THE MAMIKNONYANS UNDER THE REIGN OF THE ARSACID DYNASTY

Abstract

In 385, after the death of Commander (Sparapet) Manvel Mamikonyan, the Armenian
military-political elite split, taking advantage of which in 387 Rome and Persia divided Greater
Armenia among themselves. The Mamikonian ruling family was actively involved in the
events. Samvel, Artavazd and Hamazasp Mamikonyans were on the political arena during the
last period of the Arsacid Dynasty. Samvel Mamikonyan, who was an ardent supporter of
Arshak III, moved to Byzantium after his death. Artavazd Mamikonyan took part in the battle
of Zarehavan, but there is no other information about the latter’s activities in the historical
sources. For many years Hamazasp Mamikonyan ruled the Military Department
(Sparapetutyun) of the Eastern Armenian Kingdom (389-415), trying to unite the scattered
ministerial military forces. But finally in 428, Armenian statehood was destroyed in the eastern
part of Greater Armenia.