Vasak Siwni

Vasak Siwni (Armenian: Վասակ Սիւնի; d. 452) was an Armenian prince, who was the lord of the principality of Syunik from 413 to 452, and also served as marzban (margrave) of Sasanian Armenia from 442 from 452.^[1][2] He renounced Christianity and joined the Sasanian forces against the leaders of the Armenian rebellion in 450/1, which culminated in the defeat of the rebel forces at the battle of Avarayr.^[3]

Vasak Siwni
Վասակ Սյունի
Lord of Syunik
In office 413–452
Marzban of Persian Armenia
In office 442–452
Monarch	Yazdegerd II
Preceded by	Veh Mihr Shapur
Succeeded by	Adhur Hormizd
Personal details
Died	452 Ctesiphon

The contemporary Armenian historians Elishe and Lazar Parpetsi both give differing reports of the aftermath of the battle, albeit with the same outcome.^[4] According to Elishe, the Iranian general Mushkan Niusalavurt was greatly upset at the heavy casualties the Iranians had suffered in the battle, and thus gave Vasak Siwni free rein in Armenia.^[5] However, this resulted in even more bloodshed and turmoil, which led to the protest of many Armenian notables, and also by Mushkan himself. As a result, Vasak was imprisoned, while Adhur-Hormizd was installed the marzban of Armenia.^[6] According to Lazar, however, Mushkan was dismissed and sent back to Iran after he reported the Iranian losses to Yazdegerd II, who then appointed Adhur-Hormizd as the marzban of Armenia.^[7] Not long after, Vasak was imprisoned due to his deception towards the Armenians which had caused further turmoil.^[8]

References

1. Richard G. Hovannisian, ed. (1997). The Armenian People from Ancient to Modern Times, 2 vols. New York: St. Martin's Press. pp. 99–101.
2. Rouben Paul Adalian (2010). Historical Dictionary of Armenia. Lanham, Maryland: Scarecrow Press, Inc.
3. Avdoyan 2018.
4. Thomson 1982, p. 7.
5. Thomson 1982, pp. 7, 173–174.
6. Thomson 1982, pp. 7, 184–185.
7. Thomson 1982, pp. 7, 288.
8. Thomson 1982, pp. 7, 282.

Sources

• Avdoyan, Levon (2018). "Vasak Siwni". In Nicholson, Oliver (ed.). The Oxford Dictionary of Late Antiquity. Oxford: Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-866277-8.
• Thomson, Robert W. (1982). History of Vardan and the Armenian War. Cambridge: Harvard University Press. pp. 1–353. ISBN 9780674403352.