Persian Armenia

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This article is part of the series on: History of Armenia
Early History
Haik
Armens
Hayasa-Azzi
Metsamor Kingdom
Nairi
Kingdom of Urartu
Kingdom of Armenia
Orontid Armenia
Artaxiad Dynasty
Arsacid Dynasty
Medieval History
Marzpanate Period
Byzantine Armenia
Bagratuni Armenia
Kingdom of Vaspurakan
Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia
Foreign Rule
Persian Rule
Ottoman Rule
Russian Rule
Hamidian Massacres
Armenian Genocide
Early Independence
Democratic Republic of Armenia
Soviet Armenia
Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic
Modern Armenia
Republic of Armenia

Persian Armenia corresponds to the Armenian territory controlled by Persia throughout history. The size of Persian Armenia varied over time.

1 Armenians and the Achaemenid Empire
- 1.1 Behistun inscriptions
2 Armenians and the Sassanid Empire
- 2.1 Vartan Mamikonian
- 2.2 St. Leon
3 References
4 See also

[edit] Armenians and the Achaemenid Empire

After the fall of the Median empire In 550 B.C. Cyrus, leader of the Persians, took control of the Median empire and conquered Asia Minor and Mesopotamia. Cyrus' son continued his father's campaign in Egypt. Eventually, Armenia became a dependency of Persia.

The Armenian contingents, cavalry and infantry, had taken part in Cyrus's conquest of Lydia in 546 and of Babylonia in 539. A rebellion of ten subject nations — one of them Armenia — broke out against Persia during the reign of Darius I (522‑486).

[edit] Behistun inscriptions

In the Behistun inscriptions, Darius I talks of his multiple victories. The inscription includes three versions of the same text, written in three different cuneiform script languages: Old Persian, Elamite, and Babylonian. The name Armenia had been used for the first time, when Darius wanted to describe his conquests in the Armenian highlands. The shahanshah speaks of bloody battles against the Armens, and cites the names of three important battles. This shows that the Armenians didn't simply fight defensively, but were able to confront them even in Persian territory. In the inscriptions, it is also established that the war in Armenia was the longest one, taking approximately 12 months.

The Armenians thus stayed under Persian rule from 519 to 330 B.C. Those years are considered to be relatively peaceful; trade flourished. Herodotus informs us that the Armenians had to pay 50 'talents' and thousands of horses per year to the Persians. When he speaks of Xerxes' invasions to Greek land, he mentions that the Armenian forces rallied with Xerxes, and that they resembled and spoke like the Phrygians.

Alexander the Great later conquered the Achaemenid Empire, and the Artaxiad dynasty established an independent Armenian kingdom in 190 B.C.

[edit] Armenians and the Sassanid Empire

The Armenians chose Christianity as state religion in 301. Armenia was divided between Sassanid Persia and the Roman Empire. The former established control in Eastern Armenia after the fall of the Arsacid Armenian kingdom in 428.

[edit] Vartan Mamikonian

[edit] St. Leon

As the Persian threats against Christianity and the Church in Armenia increased, St. Leon emerged as a zealot leader of his people and a defender of Christianity in Armenia. Yeghishe, the famous Armenian historian, tells us about the courageous role St. Leon and his clergy played, resisting the Persian invasion and protecting the Christian faith.

Aftermath

After enduring the unbearable torture and refusing to denounce Christianity, the holy priests were finally put to death by the sword. Avarayr is the first battle fought in defense of Christendom in the history of the world. Although, Armenians lost the battle of Avarayr, they were victorious in resisting the Pagan faith and preserving Christianity in Armenia.