Meruzhan Artzruni
Encyclopedia
Meruzhan Artzruni (ruled c. 355-369 CE) was a Nakharar
(Armenia
n feudal lord) from the Artzruni family. He lived in the decades following the official conversion of Armenia to Christianity
, but himself remained a Zoroastrian. When the Persian king Shapur II
invaded Armenia in the 360s, Meruzhan and several other Armenian lords defected to Persia, a Zoroastrian state, joining Shapur in raiding the districts of Sophene
and Akilisene. The Armenian King Arshak II
fled, and the Persian attack was successfully repulsed by the sparapet
(general) Vassak Mamikonian
. In many Armenian histories, including that of P'awstos, Meruzhan is seen as a traitor, and it is said that he was promised riches and governorship by Shapur. Some, however, contend that he saw himself as a ruler exercising his lawful powers to counter the growth of Christianity. He was killed by Arshak's successor King Pap
.
Nakharar
Nakharar was a hereditary title of the highest order given to houses of the ancient and medieval Armenian nobility.-Nakharar system:Medieval Armenia was divided into large estates, which were the property of an enlarged noble family and were ruled by a member of it, to whom the title of Nahapet...
(Armenia
Armenia
Armenia , officially the Republic of Armenia , is a landlocked mountainous country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia...
n feudal lord) from the Artzruni family. He lived in the decades following the official conversion of Armenia to Christianity
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
, but himself remained a Zoroastrian. When the Persian king Shapur II
Shapur II
Shapur II the Great was the ninth King of the Persian Sassanid Empire from 309 to 379 and son of Hormizd II. During his long reign, the Sassanid Empire saw its first golden era since the reign of Shapur I...
invaded Armenia in the 360s, Meruzhan and several other Armenian lords defected to Persia, a Zoroastrian state, joining Shapur in raiding the districts of Sophene
Sophene
Sophene , or ) was a province of the Armenian Kingdom and of the Roman Empire, located in the south-west of the kingdom. It currently lies in modern-day southeastern Turkey....
and Akilisene. The Armenian King Arshak II
Arshak II
Arshak II or Arsaces II, was the son of King Tiran and was himself king of Armenia from 350 to 367.- Reign :In the early years of Arshak's reign, he found himself courted by the empires of Rome and Persia, both of which hope to win Armenia to their side in the ongoing conflicts between them...
fled, and the Persian attack was successfully repulsed by the 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...
(general) Vassak Mamikonian
Vassak Mamikonian
Vassak Mamikonian was the Armenian sparapet for King Arshak II . He was known to be a great general who had many victories against the Persian king Shapur II, but was finally captured along with Arshak and flayed, his body displayed at the gates of the castle where Arshak was kept captive....
. In many Armenian histories, including that of P'awstos, Meruzhan is seen as a traitor, and it is said that he was promised riches and governorship by Shapur. Some, however, contend that he saw himself as a ruler exercising his lawful powers to counter the growth of Christianity. He was killed by Arshak's successor King Pap
Pap of Armenia
Pap was king of Armenia of the Arshakuni dynasty from 370 to 374. He was the son of King Arshak II and is notorious for poisoning the Catholicos of Armenia Nerses the Great.-Ascendancy:...
.