Sohaemus of Armenia
| Sohaemus of Armenia | |
|---|---|
 Coin ofAntoninus Pius,struck at the Rome mint, dated ca. 141-143. On the reverse, a standing Pius is depicted, holding roll and placing hand on head of Roman-appointed king of Armenia Sohaemus, who raises hand to adjust tiara. | |
| King of Armenia | |
| 1st Reign | 144–161 |
| Predecessor | Vologases I |
| Successor | Pacorus |
| 2nd Reign | 163–180 |
| Predecessor | Pacorus |
| Successor | Vologases II |
| Died | 180 |
Gaius Julius Sohaemus[1](Ancient Greek:Γάϊος Ἰούλιος Σόαιμος;died 180) was a Roman client king ofArmenia.
Life
[edit]Sohaemus, a prominent person in the Roman Empire in the 2nd century, was from theOrontid dynastyofCommageneand theEmesene dynastyfromSyria.[2][3]His contemporary, the novelistIamblichus[3]claims Sohaemus as his fellow-countryman.[1]Iamblichus calls Sohaemus anArsacidandAchaemenidin his lineage. He was a descendant of the Median PrincessIotapa,who was once betrothed to thePtolemaic PrinceAlexander Helios.[4]Little is known about Sohaemus’ family and early life prior to becoming King of Armenia.[5]Before becoming king, Sohaemus had been aRoman senatorand served as a Consul in Rome at an unknown date.[4]
In 144, Sohaemus received the Armenian throne from the Roman emperorAntoninus Piusafter the death ofVologases I.[6]In honor of his first ascent to the throne of Armenia, a sestertius with images of Sohaemus and Antoninus Pius was issued in Rome with the inscription "A king given to the Armenians". Sohaemus was a contemporary to the rule of theRoman emperorsAntoninus Pius,Marcus Aurelius,Lucius VerusandCommodusof theNerva–Antonine dynasty.In his first reign, he ruled from 144 to 161. Not much is known about his first reign. The novelist Iamblichus living in Armenia at the time of his rule describes his reign as ‘in succession to his ancestors’.[3]This statement can also refer to his former ancestorSohaemus of Emesawho lived in the 1st century.[3]
In 161Vologases IV of Parthia,son of the legitimate KingMithridates IV of Parthia,dispatched his troops to seize Armenia and eradicated the Roman legions stationed in the country under thelegateMarcus Sedatius Severianus.Vologases then installedPacorusas King of Armenia.[6]Encouraged by thespahbodOsroes, Parthian troops marched further west into Roman Syria.[7]After Armenia was seized by the Parthians, Sohaemus went into political exile, living inRomewhere he became a senator.[8]
These events provoked a newRoman-Parthian warand peace was made on Roman terms, with Sohaemus reinstalled as King of Armenia by Lucius Verus in either 163 or 164.[9]The ceremony for Sohaemus becoming King of Armenia for the second time may have taken place inAntiochorEphesus.[10]This war cost Rome dearly, because the victorious army brought back with it from the east a plague that spread very quickly throughout the empire. EmperorMarcus Aureliustried to declare Armenia a province of Rome, but the uprising of Armenians led by Prince Tiridates forced the Romans to abandon their plans. In 164, Latin coinage was struck in Armenia with the inscriptionL. Verus. Aug. Armeniacusand on the reverseRex Armen(ii)s datus.[9]
The time of his second reign is unknown.[11]Sohaemus reigned from 163 perhaps up to 186. Under Sohaemus, construction work continued in the capitalVagharshapat.A citadel, defensive fortifications, a palace complex, and several pagan temples were built in the city. Sometime during his reign, Sohaemus was expelled by elements favorable to Parthia.[12]A man called Tiridates, who had murdered the King of theOsroenesand had brandished his sword in the face ofPublius Martius Verus,the governor ofCappadocia,when rebuked for it, stirred up trouble in Armenia.[12]Tiridates' only punishment for his crimes was to be exiled toRoman Britainby Marcus Aurelius.[12]
As a result of Sohaemus’ second expulsion from Armenia, Roman forces went to war with the Parthians, who retook most of their lost territory in 166, while Sohaemus fled to Syria.[13]After Marcus Aurelius, Lucius Verus and the Parthian rulers intervened in the conflict, the son ofVologases IV of Parthia,Vologases IIassumed the Armenian throne in 186.
References
[edit]- ^abBirley,Septimius Severus: the African emperor,p.224
- ^Hovannisian, Richard(2002).Armenian Tsopk/Kharpert.Mazda Publishers. p. 113.ISBN1568591500.
- ^abcdBirley,Septimius Severus: the African emperor,p.71
- ^abBirley,Septimius Severus: the African emperor,pp. 71, 224
- ^According toChristian Settipani,Sohaemus was the son of Avitus (Gaius Julius Avitus), son of Sohaemus (Gaius Julius Longinus Sohaemus), son ofSampsiceramus,son ofAlexio,son ofSohaemus
- ^abRussell 1987,pp. 161–162.
- ^Sellwood Coinage ofParthia257-260, 268-277; Debevoise History ofParthia245; Dio Cass.71.2.1.
- ^Birley,Marcus Aurelius,p. 131
- ^abvan den Hout,A commentary on the Letters of M. Cornelius Fronto,pp. 301-2
- ^Bowman,The Cambridge ancient history: The High Empire, A.D. 70-192,p.163
- ^Birley,Septimius Severus: the African emperor,p.72
- ^abcBirley,Marcus Aurelius,pp.236
- ^HA Verus 8.1-4; Dio Cass. 71.2.
Sources
[edit]- Royal Ancient Egyptian Genealogy: Ptolemaic Dynasty
- A. R. Birley,Septimius Severus: The African Emperor,Routledge, 1999
- A. R. Birley,Marcus Aurelius,Routledge, 2000
- A. K. Bowman, P. Garnsey & D. Rathbone,The High Empire, A.D. 70-192,Cambridge University Press, 2000
- A. E. Redgate,The Armenians,Blackwell Publishing, 2000
- C. Settipani,Continuité gentilice et continuité familiale dans les familles sénatoriales romaines à l’époque imperial,Oxford, 2000
- Russell, James R.(1987).Zoroastrianism in Armenia.Harvard University Press.ISBN978-0674968509.