babyloniaca," Photius reports:

«The author (Iamblichus) says about himself that he was a Babylonian... and flourished during the time of the Achaemenid Arsacid Sohaemus...»

It was a common phenomenon for the dynasties of the small kingdoms of the Hellenistic East to consider themselves descendants of the Achaemenids. The Yervandunis of Sophene and Commagene, for example, were considered to be descended from them.

As for Sohaemus being called an "Arsacid," it was likely purely formal. By this, Rome wanted to show that it was not violating previously reached agreements by seating a representative of the "Arsacid" dynasty on the Armenian throne.

It is assumed that this Sohaemus was a relative of another Sohaemus who reigned as King of Sophene during the reign of Emperor Nero (54–63 AD).

According to the chronology of Movses Khorenatsi, Tigran the Last corresponds to Sohaemus, who, according to the Father of History, reigned for 42 years.

This number of years can be attributed to Sohaemus if we accept the first year of his reign as the 23rd year of Vologases I's reign, i.e., 144 AD. In that case, the last year of his reign would be 186 AD.

• Bournoutian, George A. (2002). A Concise History of the Armenian People: (from Ancient Times to the Present) (2 ed.). Mazda Publishers. ISBN 978-1568591414.
• Garsoïan, Nina (1997). "The Aršakuni Dynasty". In Hovannisian, Richard G. (ed.). The Armenian People from Ancient to Modern Times: Volume I: The Dynastic Periods: From Antiquity to the Fourteenth Century. New York: St. Martin's Press. ISBN 0-312-10169-4.
• Russell, James R. (1987). Zoroastrianism in Armenia. Harvard University Press. ISBN 978-0674968509.

Vologases I of Armenia Arsacid dynasty Born: 99 Died: 140
Preceded by Parthamasiris 113-114	Vologases I 117-140	Succeeded by Sohaemus 144-161