Erato (Armenian: Էրատո) was a queen of Armenia from the Artaxiad dynasty. She ruled as Roman client queen from 8 BC until 1 AD with her brother-husband King Tigranes IV.[1] After living in political exile for a number of years, she co-ruled as Roman client queen from 6 until 12 with Tigranes V, her distant paternal relative and possible second husband. She may be viewed as one of the last hereditary rulers of her nation.[2]
Erato was the second child and the known daughter born to Tigranes III.[3] She had an older paternal half-brother Tigranes IV.[4] Erato was born and raised either in Rome, where her father lived in political exile for 10 years[5] from 30 BC until 20 BC, or during her father's kingship of Armenia from 20 BC until 10 BC.[6]
Erato's father, Tigranes III, died before 6 BC.[7] In 8 BC,[8] the Armenians installed Tigranes IV as successor of Tigranes III.[9] In accordance with Oriental [10] or Hellenistic custom, Tigranes IV married Erato in order to preserve the purity of the Artaxiad bloodline. Erato became queen through marriage to her half-brother.[11][12] Erato and Tigranes IV had a daughter who married King Pharasmanes I of Iberia (1 AD-58), with whom she had three sons, Mithridates I of Iberia, Rhadamistus, and Amazasp (known from a Greek inscription found in Rome).
Co-rule with Tigranes IV: 8 BC–1 AD
Although they were clients of the Roman Empire, Tigranes IV and Erato were both anti-Roman and not the choices of Roman emperorAugustus.[13] Their dual rule lacked Roman approval and they leaned towards Parthia for support.[14] Rome and Parthia competed with one another for influence over Armenia.[15] Anti-Roman sentiment was building in Armenia during the reign of Tigranes IV and Erato, according to Festus, who emphasizes that the kingdom of Armenia was very strong during this period.
The discontent of the ruling Artaxiad monarchs and their subjects towards Rome had instigated war with the help of King Phraates V of Parthia. To avoid a full-scale war with Rome, Phraates V soon ceased his support to the Armenian monarchs. This led Tigranes IV and Erato to acknowledge Roman suzerainty[16] and send their good wishes and submission to Rome.[17] Augustus then allowed them to remain in power.[18]
In 1 C.E., Tigranes IV was killed in battle,[19] perhaps ending an internal Armenian revolt[20] of those who were infuriated by the royal couple becoming allies to Rome. In the chaos that followed, Erato abdicated[21] and lived in political exile.[22] The Armenians then requested from Augustus a new king.[23] Augustus appointed Ariobarzanes of Media Atropatene as the new king of Armenia[24] in 2 AD. Ariobarzanes through his father was a distant relative of the Artaxiad Dynasty as he was a descendant of a sister of King Artavasdes II.[25]
Co-rule from Tigranes V: 6–12 AD
In the year 6, Artavasdes III, son and successor of Ariobarzanes, was murdered by his dissatisfied subjects. As the Armenians grew weary of foreign kings, Augustus revised his foreign policy and appointed the Herodian Tigranes V, possibly a great-grandson of Artavasdes II, as king.[26][27]
Tigranes V was accompanied by his grandfather Archelaus of Cappadocia and the future Roman emperor Tiberius to Armenia, where he was installed as king.[28]Artaxata became his capital. In 6, Tigranes V ruled Armenia alone. Sometime into his reign, the Armenian nobles rebelled against him and restored Erato. Wishing to cooperate with Rome, she co-ruled with Tigranes V. Their co-rule is known from numismatic evidence.[29] They may have married.[30] They were overthrown under unknown circumstances in 12. Augustus kept Armenia as a client kingdom and appointed Vonones I of Parthia as king.[31] The fate of Erato afterwards is unknown and Tigranes V may have remained living in Armenia.
Surviving evidence
The sources for the life of Erato are Roman historians Tacitus (1st and 2nd centuries), Cassius Dio (2nd and 3rd centuries) and Festus (4th century).
An image of Erato is found on an ancient coin currently kept at the National Library in Paris. Coinage has survived from her rule with Tigranes IV. The Greek inscription names her "Erato, sister of King Tigranes".[32] Their other coinage features a depiction of Tigranes IV with Erato, inscribed with "great king, Tigranes".[33] Coinage has also survived from Erato's co-rule with Tigranes V.[34]
References
^Nercessian, Y. T. (2000). Հայ Դրամագիտական Ուսումնասիրություններ. Armenian Numismatic Society. p. 598. ISBN978-0-9606842-9-8.
^Swan, The Augustan Succession: An Historical Commentary on Cassius Dio’s Roman History, Books 55-56 (9 B.C.-A.D. 14), p.130
^Bunson, Encyclopedia of the Roman Empire, p.p.199-200
^Armenia and Iran ii. The pre-Islamic period under Darius and Xerxes had much narrower boundaries than the future Armenia of the Artaxiads and the Arsacids. Armenia and Iran, ii. The Pre-Islamic Period: 3. The Artaxiad dynasty b. Tigranes the Great
^Ehrlich, Encyclopedia of the Jewish Diaspora: Origins, Experiences, and Culture, Volume 1, p.1111
^Armenia and Iran ii. The pre-Islamic period under Darius and Xerxes had much narrower boundaries than the future Armenia of the Artaxiads and the Arsacids. Armenia and Iran, ii. The Pre-Islamic Period: 3. The Artaxiad dynasty b. Tigranes the Great
^Hovannisian, The Armenian People From Ancient to Modern Times, Volume I: The Dynastic Periods: From Antiquity to the Fourteenth Century, p.62
^Swan, The Augustan Succession: An Historical Commentary on Cassius Dio’s Roman History, Books 55-56 (9 B.C.-A.D. 14), p.p.120 & 130
^Temporini, Aufstieg und Niedergang der römischen Welt: Geschichte und Kultur Roms im spiegel der neueren Forschung, p.1160
^Swan, The Augustan Succession: An Historical Commentary on Cassius Dio’s Roman History, Books 55-56 (9 B.C.-A.D. 14), p.120
^Swan, The Augustan Succession: An Historical Commentary on Cassius Dio’s Roman History, Books 55-56 (9 B.C.-A.D. 14), p.129
^Hovannisian, The Armenian People From Ancient to Modern Times, Volume I: The Dynastic Periods: From Antiquity to the Fourteenth Century, p.62
Sources
R. Naroll, V.L. Bullough & F. Naroll, Military Deterrence in History: A Pilot Cross-Historical Survey, SUNY Press, 1974
H. Temporini & W. Haase, Aufstieg und Niedergang der römischen Welt: Geschichte und Kultur Roms im spiegel der neueren Forschung, Walter de Gruyter
E. Yarshater, The Cambridge History of Iran, Cambridge University Press, 1983
R. Syme & A.R. Birley, Anatolica: studies in Strabo, Oxford University Press, 1995
W.G. Sayles, Ancient Coin Collecting IV: Roman Provincial Coins (Google eBook), F+W Media, Inc, 1998
P.M. Swan, The Augustan Succession: An Historical Commentary on Cassius Dio's Roman History, Books 55-56 (9 B.C.-A.D. 14) (Google eBook), Oxford University Press, 2004
R.G. Hovannisian, The Armenian People from Ancient to Modern Times, Volume 1: The Dynastic Periods: From Antiquity to the Fourteenth Century, Palgrave Macmillan, 2004
V.M. Kurkjian, A History of Armenia, Indo-European Publishing, 2008
M.A. Ehrlich, Encyclopedia of the Jewish Diaspora: Origins, Experiences, and Culture, Volume 1 (Google eBook), ABC-CLIO, 2009
M. Bunsen, Encyclopedia of the Roman Empire, Infobase Printing, 2009
A. Mayor, The Poison King: the life and legend of Mithradates, Rome's deadliest enemy, Princeton University Press, 2009
Armenia and Iran ii. The pre-Islamic period under Darius and Xerxes had much narrower boundaries than the future Armenia of the Artaxiads and the Arsacids. Armenia and Iran, ii. The Pre-Islamic Period: 3. The Artaxiad dynasty b. Tigranes the Great
erato, armenia, erato, armenian, Էրատո, queen, armenia, from, artaxiad, dynasty, ruled, roman, client, queen, from, until, with, brother, husband, king, tigranes, after, living, political, exile, number, years, ruled, roman, client, queen, from, until, with, t. Erato Armenian Էրատո was a queen of Armenia from the Artaxiad dynasty She ruled as Roman client queen from 8 BC until 1 AD with her brother husband King Tigranes IV 1 After living in political exile for a number of years she co ruled as Roman client queen from 6 until 12 with Tigranes V her distant paternal relative and possible second husband She may be viewed as one of the last hereditary rulers of her nation 2 Contents 1 Family 2 Co rule with Tigranes IV 8 BC 1 AD 3 Co rule from Tigranes V 6 12 AD 4 Surviving evidence 5 References 6 Sources 7 External linksFamily EditErato was the second child and the known daughter born to Tigranes III 3 She had an older paternal half brother Tigranes IV 4 Erato was born and raised either in Rome where her father lived in political exile for 10 years 5 from 30 BC until 20 BC or during her father s kingship of Armenia from 20 BC until 10 BC 6 Erato s father Tigranes III died before 6 BC 7 In 8 BC 8 the Armenians installed Tigranes IV as successor of Tigranes III 9 In accordance with Oriental 10 or Hellenistic custom Tigranes IV married Erato in order to preserve the purity of the Artaxiad bloodline Erato became queen through marriage to her half brother 11 12 Erato and Tigranes IV had a daughter who married King Pharasmanes I of Iberia 1 AD 58 with whom she had three sons Mithridates I of Iberia Rhadamistus and Amazasp known from a Greek inscription found in Rome Co rule with Tigranes IV 8 BC 1 AD EditAlthough they were clients of the Roman Empire Tigranes IV and Erato were both anti Roman and not the choices of Roman emperor Augustus 13 Their dual rule lacked Roman approval and they leaned towards Parthia for support 14 Rome and Parthia competed with one another for influence over Armenia 15 Anti Roman sentiment was building in Armenia during the reign of Tigranes IV and Erato according to Festus who emphasizes that the kingdom of Armenia was very strong during this period The discontent of the ruling Artaxiad monarchs and their subjects towards Rome had instigated war with the help of King Phraates V of Parthia To avoid a full scale war with Rome Phraates V soon ceased his support to the Armenian monarchs This led Tigranes IV and Erato to acknowledge Roman suzerainty 16 and send their good wishes and submission to Rome 17 Augustus then allowed them to remain in power 18 In 1 C E Tigranes IV was killed in battle 19 perhaps ending an internal Armenian revolt 20 of those who were infuriated by the royal couple becoming allies to Rome In the chaos that followed Erato abdicated 21 and lived in political exile 22 The Armenians then requested from Augustus a new king 23 Augustus appointed Ariobarzanes of Media Atropatene as the new king of Armenia 24 in 2 AD Ariobarzanes through his father was a distant relative of the Artaxiad Dynasty as he was a descendant of a sister of King Artavasdes II 25 Co rule from Tigranes V 6 12 AD EditIn the year 6 Artavasdes III son and successor of Ariobarzanes was murdered by his dissatisfied subjects As the Armenians grew weary of foreign kings Augustus revised his foreign policy and appointed the Herodian Tigranes V possibly a great grandson of Artavasdes II as king 26 27 Tigranes V was accompanied by his grandfather Archelaus of Cappadocia and the future Roman emperor Tiberius to Armenia where he was installed as king 28 Artaxata became his capital In 6 Tigranes V ruled Armenia alone Sometime into his reign the Armenian nobles rebelled against him and restored Erato Wishing to cooperate with Rome she co ruled with Tigranes V Their co rule is known from numismatic evidence 29 They may have married 30 They were overthrown under unknown circumstances in 12 Augustus kept Armenia as a client kingdom and appointed Vonones I of Parthia as king 31 The fate of Erato afterwards is unknown and Tigranes V may have remained living in Armenia Surviving evidence EditThe sources for the life of Erato are Roman historians Tacitus 1st and 2nd centuries Cassius Dio 2nd and 3rd centuries and Festus 4th century An image of Erato is found on an ancient coin currently kept at the National Library in Paris Coinage has survived from her rule with Tigranes IV The Greek inscription names her Erato sister of King Tigranes 32 Their other coinage features a depiction of Tigranes IV with Erato inscribed with great king Tigranes 33 Coinage has also survived from Erato s co rule with Tigranes V 34 References Edit Nercessian Y T 2000 Հայ Դրամագիտական Ուսումնասիրություններ Armenian Numismatic Society p 598 ISBN 978 0 9606842 9 8 Bunson Encyclopedia of the Roman Empire p 199 Kurkjian A History of Armenia p 73 Kurkjian A History of Armenia p 73 Naroll Military Deterrence in History A Pilot Cross Historical Survey p 161 Yarshater The Cambridge History of Iran p 613 Swan The Augustan Succession An Historical Commentary on Cassius Dio s Roman History Books 55 56 9 B C A D 14 p 114 Adalian Rouben Paul 2010 05 13 Historical Dictionary of Armenia Scarecrow Press p 186 ISBN 978 0 8108 7450 3 Sayles Ancient Coin Collecting IV Roman Provincial Coins p 62 Kurkjian A History of Armenia p 73 Kurkjian A History of Armenia p 73 Swan The Augustan Succession An Historical Commentary on Cassius Dio s Roman History Books 55 56 9 B C A D 14 p 130 Bunson Encyclopedia of the Roman Empire p p 199 200 Armenia and Iran ii The pre Islamic period under Darius and Xerxes had much narrower boundaries than the future Armenia of the Artaxiads and the Arsacids Armenia and Iran ii The Pre Islamic Period 3 The Artaxiad dynasty b Tigranes the Great Ehrlich Encyclopedia of the Jewish Diaspora Origins Experiences and Culture Volume 1 p 1111 Armenia and Iran ii The pre Islamic period under Darius and Xerxes had much narrower boundaries than the future Armenia of the Artaxiads and the Arsacids Armenia and Iran ii The Pre Islamic Period 3 The Artaxiad dynasty b Tigranes the Great Bunson Encyclopedia of the Roman Empire p 200 Bunson Encyclopedia of the Roman Empire p 200 Bunson Matthew 2014 05 14 Encyclopedia of the Roman Empire Infobase Publishing p 200 ISBN 978 1 4381 1027 1 Swan The Augustan Succession An Historical Commentary on Cassius Dio s Roman History Books 55 56 9 B C A D 14 p p 128 129 Swan The Augustan Succession An Historical Commentary on Cassius Dio s Roman History Books 55 56 9 B C A D 14 p 128 Bunson Encyclopedia of the Roman Empire p 36 Bunson Encyclopedia of the Roman Empire p 36 Bunson Encyclopedia of the Roman Empire p 36 Cassius Dio 36 14 Temporini Aufstieg und Niedergang der romischen Welt Geschichte und Kultur Roms im spiegel der neueren Forschung p 1164 Cassius Dio Roman History 49 39 2 Syme Anatolica studies in Strabo p 323 Hovannisian The Armenian People From Ancient to Modern Times Volume I The Dynastic Periods From Antiquity to the Fourteenth Century p 62 Swan The Augustan Succession An Historical Commentary on Cassius Dio s Roman History Books 55 56 9 B C A D 14 p p 120 amp 130 Temporini Aufstieg und Niedergang der romischen Welt Geschichte und Kultur Roms im spiegel der neueren Forschung p 1160 Swan The Augustan Succession An Historical Commentary on Cassius Dio s Roman History Books 55 56 9 B C A D 14 p 120 Swan The Augustan Succession An Historical Commentary on Cassius Dio s Roman History Books 55 56 9 B C A D 14 p 129 Hovannisian The Armenian People From Ancient to Modern Times Volume I The Dynastic Periods From Antiquity to the Fourteenth Century p 62Sources EditR Naroll V L Bullough amp F Naroll Military Deterrence in History A Pilot Cross Historical Survey SUNY Press 1974 H Temporini amp W Haase Aufstieg und Niedergang der romischen Welt Geschichte und Kultur Roms im spiegel der neueren Forschung Walter de Gruyter E Yarshater The Cambridge History of Iran Cambridge University Press 1983 R Syme amp A R Birley Anatolica studies in Strabo Oxford University Press 1995 W G Sayles Ancient Coin Collecting IV Roman Provincial Coins Google eBook F W Media Inc 1998 P M Swan The Augustan Succession An Historical Commentary on Cassius Dio s Roman History Books 55 56 9 B C A D 14 Google eBook Oxford University Press 2004 R G Hovannisian The Armenian People from Ancient to Modern Times Volume 1 The Dynastic Periods From Antiquity to the Fourteenth Century Palgrave Macmillan 2004 V M Kurkjian A History of Armenia Indo European Publishing 2008 M A Ehrlich Encyclopedia of the Jewish Diaspora Origins Experiences and Culture Volume 1 Google eBook ABC CLIO 2009 M Bunsen Encyclopedia of the Roman Empire Infobase Printing 2009 A Mayor The Poison King the life and legend of Mithradates Rome s deadliest enemy Princeton University Press 2009 Armenia and Iran ii The pre Islamic period under Darius and Xerxes had much narrower boundaries than the future Armenia of the Artaxiads and the Arsacids Armenia and Iran ii The Pre Islamic Period 3 The Artaxiad dynasty b Tigranes the Great Ptolemaic Genealogy Affiliated Lines Descendant LinesExternal links EditCoinage of Tigranes IV amp Erato Erato of ArmeniaArtaxiad DynastyRegnal titlesPreceded byTigranes III Queen of Armenia8 BC 1 ADwith Tigranes IV Succeeded byAriobarzanes IIPreceded byArtavasdes III Queen of Armenia6 12with Tigranes V Succeeded byVonones I Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Erato of Armenia amp oldid 1123767289, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
