Arshak II

Arshak
King of Armenia
Reign338 or 350 – 367[1][2][3]
PredecessorTiran of Armenia
SuccessorPap of Armenia
Bornunknown
Died368/69
ConsortParandzem
IssuePap of Armenia
HouseArsacid
FatherTiran of Armenia

Arshak II (flourished 4th century, died 369 or 370), also written as Arsaces II, was an Arsacid prince who was King of Armenia from 350 (338/339 according to some scholars) until c. 364/367.[3][4] Although Arshak's reign opened with a period of peace and stability, it was soon plagued by his conflicts with the Armenian church and nobility, as well as a series of wars between Rome and Persia, during which the Armenian king teetered between the warring sides.[5] Arshak participated in the Roman emperor Julian's ill-fated campaign against Persia; after the consequent Perso-Roman Treaty of 363, Armenia was left to fend for itself against a renewed attack by the Persian king Shapur II.[6] Faced with defections and rebellions among the Armenian nobility, Arshak was lured to Persia for peace negotiations with Shapur, after which he was imprisoned in the Castle of Oblivion in Khuzistan and is said to have committed suicide in captivity.[3][6] Arshak's reign was followed by the conquest and devastation of Armenia by the Persians, although his son and heir Pap managed to escape and later ascended to the Armenian throne with Roman assistance.[6]

  1. ^ PLRE, vol. 1, p. 109.
  2. ^ Commentary on Ammianus Marcellinus XXV, Brill (2005), p. 271.
  3. ^ a b c Chaumont 1986.
  4. ^ Garsoïan 1997, p. 94.
  5. ^ Garsoïan 1997, pp. 88–90.
  6. ^ a b c Garsoïan 1997, p. 90.