Khosrov I of Armenia

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Khosrov I of Armenia
King of Armenia
Reign 198–217
Died 217
House Arsacid

Khosrov I (Armenian: Խոսրով Ա, flourished second half of the 2nd century & first half of the 3rd century, died 217) was a Parthian Prince who served as a Roman Client King of Armenia.

Khosrov I was one of the sons born to King Vologases II of Armenia (Vagharsh II)[1] who is also known as Vologases V of Parthia[2] by an unnamed mother. Through his father, Khosrov I was a member of the House of Parthia thus a relation of the Arsacid dynasty of Armenia.[3] Khosrov I was the namesake of the Parthian monarchs: Osroes I and Osroes II, see Khosrau.

In 198, while his father was serving both as King of Parthia and Armenia, Vologases II abdicated his Armenian throne and gave the Armenian Kingship to Khosrov I. Khosrov I served as Armenian King from 198 until 217. In Armenian sources, Khosrov I is often confused with his famous grandson Khosrov II.[4] Little is known on his life, prior to becoming King of Armenia.

Khosrov I is the King whom classical authors present as a neutral monarch towards Rome.[5] In 198 when the Roman emperor Septimius Severus was on his great campaign to the Parthian Empire sacking the capital Ctesiphon, Khosrov I had sent gifts and hostages to Severus.[6] As a client monarch of Rome, Khosrov I was under the protection of Septimius Severus and his successor Caracalla.[7]

Between 214-216, Khosrov I with his family were under Roman detention for unknown reasons which provoked a major uprising in Armenia against Rome.[8] In 215, Caracalla with the Roman army had invaded Armenia[9] to end the uprising. Khosrov I may be the Khosrov mentioned in an Egyptian inscription that speaks of Khosrov the Armenian.[10]

In 217 when Khosrov I died, his son Tiridates II,[11] was granted the Armenian Crown[12] by the Roman emperor Caracalla.[13] Tiridates II was declared King of Armenia upon Caracalla’s assassination[14] which was on April 8, 217.

References

  1. Hovannisian, The Armenian People From Ancient to Modern Times, Volume I: The Dynastic Periods: From Antiquity to the Fourteenth Century, p.71
  2. Toumanoff, Manuel de généalogie et de chronologie pour le Caucase chrétien (Arménie, Géorgie, Albanie) [détail des éditions], p.73
  3. Hovannisian, The Armenian People From Ancient to Modern Times, Volume I: The Dynastic Periods: From Antiquity to the Fourteenth Century, p.71
  4. Hovannisian, The Armenian People From Ancient to Modern Times, Volume I: The Dynastic Periods: From Antiquity to the Fourteenth Century, p.71
  5. Hovannisian, The Armenian People From Ancient to Modern Times, Volume I: The Dynastic Periods: From Antiquity to the Fourteenth Century, p.71
  6. Hovannisian, The Armenian People From Ancient to Modern Times, Volume I: The Dynastic Periods: From Antiquity to the Fourteenth Century, p.71
  7. Adalian, Historical Dictionary of Armenia, p.174
  8. Adalian, Historical Dictionary of Armenia, p.174
  9. Adalian, Historical Dictionary of Armenia, p.174
  10. Hovannisian, The Armenian People From Ancient to Modern Times, Volume I: The Dynastic Periods: From Antiquity to the Fourteenth Century, p.71
  11. Adalian, Historical Dictionary of Armenia, p.174
  12. Hovannisian, The Armenian People From Ancient to Modern Times, Volume I: The Dynastic Periods: From Antiquity to the Fourteenth Century, p.71
  13. Adalian, Historical Dictionary of Armenia, p.174
  14. Adalian, Historical Dictionary of Armenia, p.174

Sources

  • C. Toumanoff, Manuel de généalogie et de chronologie pour le Caucase chrétien (Arménie, Géorgie, Albanie) [détail des éditions], p. 73
  • R.G. Hovannisian, The Armenian People From Ancient to Modern Times, Volume I: The Dynastic Periods: From Antiquity to the Fourteenth Century, Palgrave Macmillan, 2004
  • R.P. Adalian, Historical Dictionary of Armenia, Scarecrow Press, 2010