Urnayr
| Urnayr | |
|---|---|
| King ofCaucasian Albania | |
| Reign | 350–375 |
| Predecessor | Vache I |
| Successor | Vachagan II |
| Spouse | Daughter ofShapur II |
| Issue | Aswagen |
| House | Arsacid |
| Mother | Sasanianprincess |
Urnayr(attested only asOld ArmenianՈւռնայրUṙnayr) was the thirdArsacidking ofCaucasian Albaniafrom approximately 350 to 375.[1]He was the successor ofVache I(r. 336–350).
Biography
[edit]
TheTreaty of Nisibisin 299 between theSasanianKing of Kings(shahanshah)Narseh(r. 293–303) and the Roman emperorDiocletianhad ended disastrously for the Sasanians, who ceded them huge chunks of their territory, including theCaucasiankingdoms ofArmeniaandIberia.[2]The Sasanians would not take part in the political affairs of the Caucasus for almost 40 years.[2]
The modern historianMurtazali Gadjievargues that it was during this period the Arsacids gained the kingship of Albania, by being appointed as proxies by the Romans in order to gain complete control over the Caucasus.[2]In the 330s, a reinvigorated Iran re-entered the Caucasian political scene, forcing the Arsacid Albanian kingVachagan I(or Vache I) to acknowledge Sasanian suzerainty.[2]Urnayr, whose mother was a Sasanian princess, enjoyed good relations with the SasanianshahanshahShapur II(r. 309–379), whose daughter he was given in marriage.[3]The later Arsacid Albanian kingAswagen(r. 415–440) was most likely their son.[4]Urnayr fought alongside Shapur II at thebattle of Bagrevandin 372, where he was injured by the Armenian generalMushegh I Mamikonian,who spared him.[5][6]When Urnayr returned to Albania, he sent a message to Mushegh thanking him for sparing his life, and also informed him of a surprise attack planned by Shapur II.[7]Urnayr was succeeded by Vachagan II inc. 375.[1]
Conversion to Christianity
[edit]According to a legend, Urnayr accepted Christianity as state religion ofCaucasian Albaniain 313 thanks to efforts ofTiridates III of ArmeniaandGregory the Illuminator.However, researchers Wolfgang Schulze, Zaza Alexidze andJost Gippertargued this is unlikely given Urnayr's political career, as well as his contemporariness withPap of Armenia.It is most likely a later addition to the tradition.[8]
References
[edit]- ^abGadjiev 2020,p. 33.
- ^abcdGadjiev 2020,p. 31.
- ^Gadjiev 2020,pp. 32–33.
- ^Gadjiev 2020,p. 32.
- ^Gadjiev 2020,p. 30.
- ^Chaumont 1985,pp. 806–810.
- ^Faustus of Byzantium, History of the Armenians, Book Four, Chapter 5
- ^Wolfgang, Schulze; Gippert, Jost; Alexidze, Zaza; Mahé, Jean-Pierre (2008–2010).The Caucasian Albanian palimpsests of Mt. Sinai.Turnhout: Brepols. pp. xiii–xv.ISBN978-2-503-53116-8.OCLC319126785.
Bibliography
[edit]Ancient works
[edit]- Faustus of Byzantium,History of the Armenians.
Modern works
[edit]- Chaumont, M. L. (1985)."Albania".Encyclopaedia Iranica, Vol. I, Fasc. 8.pp. 806–810.
- Gadjiev, Murtazali (2020). "The Chronology of the Arsacid Albanians". In Hoyland, Robert (ed.).From Albania to Arrān: The East Caucasus between the Ancient and Islamic Worlds (ca. 330 BCE–1000 CE).Gorgias Press. pp. 29–35.ISBN978-1463239886.