Tigrane II of Arménie

Tigrane II Large the (Armenian: ՏիգրանՄեծ), is a king artaxiade of Arménie born towards -140.

It first of all assembles on the throne towards -95 as vassal of the Parthian king Mithridate II which imposes its protectorate to him. But quickly Tigrane shows its ambitions and appendix the Sophène. Become the ally of Mithridate VI, the king of the Bridge, like his son-in-law, it invades with him the Cappadoce in -93, but it is driven out by it one year later by Sylla which imposes the restoration of the king Ariobarzane I {{er}}. It benefits from the decline of the Parthian empire which follows the death of Mithridate II (-87) to impose its suzerainty to the princes of the Syria of north, of the Atropatène, the Adiabène, of the Osroène and the Cilicie (-87/-83). Its domination goes from the the Caucasus until the north of the Iraq and the current Syria. It bases on the Tigre towards -78 its capital Tigranocerte, imposing city populated seems it by “300 000” prisoners of its various campaigns.

Tigrane, repu of conquests, aspire to peace and see of an evil eye the resumption of the conflict between Rome and Mithridate VI on the initiative of this last (-74). However after the victories of Lucullus against Mithridate, this one takes refuge at Tigrane which refuses to deliver it to the Romans. Those invade its states, Lucullus seizes its very new capital, Tigranocerte, in October -69. But the revolt of the Roman legions does not make it possible Lucullus to seize the old capital of Tigrane, Artaxate. Tigrane returns thus in possession of its kingdom even if Lucullus restores on the throne of Syria Antiochos XIII Asiaticos .

He is threatened by the intrigues of his son Tigrane the Young person , who is combined with Parthes to remove Arménie with his father, like by his estrangement with Mithridate VI. Also it with eagerness submits to the Romans of Pompée in -66, by yielding Cappadoce and the Sophène.

He dies towards -55.

External bonds

Armenica.org: history of Arménie (the English, Swede)

Simple: Tigranes the Great

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