Sohaemus of Armenia

Gaius Julius Sohaemus (; died 180) was a Roman client king of Armenia.

Life Sohaemus, a prominent person in the Roman Empire in the 2nd century, was from the Orontid dynasty of Commagene and the Emesene dynasty from Syria. His contemporary, the novelist Iamblichus Little is known about Sohaemus’ family and early life prior to becoming King of Armenia. Before becoming king, Sohaemus had been a Roman senator and served as a Consul in Rome at an unknown date. After Armenia was seized by the Parthians, Sohaemus went into political exile, living in Rome where he became a senator.

These events provoked a new Roman-Parthian war and peace was made on Roman terms, with Sohaemus reinstalled as King of Armenia by Lucius Verus in either 163 or 164. The ceremony for Sohaemus becoming King of Armenia for the second time may have taken place in Antioch or Ephesus. This war cost Rome dearly, because the victorious army brought back with it from the east a plague that spread very quickly throughout the empire. Emperor Marcus Aurelius tried to declare Armenia a province of Rome, but the uprising of Armenians led by Prince Tiridates forced the Romans to abandon their plans. In 164, Latin coinage was struck in Armenia with the inscription L. Verus. Aug. Armeniacus and on the reverse Rex Armen(ii)s datus. Sohaemus reigned from 163 perhaps up to 186. Under Sohaemus, construction work continued in the capital Vagharshapat. A citadel, defensive fortifications, a palace complex, and several pagan temples were built in the city. Sometime during his reign, Sohaemus was expelled by elements favorable to Parthia. A man called Tiridates, who had murdered the King of the Osroenes and had brandished his sword in the face of Publius Martius Verus, the governor of Cappadocia, when rebuked for it, stirred up trouble in Armenia. After Marcus Aurelius, Lucius Verus and the Parthian rulers intervened in the conflict, the son of Vologases IV of Parthia, Vologases II assumed the Armenian throne in 186.

In culture Sohemos patronized Hellenistic culture, and gave refuge to the poet and historian Iambelikos at his court, who is believed to have written the epic poem "The Babylonians" here.

Sohemos is featured in the 1964 Hollywood film "The Fall of the Roman Empire", where he was portrayed by the famous actor Omar Sharif.