Artaxias I.

Artaxias I ( also Artaxes or Artashes, Armenian Արտաշես Առաջին; Artašēs ) was the founder of the ruling dynasty of Artaxiden in Armenia. He reigned from about 190-159 BC He was married with Satenik, a daughter of the king of the Alans.

Originally Artaxias was together with Zariadres governor ( strategos ) of the Seleucid king Antiochus III .. After his defeat at the Battle of Magnesia in 190/189 BC he became King of Armenia, Zariadres King of Sophene. Artaxias was then the capital Jerwandaschat on the Aras and established further downstream, a new city, which he called Artaxata. According to Strabo and Plutarch, he was drawing on advice and support of Hannibal. Artaxias I had erected in his kingdom many pillars as boundary marks. These were described in Aramaic, the official language of the Persian Empire. On these steles he called mlk rwndkn, Orontidischer king. Thus he legitimized his rule over a connection to the ancient royal house of Armenia, the Orontids.

Antiochus IV took Artaxias 164 or 165 BC caught. He released him only after he had acknowledged the supremacy of the Seleucid over Armenia. He was succeeded by 160 BC his son Artawasd I..