The history of Armenian Kings reflects the rise and fall of dynasties that shaped Armenia’s destiny for more than two millennia. From the early Ervanduni (Orontid) rulers of the 6th century BC to the powerful Artaxiad monarchs such as Tigran the Great, and later the Bagratuni and Cilician kings, each dynasty left its mark on Armenian statehood, culture, and identity. This comprehensive list of Armenian kings and dynasties offers an overview of the rulers who defended Armenia’s independence, expanded its borders, and safeguarded its heritage against great empires of the ancient and medieval world.
The list of Armenian Kings, Dynasties
Ervanduni (Orontid) Dynasty – Kings and Satraps
The Ervanduni (Orontid) dynasty was the first recorded line of Armenian kings, ruling from the 6th to 2nd centuries BC. As satraps under Persian influence, they laid the foundations of Armenian statehood and preserved local traditions amid great empires.
Ervand (Orontes) I Sakavakyats (570-560 BC)
Tigran (Tigranes) Ervandian (560-535 BC)
Vahagn (530-515 BC)
Hidarnes I (late 6th c. BC)
Hidarnes II (early 5th c. BC)
Hidarnes III (middle of 5th c. BC)
Artashir (2nd half of 5th c. BC)
Ervand (Orontes) (401-344 BC)
Darius Codomannus (344-336 BC)
Ervand (Orontes) (336-331 BC)
Mithranes (Mitraustes) (331-323 BC)
Perdiccas (non-dynastic) (323 BC)
Neoptolemus (non-dynastic) (323-321 BC)
Eumenes (non-dynastic) (321 BC)
Mihran (321-317 BC)
Ervand (Orontes) II (317- 300 BC)
Sames (Samos) (260-243 BC)
Arsames (Arsham) (243-226 BC)
Xerxes (Qserqses) (226-212 BC)
Abdisarius (212 BC)
Ervand (Orontes) III (212–200 BC)
Artaxiad (Artashesian) Dynasty – Kings of Kings (shahn-shah)
The Artaxiad dynasty (189–1st century BC) brought Armenia to its golden age under Tigran the Great, who expanded the kingdom into one of the most powerful states of the Near East. Known as “kings of kings,” the Artaxiads blended Hellenistic culture with Armenian traditions.
Artashes (Artaxias) I (189-160)
Artavazd (Artavasdes) I (160-115)
Tigran ( Tiranes,Tigranes) I (115-95)
Tigran the Great (Tigranes) (95-55)
Artavazd (Artavasdes) II (55-34)
Artashes (Artaxias) II (30-20)
Tigran (Tigranes) III (20-8)
Tigran (Tigranes) IV
Artavazd (Artavasdes) III (5-2 BC)
Arshakuni (Arsacid, Arshaguоni, Arstacid, Arshaguni) Dynasty – Kings of Armenia
The Arshakuni dynasty (1st–5th centuries AD), of Parthian origin, played a central role in Armenia’s transition to Christianity. Under King Trdat III, Armenia became the first nation to adopt Christianity as a state religion in 301 AD, shaping its identity forever.
Tiridates I (54-56, 56-59 and 62-72)
Tigranes VI (59-62)
Sanatruk ?-197
Valarsaces (Vagarshak) (197)
Xosroves (Khosroes) (197-238)
Artavazd VI (252-283)
Trdat III Mec (Tiridates) (283-330)
Xosrov kotak II (Khosrov) (330-339)
Tigran VII (Tigranes) (339-350)
Arshak II (350-368)
Pap (370-374)
Varazdat (374-378)
Arshak III (384-389)
Vagarshak (Valarchak) (384-386)
Xosrov III (Khosrov) (387-392 ) (414-415 )
Vramshapuh (392-414)
Arshak IV (423-428)
Bagratuni (Bagratid) Dynasty – Medieval Armenian Kings “Arqayic arqa”
The Bagratuni dynasty (885–1045) restored Armenian independence during the medieval period, with Ani as their magnificent capital. Kings such as Ashot I and Ashot III the Merciful strengthened Armenia’s culture, architecture, and political power.
Ashot I (885-890)
Smbat I (890-914 )
Ashot II the Iron (Yerkat) 914-929
Abas I (928-952)
Ashot III (952-977)
Smbat II (977-989)
Gagik I (989-1020)
Hovhannes-Smbat (1020-1040)
Ashot IV (1021-1039)
Gagik II (1042-1045)
Rubinian (Roupenid) Dynasty – Princes (1080-1198)
Ruben I (1080-1095)
Constantine I (1095-1102)
Toros I (1102-1129)
Constantine II (1129)
Levon (Leo) (1129-1140)
Toros II (1140-1169)
Ruben II (1169-1170)
Mleh (1170-1175)
Ruben III (1175-1187)
Levon (Leo) (1187-1198)
Rubinian (Roupenid) Dynasty Kings (1198-1219)
Crowned in 1198, the Rubinian dynasty’s kings transformed Cilicia into a flourishing Armenian kingdom. Under Levon I, Cilician Armenia became a vital Christian stronghold, balancing diplomacy and warfare with neighboring Crusader and Muslim states.
Levon (Leo) (1198-1219)
Hetumian (Hetumid) Dynasty – Kings (1226-1342)
The Hetumid dynasty (1226–1342) continued the Cilician Armenian kingdom’s prosperity. Known for alliances with the Mongols and resistance against Mamluk invasions, they preserved Armenia’s influence in the Eastern Mediterranean.
Hetum I (1226-1342)
Levon (Leo) III (1270-1289)
Hetum II (1289-1293)
Toros III (1293-1298)
Hetum II (1294-1297)
Smbat (1297-1299)
Constantine III (1299)
Hetum II (1299-1307)
Levon IV (Leo) (1301-1307)
Oshin (1307-1320)
Levon V (Leo) (1320-1341)
Constantine III (1299)
Lusignan (Lusinian) Dynasty – Kings of Armenia in Exile (1342-1464)
The Lusignan dynasty (1342–1464), of French origin, ruled the last phase of the Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia. Though often in conflict with local nobles, they kept alive the title of “King of Armenia” even after losing Cilicia to foreign powers.
Constantine IV (1342-1344)
Constantine V (1344-1362)
Constantine VI (1362-1373)
Levon VI (Leo) (1374-1393)
Source:
Armenian-History.com
