Mihranids

The Mihranids were an Iranian family which ruled several regions of Caucasus from 330 to 821. They claimed to be of Sasanian Persian descent but were of Parthian origin.Template:Sfn

History

The dynasty was founded when a certain Mihran, a distant relative of Sasanian, settled in the region of Gardman in Utik. He was probably a member of a branch of the Mihranid family which was listed among the Seven Great Houses of Iran, and whose two other lines ruled Iberia (Chosroid Dynasty) and Gogarene/Gugark.

It is uncertain how the Mihranids became Arranshahs (princes of Albania). Their ancestor, Mihran, was said to have received the region of Gardman by the Sasanian monarch Khosrow II (Template:Reign).Template:Sfn In c. Template:Trim, the Mihranids who exterminated all of the members of the Aranshahik dynasty with the exception of a certain Zarmihr, who was related to the Mihranids through marriage.Template:Sfn This was due to the Aranshahiks still having some authority in Albania,Template:Sfn which they had originally ruled until their overthrow in the 1st-century.Template:Sfn The Mihranids then conquered all of Albania and assumed the title of Arranshah, but without embracing its royal status.Template:SfnTemplate:Sfn The head of the family's full titulature was thus "Lord of Gardman and Prince of Albania".Template:Sfn

The most prominent representatives of the family in the 7th century were Varaz Grigor, his son Javanshir, and Varaz-Tiridates I. Mihranids assumed a Persian title of Arranshahs (i.e. shahs of Arran, Persian name of Albania). The family's rule came to an end after the assassination of Varaz-Tiridates II by Nerseh Pilippean in 822–23.Template:Sfn

Subsequently Sahl Smbatean, a descendant of the aforementioned Arranshahik (Eṙanšahik) family, assumed the title of Arranshah and ruled significant part of Caucasian Albania.

Mihranids of Gogarene

• Peroz (330–361)
• Unknown (361–394)
• Bakur I (394–400)
• Arshusha I (400–430)
• Bakur II (430–455)
• Arshusha II (455–470)
• Varsken (470–482)
• Arshusha III (482–540)
• Arshusha IV (540–608)
• Vahram-Arshusha V (608–627)
• Arshusha VI (???–748)

Mihranids of Gardman

• Peroz (330–361)
• Khurs (361–430)
• Barzabod (430–440)
• Varaz-Bakur (440–450)
• Mihr (450–480)
• Armayel (480–510)
• Vard I (510–540)
• Vardan I (540–570)
• Vard II (570–600)

Mihranids of Caucasian Albania

• Varaz Grigor (628–636)
• Javanshir (636–680)
• Varaz-Tiridates I (680–705)
  • Shiruye (699–704, usurper)
• Vardan II (705–740)
• Narseh-Dzndak (740–770)
• Gagikh II (770–790)
• Stephanos I (790–821)
• Varaz-Tiridates II (821–822)

Sources

• Template:Encyclopaedia Iranica
• Template:EI3