Manuel Mamikonian
Encyclopedia
Manuel Mamikonian was the real leader of Armenia after the death of Varazdat
.
The Mamikonian
family had long been the leading generals of Armenia, holding the title of Sparapet
, basically a chief general.
Manuel had served in the Kushan War in the troops of the Persian king.
His brother Musel Mamikonian
had been slain by Varazdat and Manuel had come to be sparapet in his place.
In 378 Varazdat and Manuel had become so mad at each other that they went to war. Manuel prevailed and afterward became the ruler of Iran.
According to Faustus of Byzantium
Manuel was convinced that the Persian ruler was plotting against him and so attacked the Persian emissary Suren and his 10,000 troops. Manuel decimated Suren's army but allowed Suren to live and leave.
This led to an invasion of Armenia by the Persian forces. Armies under generals such as Varaz were sent to invade Armenia but were defeated by Manuel. According to Pawstos this led to seven years of peace for Armenia.
Manuel died in 385.
Varazdat
Varazdat |Latinized]] as Varasdates) was an Armenian prince who succeeded his uncle King Pap as King of Armenia in 374.-Appointment:...
.
The Mamikonian
Mamikonian
Mamikonian, Mamikoneans, or Mamigonian was a noble family which dominated Armenian politics between the 4th and 8th century. They ruled the Armenian regions of Taron, Sasun, Bagrevand and others...
family had long been the leading generals of Armenia, holding the title of Sparapet
Sparapet
Sparapet was a hereditary military rank that originated in the 2nd century BC, under the reign of King Artashes I, and was used in the Kingdom of Armenia and the Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia , was supreme commander of the armed forces. It was the equivalent of the Parthian Spahbod Sparapet was a...
, basically a chief general.
Manuel had served in the Kushan War in the troops of the Persian king.
His brother Musel Mamikonian
Musel Mamikonian
Musel Mamikonian, also spelled Mushegh was the Sparapet of Armenia under Pap and then, after Pap was killed, was the regent for his nephew Varazdat.While in the service of Pap, Musel was a key figure in defeating the invading Persian forces...
had been slain by Varazdat and Manuel had come to be sparapet in his place.
In 378 Varazdat and Manuel had become so mad at each other that they went to war. Manuel prevailed and afterward became the ruler of Iran.
According to Faustus of Byzantium
Faustus of Byzantium
Faustus of Byzantium was an Armenian historian of the 5th century. He wrote a six volume history, of which the first two volumes are lost. He described in details the reign of Arshak II and his son Pap of Armenia...
Manuel was convinced that the Persian ruler was plotting against him and so attacked the Persian emissary Suren and his 10,000 troops. Manuel decimated Suren's army but allowed Suren to live and leave.
This led to an invasion of Armenia by the Persian forces. Armies under generals such as Varaz were sent to invade Armenia but were defeated by Manuel. According to Pawstos this led to seven years of peace for Armenia.
Manuel died in 385.
Sources
- Pawstos Buzand, History of the Armenias
- "History of Urartu and Armenia" in Encyclopædia Britannica, 15th Edition, Vo. 18, p. 1042