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For other people named Arsames, see Arsames (disambiguation).
Arsames I
Arsames I coin 240 BC.jpg
Coinage of Arsames, King of Sophene.
King of Armenia, Sophene & Commagene
Reign 260 - 228 BC
Coronation 260 BC
Successor Possibly Arsames II
Xerxes, King of Sophene & Commagene
Died 228 BC
Burial Arsameia
Issue
Xerxes
Orontes IV
Mithrenes II
Names
Arsames I
Dynasty Orontid Dynasty
Father Sames
Arsames I (Greek: Ἀρσάμης; Old Persian: 𐎠𐎼𐏁𐎠𐎶) seems to
have taken control of Commagene, Sophene and Armenia in the year 260 BC after
the death of his grandfather Orontes III, king of Armenia, and his father
Sames, king of Commagene.
Contents
1 Name
2 Reign
3 Children
4 See also
5 Notes
6 References
Name
"Arsames" is the Hellenized form of the Old Persian name Aršāma[a] ("having
a hero’s strength"), which was a common name within the Persian Achaemenid
family as well as amongst the Persian elite of the Achaemenid Empire (550-330
BC).[2][3] The name is a compound, composed of aršan ("male, hero") and ama
("strength").[2][b] The name is attested in Aramaic as ʾršm.[2] The feminine
form of the name, *Aršāmā (Greek Arsamē), is attested in the daughter of
Darius the Great (522-486 BC).[2]
Reign
Quite why they both died in the same year is not recorded, though it looks
suspicious. It is known the Seleucid Empire was always trying to overthrow the
Armenian dynasties who still ruled the lands their forebears had in the time
of the Achaemenid Empire.
Ziaelas of Bithynia found refuge at the court of king Arsames, and upon the
death of king Nicomedes I of Bithynia Ziaelas returned to take the kingdom in
254 BC.
Arsames also supported Antiochus Hierax against his brother, Seleucus II
Callinicus, who was defeated at a battle against king Mithridates II of Pontus
near Ankara in 239 BC, after which Seleucus lost control of any lands he had
across the Taurus mountains. This was to the benefit of Arsames.
Arsames then founded the cities of Arsamosata in Sophene and Arsameia (known
today as Eski Kale) in Commagene in 235 BC.
After his death his eldest son Xerxes became king of Commagene, Sophene and
Armenia. Orontes IV would succeed Xerxes whilst another son known as "Mithras"
(or Mithrenes II) is recorded as being the High Priest of the temple to the
Sun and Moon at Armavir.
Children
Xerxes, King of Armenia and Sophene 228 - 212 BC
Orontes IV, King of Armenia 212 - 200 BC
Mithrenes II, High Priest of the temple to the Sun and Moon at Armavi