Augustus 27 BC-14 AD
Description
After the Battle of Actium, Gaius Octavius, later Augustus, invaded Egypt in 30 BC in which he annexed the country to the rule of the Roman Republic. Tigranes III, son of Artavasdes II, was taken from Alexandria to live in Rome. In Rome, Tigranes III had lived in political exile, in which during that time he was educated there.
In 20 BC, as the Armenians lost faith in Artaxias II, they sent messengers to Augustus requesting him to remove Artaxias from his throne and to install Tigranes III as his successor. Augustus agreed to the request from the Armenians. Augustus sent his step-son Tiberius, with Tigranes III, along with a large army to depose Artaxias. Before Tiberius and Tigranes III arrived in Armenia, a cabal within the palace was successful in murdering Artaxias II. The Romans installed Tigranes III as the new King of Armenia unopposed. With placing Tigranes III on the throne, Rome expected full compliance with its policies in the East, however he shifted in the favor of Parthia.
In 10 BC, Tigranes IV succeeded his father Tigranes III without the consent of Rome, who continued the support of the Parthians to strengthen his position against Rome. He married his half-sister Erato in order to preserve the purity of the Artaxiad blood line. She became the Queen of Armenia and they ruled conjoined until 2 BC, when Tigranes was killed in a barbarian war, which in reality was an internal revolt of Armenians against the king as he became pro-Roman. Erato resigned her sovereignty and Artavasdes III, brother of Tigranes, was set on throne, but not for long. Soon after, Armenia was given by Augustus and the Senate to Ariobarzanes II of Media, and upon his death in 4 AD, to his son Artavasdes II of Media or Artavasdes IV of Armenia. However in 6 AD Armenians revolted against this foreign ruler and assassinated him.
The last ruler appointed by Augustus was Tigranes V, who was a Herodian Prince. Sometime into his reign, the Armenian nobles were unsatisfied with his reign and demanded Erato back at the throne. From 6 to 12 AD, Tigranes and Erato ruled conjoined.
In 20 BC, as the Armenians lost faith in Artaxias II, they sent messengers to Augustus requesting him to remove Artaxias from his throne and to install Tigranes III as his successor. Augustus agreed to the request from the Armenians. Augustus sent his step-son Tiberius, with Tigranes III, along with a large army to depose Artaxias. Before Tiberius and Tigranes III arrived in Armenia, a cabal within the palace was successful in murdering Artaxias II. The Romans installed Tigranes III as the new King of Armenia unopposed. With placing Tigranes III on the throne, Rome expected full compliance with its policies in the East, however he shifted in the favor of Parthia.
In 10 BC, Tigranes IV succeeded his father Tigranes III without the consent of Rome, who continued the support of the Parthians to strengthen his position against Rome. He married his half-sister Erato in order to preserve the purity of the Artaxiad blood line. She became the Queen of Armenia and they ruled conjoined until 2 BC, when Tigranes was killed in a barbarian war, which in reality was an internal revolt of Armenians against the king as he became pro-Roman. Erato resigned her sovereignty and Artavasdes III, brother of Tigranes, was set on throne, but not for long. Soon after, Armenia was given by Augustus and the Senate to Ariobarzanes II of Media, and upon his death in 4 AD, to his son Artavasdes II of Media or Artavasdes IV of Armenia. However in 6 AD Armenians revolted against this foreign ruler and assassinated him.
The last ruler appointed by Augustus was Tigranes V, who was a Herodian Prince. Sometime into his reign, the Armenian nobles were unsatisfied with his reign and demanded Erato back at the throne. From 6 to 12 AD, Tigranes and Erato ruled conjoined.
