Armenia, Kingdom of Greater

The ancient Kingdom of Armenia is an independent monarchy from 331 BCE to CE 428.

The peak of the kingdom's power and its integration in Hellenistic culture under Tigranes and his son Artavasdes is also referred to as Armenian Empire.

After the fall of the Achaemenid Empire, the former Satrapy of Armenia is divided in about 120 clan territories ruled by nakharars.

These are united under Artaxias I, the founder of the Artaxiad Dynasty, after whom the early phase of the kingdom is also known as Artaxiad Armenia.Armenia reaches its greatest size and influence under King Tigranes II (r. 95-55 BCE) stretched from the Mediterranean Sea northeast to the Kura River.

The Artaxiads are overthrown by the Romans in CE 12, resulting in a period of turmoil and civil war.

Two Roman client kings are installed, Tigranes V and Tigranes VI.

After CE 54, the kingdom comes to be ruled by the Arsacid Dynasty after which it is also known as Arsacid Armenia.

In CE 387, Armenia was divided into Byzantine Armenia in the west and Persian Armenia in the east.

Persian Armenia remained under the rule of Arsacid client kings until CE 428.