Tigranes I

Tigranes I was an Artaxiad king of Armenia at the end of the 2nd and the beginning of the 1st century BC. Few records have survived about his and his predecessor Artavasdes I's reign, which has led to some confusion. Some modern scholars have doubted that such a king reigned at all. Other historians, such as Hakob Manandian, David Marshall Lang and Rouben Paul Adalian consider him a real figure but differ or are uncertain on the exact dates of his reign. Although it has been proposed that Tigranes I reigned from 123 BC to 96 BC, this view has been criticized. Another suggestion is that Tigranes I ruled in 120 BC - 95 BC and this has been recently corroborated by historian Christian Marek.

Name The name is the Greek form of Old Iranian ( in Armenian). The exact etymology is disputed but it is likely an Old Iranian patronymic formation of the suffix * and the name * (meaning ). The Armenian historian Movses Khorenatsi mentions a , "son of Artaxias and brother of Artavasdes", who has been identified as Tigranes I.

Background Tigranes I is assumed to be the fourth oldest son of five between Artaxias I and Satenik. He ascended to the throne due to Artavasdes I not having an available heir, as well as his other brothers being kicked out of the royal estates by Artavasdes I. He was made (commander) over the western army by Artaxias I.

Near East in 100 BC, during Tigran I's reign. Armenia is shown in green

Reign In 120 BC, after the death of Artavasdes I, Tigranes I ascended the throne. Hakob Manandian, citing Strabo, mentions that Tigranes I put up a strong resistance against the Parthians and successfully defended Armenia and faced no conflict afterwards. He also stripped the Vahevunis of their priesthood after finding out that they had moved the gold plated statue of Vahagn located in Armavir to their domain in Ashtishat after the death of Artaxias I. This view has also been supported by modern research.

Barring the conflict with Parthians, the reign of Tigranes I has been described as generally peaceful and devoid of major external events.

Coinage Coin minted during Tigranes I's reign, eagle on the reverse. According to Kovacs, only three types of coins have been attributed to Tigranes I, all with the Greek inscription ('King Tigranes the Great') and depicting Tigranes I wearing a five-pointed tiara. The reverses of these coins either depicts an eagle standing, a cornucopia with a grape cluster, or a thunderbolt. Some numismatists such as Bedoukian and Nupertlian have argued that the coins depicting a crude bust of a beardless king facing left is attributed to Tigranes I. However, Kovacs attributes them to Tigranes II, citing the regnal year visible on the reverse. They were also minted in Nisibis, which was not under Armenian control during the time of Tigranes I.