Arshak II
| Arshak II | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| King of Armenia | |
| Reign | 350–368 |
| Born | 320s |
| Died | 368/69 |
| House | Arsacid |
Arshak II (Armenian: Բ, flourished 4th century, died 369 or 370), also known as Arsaces II and Arsak II was a Prince who served as a Roman Client King of Arsacid Armenia from 350 until 368.
Arshak II was the second born son to Tiran (Tigranes VII) by an unnamed mother. His father served as Roman Client King of Arsacid Armenia from 339 until 350. His date of birth is unknown and little is known on his early life. Sometime during his father’s reign, the Sassanid King Shapur II launched a war on Rome and her allies, firstly by persecuting the Christians that lived in Persia and Mesopotamia. Shapur II’s war by capturing these territories began to deal a severe blow to Roman prestige in the East. Sometime into his father’s reign, Shapur II with his army had invaded Armenia; eventually taking Arshak II with members of his family as hostages as they were betrayed to Shapur II by his father’s chamberlain. Arshak II along with members of his family had become Sassanid political prisoners in which his father was blinded and thrown into prison after Shapur II accused his father of collusion with Rome.
The nobles of Armenia were infuriated by the brutality of Shapur II and his treatment of Arshak II with members of his family, took up arms and fought against Shapur II and his army with assistance from the Romans. They successfully drove Shapur II and his army out from Armenia. After Shapur II was defeated, he had signed a treaty and Arshak II with members of his family were released from prison. As Arshak II’s father being depressed and blinded from his experience in captivity, had abdicated his throne and Arshak II succeeded their father as Armenian King in 350.
Arshak II like his father, strongly pursued a policy on Christian Arianism. In the early years of his reign, Arshak II found himself courted by the Roman Empire and Sassanid Empire, both of which hoped to win Armenia to their side in the ongoing conflicts between them. By 358, Arshak II had married a Greek noblewoman Olympias the daughter of the late consul Flavius Ablabius which through this marriage Armenia was able to remain neutral to Rome and remain an ally to her. According to the Historian Ammianus Marcellinus (XXV. vii, 9-13; vol. II, pp. 532/3-534/5), describes Arshak II as ‘steadfast and faithful friend’ to the Romans.
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