Anob of Armenia

Anob was an Armenian Prince from the Arsacid dynasty of Armenia who lived in the 4th century.

Anob was the first known child born to the Arsacid Prince Arsaces II (Arshak II) by an unnamed mother. He was born to his father at an unknown date from a union prior to his father’s Kingship of Armenia. Arsaces II ruled as the Roman Client King of Armenia from 350 until 368 and Anob was one of the grandsons to the previous ruling Roman Client Armenian King Tiran (Tigranes VII) who ruled from 339 until 350. The mother of Anob appeared to have died before the year 358. The Armenian Historian of the 5th century, Faustus of Byzantium in his writings History of the Armenians (Book IV, Chapter 15) indirectly mentions Anob as a cousin of Gnel and Tirit.

Sometime during the reign of his paternal grandfather, the Sassanid King Shapur II launched a war on Rome and her allies, firstly by persecuting the Christians that lived in Persia and Mesopotamia.[1] Shapur II’s war by capturing these territories began to dealt a severe blow to Roman prestige in the East.[2] Eventually the Sassanid King with his army had invaded Armenia, taking the members of the royal family including Anob as hostages[3][4] as they were betrayed to Shapur II by Tiran’s chamberlain.[5][6] Anob with all members of his family had become Sassanid political prisoners in which his paternal grandfather was blinded and thrown into prison after Shapur II accused Tiran of collusion with Rome.[7]

The nobles of Armenia were infuriated by the brutality of Shapur II and his treatment of the Armenian royal family, took up arms and fought against Shapur II and his army with assistance from the Romans.[8] They successfully drove Shapur II and his army out from Armenia. After Shapur II was defeated, he had signed a treaty and Anob with members of his family were released from prison. As Tiran being depressed and blinded from his experience in captivity, had abdicated his throne and Arsaces II succeeded Tiran as Armenian King in 350.

Little is known on the life of Anob when his father reigned as King of Armenia. In Persian fashion[9] during his kingship, Arsaces II had two wives at the same time who were: Olympias and Pharantzem.[10] With Pharantzem, Arsaces II had another child, a son called Papas (Pap)[11] as he was the only known child born to Arsaces II during his Armenian Kingship, hence was the younger paternal half-brother of Anob. When Arsaces II died, it was Papas not Anob that succeeded their father as King of Armenia.

According to Saint Mesrop Mashtots, who was a Priest and Historiographer of the Catholicos Nerses the Great, Anob married an unnamed woman by whom he had a son called Varasdates (Varazdat). Varasdates would serve as a future King of Armenia from 374 until 378 and proclaimed himself as the nephew of Papas.[12]

References
  1. Kurkjian, A History of Armenia, p.103
  2. Kurkjian, A History of Armenia, p.103
  3. Kurkjian, A History of Armenia, p.103
  4. Encyclopaedia Iranica: Armenia and Iran II. The pre-Islamic period, 5. The Sasanian period I: Armenia between Rome and Iran. b. The Christian Arsacids: Tiridates III and his successors until the partition
  5. Kurkjian, A History of Armenia, p.103
  6. Encyclopaedia Iranica: Armenia and Iran II. The pre-Islamic period, 5. The Sasanian period I: Armenia between Rome and Iran. b. The Christian Arsacids: Tiridates III and his successors until the partition
  7. Kurkjian, A History of Armenia, p.103
  8. Kurkjian, A History of Armenia, p.103
  9. Hovannisian, The Armenian People From Ancient to Modern Times, Volume I: The Dynastic Periods: From Antiquity to the Fourteenth Century, p.89
  10. Faustus of Byzantium, History of the Armenians, Book IV, Chapter 15
  11. Faustus of Byzantium, History of the Armenians, Book IV, Chapter 15
  12. Faustus of Byzantium, History of the Armenians, Book IV, Chapter 37

Sources
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