Arsacid Dynasty of Armenia

The Arsacid Dynasty or (sometimes called the Arshakuni Dynasty) ruled the Kingdom of Armenia from 54 to 428. They started as a branch of the Parthian Arsacids but became a distinctly Armenian dynasty later on.^[1] Armenia was between the Parthian and Roman Empires and both were trying to control it. Arsacid Kings reigned intermittently throughout the chaotic years after the fall of the Artaxiad Dynasty until 62 when Tiridates I of Armenia secured Arsacid rule in Armenia.

Kingdom of Armenia under the Arshakuni Dynasty, 150

An independent line of Kings was established by Vologases II of Armenia (Valarses/Vagharshak) in 180. Two of the most notable events under Arsacid rule in Armenian history were the conversion of Armenia to Christianity by St. Gregory the Illuminator in 301 and the creation of the Armenian alphabet by Mesrop Mashtots in 405.

References

1. Olson, James (1994). An Ethnohistorical Dictionary of the Russian and Soviet Empires. Greenwood Press. p. 42.

• History of Education in Armenia - by Kevork A. Sarafian, G A Sarafean
• The heritage of Armenian literature Vol.1 - by A. J. (Agop Jack) Hacikyan, Nourhan Ouzounian, Edward S. Franchuk, Gabriel Basmajian

Other websites

• Armenian History; Armenian Highland
• Armenian History: Arshakuni Dynasty by Levon Zekiyan Archived 2005-12-14 at the Wayback Machine
• The Arshakuni Dynasty of Armenia by Vahan M. Kurkjian Archived 2021-02-13 at the Wayback Machine