Hannibalianus 335-337 AD

In the mid-4th century, Armenia again became a focal point of imperial strategy – this time as part of Emperor Constantine the Great’s grand design. In 335 AD, Constantine elevated his nephew Flavius Hannibalianus to an extraordinary dignity, declaring him “King of Kings and of the Pontic Peoples” and nominally placing him on the throne of Armenia. This unprecedented move meant a Roman prince was to oversee Armenia and neighboring kingdoms (such as Iberia), effectively a client high-king under Constantine’s authority. The title “King of Kings” deliberately echoed the traditional style of Persia’s monarchs, a symbolic challenge to Sasanian Persia’s influence in the region.

Constantine’s motives were twofold: politically, to secure Roman dominance over Armenia by installing his own family member, and ideologically, to assert Christian leadership over an area long contested by Zoroastrian Persia. Armenia at this time was a Christian kingdom (since Tiridates III’s conversion), so Hannibalianus’ appointment also represented Constantine’s vision of a Christian dynasty extending Rome’s power in the East. He was even married to Constantine’s daughter, emphasizing the integration of Armenia into the Constantinian house.

However, these ambitious plans never fully materialized. Constantine was preparing for a war against Persia (likely to enforce his arrangements in Armenia and beyond) when he fell ill and died in May 337. In the ensuing turmoil, Constantine’s sons, vying for power, had Hannibalianus executed during the imperial purges of late 337. Consequently, Hannibalianus never actually governed Armenia; his kingship remained nominal, a diplomatic projection rather than an on-the-ground reality.