List of Armenian monarchs and presidents

This list is a list of Armenian monarchs

Antiquity

Kingdom of Armenia (antiquity) (321 BC–428 AD)
No.	Name	Years	Portrait or couinage	Notes	House
1	Orontes III	321–260 BC	–	First king from Orontid dynasty	Orontid
2	Sames I	260–243 BC		Son of Orontes III(?) Also king of Sophene and Commagene
3	Arsames I	243–228 BC		Son of Sames I(?) Also king of Sophene and Commagene
4	Xerxes I	228–212 BC		Son of Arsames I Also king of Sophene and Commagene
5	Orontes IV	212–200 BC		Son of Arsames I(?)
6	Artaxias I	189–160 BC		Founder of Artaxiad dynasty Probably descended from Orontids	Artaxiad
7	Artavasdes I	160 BC–115 BC		Son of Artaxias I
8	Tigranes I	120–95 BC(?)		Son of Artavasdes I Historians, such as Manandian, Lang and Adalian consider him a real figure but differ or are uncertain on the exact dates of his reign.
9	Tigranes II the Great	95–55 BC		Son of Artavasdes I or Tigranes I At one time, the domains of Tigranes the Great stretched from the shores of the Caspian Sea to the Mediterranean, from Mesopotamia up to the Pontic Alps.
10	Artavasdes II	55–34 BC		Son of Tigranes the Great
11	Artaxias II	34 BC–20 BC		Son of Artavesdes II
12	Tigranes III	20 BC–8 BC
13	Erato	8 BC–2 AD		Son and daughter of Tigranes III
	Tigranes IV
14	Ariobarzanes II	2–4	–	Previously king of Media Atropatene	–
15	Artavasdes IV	4–6			–
16	Erato	6–12		Second co-reign	Artaxiad
	Tigranes V			–	–
17	Vovones I	12–18		Previously king of Parthian Empire First Arsacid king	Arsacid
18	Artaxias III	18–34		–	–
19	Arsaces I	34–35	–	Son of the Artabanus II, ruler of Parthian Empire	Arsacid
20	Orodes I	35–35	–	First reign Son of the Artabanus II, ruler of Parthian Empire	Arsacid
21	Mithridates I	35–37	–	First reign	–
22	Orodes I	37–42	–	Second reign	Arsacid
23	Mithridates I	42–51	–	Second reign	–
24	Rhadamistus	51–53		First reign	–
25	Tiridates I	53–53		First reign Son of the Vovones II, ruler of Parthian Empire	Arsacid
26	Rhadamistus	54–55		Second reign	–
27	Tiridates I	55–88		Second reign, the Arsacid dynasty came to power in full	Arsacid
28	Sanatruk I	88–110	–	Son of Tiridates I(?)
29	Axidares I	110–113	–	Son of Pacorus II, king of Parthian Empire
30	Parthamasiris I	113–114	–
31	Vologases I	118–140	–	Son of Sanatruk	Arsacid
32	Sohaemus	141–161		First reign	–
33	Bakur I	161–163	–	Son of Vologases IV king of Parthian Empire	Arsacid
34	Sohaemus	163–180		Second reign	–
35	Vologases II	180–191		Son of Vologases IV, king of Parthian Empire Later king of the Parthian Empire	Arsacid
36	Khosrov I	191–217	–	Son of Vologases II
37	Tiridates II	217–252	–	Son of Khosrov I
38	Hormizd-Ardashir	252–270		Son of the Sasanian king Shapur I; made king of Armenia by his father after the Sasanians conquered the kingdom, later king of the Sasanian Empire as Hormizd I.	–
39	Narseh	270–280		Brother of Hormizd-Ardashir Later king of the Sasanian Empire	–
40		280–287
	Khosrov II	280–287		Son of Tiridates II In western Armenia, enthroned by the Romans after Narseh ceded parts of western Armenia to Emperor Probus.	Arsacid
41	Narseh	287–293		–	–
	Tiridates (III)	287–293	–	Brother of Khosrov II Initially king of only western Armenia but granted the rest of the kingdom as well after Narseh became king of the Sasanian Empire.	Arsacid
42		293–298
43	Tiridates III (or IV)	298–330		Son of Khosrov II In 301, Tiridates proclaimed Christianity as the state religion of Armenia, making the Armenian kingdom the first state to embrace Christianity officially.
44	Khosrov III	330–339	–	Son of Tiridates III (or IV)
45	Tigranes VII	339–350	–	Son of Khosrov III
46	Arshak II	350–368	–	Son of Tigranes VII
47	Pap	370–375		Son of Arshak II
48	Varazdat I	375–378		Nephew of Pap (perhaps son of Pap's younger brother Tiridates)
The Sasanians appointed their own Armenian king (Khosrov IV) in 384, against the Roman-supported Arshak III, leading Armenia to becoming informally divided under the two kings. Upon the death of the Roman-supported Arshak III in 389, Emperor Theodosius I, unable to appoint another king, incorporated the region into the Roman Empire. Thus, the Sasanian-supported kings became the sole kings of Armenia.
49	Vramshapuh	389–414		Son of Varazdat(?)
50	Shapur	418–422	–	Son of the Sasanian king Yazdegerd I, later king of the Sasanian Empire as Shapur IV	–
51	Artaxias IV	422–428	–	Son of Vramshapuh The last king, in 428, Armenian nobles petitioned Bahram V to depose Artaxias IV (r. 422); Bahram V (r. 420–438) abolished the Kingdom of Armenia and appointed Veh Mihr Shapur as marzban (governor of a frontier province, "margrave") of the country, which marked the start of a new era known as the Marzbānate period.	Arsacid

Medieval

Non-independent rulers of Armenia

The rulers of Armenia under the Sasanians (as province, known as the Persarmenia), Rashidun, Umayyad and Abbasid (as autonomous, known as the Arminiya) caliphates.

Marzbāns of Armenia under Sasanian Empire (428–649)
No.	Name	Years	Portrait or couinage	Notes	House
1	Veh Mihr Shapur	428–442	–	Iranian grandee, nominated by Bahram V.	–
2	Vasak Swni	442–452	–	Armenian nobleman, nominated by Yazdgerd II.	–
3	Adhur Hormizd	451–465	–	Iranian grandee, nominated by Yazdgerd II.	–
4	Adhur Gushnasp	465–482	–	Iranian grandee, nominated by Peroz I.
5	Sahak II Bagratuni	481–482	–	Armenian nobleman, elected by the rebellious Armenian nobles.	Bagratuni
6	Shapur Mihran	482–482	–	Iranian millitary occupation	–
7	Vahan I Mamikonian	482–483		Armenian nobleman, head of provisional government.	Mamikonian
8	Zarmihr Karen	483–483	–	Iranian military occupation.	–
9	Shapur of Ray	483–484	–	Iranian grandee, nominated by Peroz I. Cyril Toumanoff suggests a marzpan named Andigan for the same period.	–
10	Vahan I Mamikonian	484–505/510		Armenian nobleman, second rule, nominated by Peroz I.	Mamikonian
11	Vard Mamikonian	505–509 or 510–514	–	Armenian nobleman, brother of Vahan I, recognized as marzpan by Kavadh I.
–	Several Iranian marzpans perses	11 years	–	–	–
12	Mjej I Gnuni	518–548	–	Armenian noble, mentioned by Cyril Toumanoff and Gérard Dédéyan, but not included by René Grousset.	Gnuni
13	Gushnasp Bahram	548–552 or 552–554	–	Iranian nobleman	–
14	Tan-Shapur	552–560 or 554–560	–		–
15	Varazdat	560–564	–		–
16	Chihor-Vishnasp	564–572	–		–
17	Vardan III Mamikonian	572–573	–	Armenian noble, leader of anti-Iranian rebellion.	Mamikonian
18	Golon Mihran	572–574	–	Iranian general tasked by Khosrau I with subduing the revolt. Cyril Toumanoff substitutes him and Vardan with Vardan-Gushnasp.	–
19	Vardan III Mamikonian	573–577	–	Armenian noble, under Byzantine protectorate. For the same period, Krikor Jacob Basmadjian a Cyril Toumanoff have Philip, prince of Syunik.	Mamikonian
20	Tamkhosrau	577–580	–	Iranian grandee, nominated by Khosrau I.	–
21	Varaz Vzur	580–581	–	Iranian grandee, nominated by Hormizd IV	–
22	Pahlav	581–582/588
23	Frahat	582/588–588/589
24	Hrartin	588/589–590
25	Musel II Mamikonian	590–591	–	Armenian noble, installed by the Byzantines.	Bagratuni
26	Vindatakan	592–605	–	These five marzpans are mentioned by Cyril Toumanoff.	–
	Nakhvefaghan
	Merakbout
	Yazden
	Boutmah
27	Smbat IV Bagratuni	604–611 or 616	–	Armenian noble, Christian Settipani records him as marzpan from 599 to 607. He is not mentioned as marzpan by Toumanoff. René Grousset holds that Khosrau II named him marzpan following his victories in Hyrcania, ca. 604, and adds that he possibly continued in office until his death in 616-617. However, he also mentions three other marzpans over the same period (see following).	Bagratuni
28	Shahrayeanpet	611–613		Marzpan at Dvin, in eastern Armenia, along with Shahin Vahmanzadegan as pahghospan in western (former Byzantine) Armenia	–
29	Parshenazdat	613–613	–	Iranian grandee, nominated by Khosrau II.	–
30	Namdar-Gushnasp	616–619	–		–
31	Shahraplakan	619–624	–		–
32	Rotshvehan	624–627	–		–
33	Varaztirots II Bagratuni	ca. 628	–	Armenian nobleman, named marzpan by Kavadh II for the portions of Armenia remaining under Iranian rule. Following the onset of the Muslim conquest of Iran, Varaztirots aligned himself with the Byzantines.	Bagratuni
34	Mjej II Gnuni	630–635	–	Armenian nobleman, named governor of Armenia by the Byzantine emperor Heraclius.	Gnuni
35	David Saharuni	635–638	–	Armenian nobleman, he murdered Mjej and proclaimed himself governor. He was recognized by Heraclius, who named him kouropalates and ishkhan of Armenia.	Saharuni
36	Theodore Rshtuni	643–645	–	Armenian nobleman, following the complete collapse of Iran, he was named Prince of Armenia by the Byzantines, but died before being formally invested	Rshtuni
37	Varaztirots II Bagratuni	645/646	–	–	Bagratuni
Presidental princes of Armenia under Rashidun, Umayyad and Abbasids (645–884)
1	Theodore Rshtuni	650–655	–	Various Armenian noblemans	Rshtuni
2	Hamazasp II Mamikonian	655–658	–		Mamikonian
3	Gregory I Mamikonian	662–684/85	–
4	Ashot II Bagratuni	686–690	–		Bagratuni
5	Nerses Kamsarakan	689–691	–		Kamsarakan
6	Smbat VI Bagratuni	691–711	–		Bagratuni
7	Ashot III Bagratuni	732–748	–
8	Gregory II Mamikonian	748–750	–		Mamikonian
9	Sahak VII Bagratuni	755–761	–		Bagratuni
10	Smbat VII Bagratuni	761–775	–
11	Ashot IV Bagratuni	806–826	–
12	Bagrat II Bagratuni	830–851	–
13	Ashot V Bagratuni	862–884		Armenian nobleman, later king of Bagratuni kingdom of Armenia

Bagratid Kingdom of Armenia

The Bagratid Armenia was an independent Armenian state established by Ashot I Bagratuni of the Bagratuni dynasty in the early 880s following nearly two centuries of foreign domination of Greater Armenia under Arab Umayyad and Abbasid rule.

Bagratid Kingdom of Armenia
No.	Name	Years	Portrait or couinage	House	Notes
1	Ashot I the Great	884–890		Bagratuni	Former presidental prince of Armenia
2	Smbat I	890–914	–		Son of Ashot the Great
3	Ashot II	914–928			Son of Smbat I
4	Abas I	928–952	–
5	Ashot III the Merciful	953–977			Son of Abas I During the his reign, Ani became the kingdom's capital and grew into a thriving economic and cultural center.
6	Smbat II	977–989			Son of Ashot III
7	Gagik I	989–1020
8	Hovhannes-Smbat III	1020–1040	–		Son of Gagik I In Ani
	Ashot IV	1021–1039	–		Son of Gagik I In Talin
9	Gagik II	1041–1045	–		Son of Ashot IV Last king, he died in exile

Variorous Armenian kingdoms

Kingdom of Kars (962/3–1064)

• Mushegh (962/3–984) son of Abas I of Armenia
• Abas I (984–1029)
• Gagik-Abas II (1029–1064) he claimed the position of king of all Armenia following the collapse of the main Bagratid kingdom in 1045.

The kingdom centered on now northeastern Turkey (Kars Province) and northwestern Armenia.

Kingdom of Vaspurakan (908–1021)

• Gagik I Ardsruni (908–943)
• Derenik-Ashot Adrsruni (943–958)
• Abusahl-Hamazasp (958–968)
• Ashot-Sahak (969/972–991)
• Gurgen-Khachik (991–1003)
• Seneqerim-Hovhannes (1003–1021)

The kingdom centered on Lake Van, located in what is now eastern Turkey (in Van Province) and partially northwestern Iran.

Kingdom of Syunik (970–1170)

• Smbat II (970–998)
• Vasak VI (998–1019)
• Smbat III (1019–1044)
• Grigor I (1044–1084)
• Senekerim Sevadian (1084–1094)
• Grigor II (1094–1166)
• Hasan of Gerakar (1166–1170) son-in-law of Grigor II

The kingdom centered in Syunik province of now Armenia.

Kingdom of Lori (982–1145)

• Gurgen I (982–989)
• David I (989–1046/1048)
• Gurgen II (1046/1048–1081/1089)
• David II and Abas (1089–1145)

The kingdom was located on the territories of modern-day northern Armenia, partially northwestern Azerbaijan and southern Georgia.

The five melikdoms of Karabakh

In addition, five Armenian meliks ruled the mountainous Karabakh from the 14th to the 19th centuries.

Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia

The Armenian Kingdom (starting of an principality) of Cilicia was an Armenian state formed during the High Middle Ages by Armenian refugees fleeing the Turcoman invasion of the Armenia. Located outside the Armenian Highlands and distinct from the Kingdom of Armenia of antiquity or medieval.

Armenian Principality of Cilicia (1080–1198)
No.	Prince	Years	Portrait or couinage	Notes	House
1	Ruben I	1080–1095		First Armenian prince of Cilicia He declared the independence of Cilicia from the Byzantine Empire, thus formally founding the beginning of Armenian rule there.	Rubenid
2	Constantine I	1095–1099		Son of Ruben I
3	Thoros I	1100/2–1129	–	Son of Constantine I
4	Leo I	1129–1138
5	Thoros II the Great	1145–1169	–	Son of Leo I He successfully ousted the Byzantine garrisons from Pardzerpert, Vahka, Sis, Anazarbus, Adana, Mamistra and Tarsus.
6	Ruben II	1169–1170	–	Son of Thoros II
7	Mleh I	1170–1175	–	Son of Leo I
8	Ruben III	1175–1186/7	–	Grandson of Leo I, son of Stephen
9	Leo II	1186/7–1198
Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia (1198–1375)
No.	King	Years	Portrait or couinage	Notes	House
(9)	Leo I (II)	1199–1219		In 1198, with the crowning of Leo I, King of Armenia of the Rubenid dynasty, Cilician Armenia became a kingdom.	Rubenid
10	Isabella	1219–1226		Daughter of Leo I Queen regnant and later co-ruler
11		1226–1253
	Hethum I	1226–1253		First king from Hethumids Co-ruler and later only king	Hethumid
12		1253–1270
13	Leo II (III)	1268–1289		Son of Hethum I
14	Hethum II	1289–1293		Son of Leo II First reign
15	Thoros III	1293–1294	–	Son of Leo II
16	Hethum II	1294–1296		Second reign
17	Smbat IV	1296–1298		Son of Leo II
18	Constantine I (II)	1298–1299
19	Hethum II	1299–1305		Third reign
20	Leo III (IV)	1305–1308	–	Son of Thoros III
21	Oshin	1308–1320		Son of Leo III
22	Leo IV (V)	1320–1341		Son of Oshin During this period, the kingdom was much harassed by Mamluks and Mongols.
23	Constantine II (IV)	1342–1344		First king from crusader-dynasty of Lusignan	Lusignan
24	Constantine III (V)	1344–1362		He was the second cousin of Constantine II.	Hethumid–Lusignan
25	Constantine IV (VI)	1362–1373	–	–	Hethumid
26	Leo V (VI)	1374–1375		The last king then claimed the throne after losing power to the throne	Lusignan

Turcoman kings of Armenia

In the decades following the Battle of Manzikert, one of the Turcoman vassal dynasties of the Seljuk Turks gained control of the city of Ahlat in the former Armenian heartland. These Turcoman emirs took the used title of Shah-i Armen (ie. "King of the Armenians").

No.	Name	Years	Portrait or couinage	House	Notes
1	Sökmen	1100–1111	–	Sökmenid	Turcoman military commander, former slave amir in the service of Seljuks.
2	Zahireddin Ibrahim	1111–1127	–		–
3	Ahmed	1127	–		–
4	Sökmen II	1128–1185	–		–

Qara Qoyunlu

The title Shah-i Armen was temporarily revived in the 15th century under the rule of the Turcoman Qara Qoyunlu during the rule of Qara Iskandar.

Iskandar sought to cultivate the Armenian population, especially the feudal lords and clergy. To reinforce this policy, he took the title "Shah-i Armen," King of the Armenians.

No.	Name	Years	Portrait or couinage	House	Notes
1	Iskandar or Qara Iskandar	1420–1436		Qara Qoyunlu	4th ruler of Qara Qoyunlu Son of Qara Yusuf

Sources

• Lang, David M. (1983). "Iran, Armenia and Georgia". In Yarshater, Ehsan (ed.). The Cambridge History of Iran, Volume 3: The Seleucid, Parthian and Sasanid Periods. Cambridge University Press. p. 516. ISBN 0-521-20092-X.
• Adalian, Rouben Paul (2010). Historical Dictionary of Armenia. Scarecrow Press. ISBN 978-0-8108-7450-3.
• Kouymjian, Dickran (1997). "Armenia from the Fall of the Cilician Kingdom (1375) to the Forced Emigration under Shah Abbas (1604)". In Hovannisian, Richard G. (ed.). The Armenian People From Ancient to Modern Times: Foreign Dominion to Statehood: The Fifteenth Century to the Twentieth Century. Vol. 2. New York: St. Martin Press. ISBN 9780312101688.