The Mamikonians were a powerful clan group who were influential in Armenian political and military affairs from the 1st century BCE onwards. They rose to particular prominence from c. 428 CE to 652 CE in the half of Armenia ruled by the Sasanian Empire when marzpan viceroys represented the Persian king. One of the dynasty's most famous figures is Vardan Mamikonian who fell at the 451 CE Battle of Avarayr fought against Persia to defend Armenia's cultural and religious independence.
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Definition
Timeline
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c. 387 CERoman emperor Theodosius I and Shapur III of Persia agree to formally divide Armenia between the Eastern Roman (Byzantine) Empire and the Sasanian Empire.
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c. 410 CE - c. 490 CELife of the Armenian historian Movses Khorenatsi.
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c. 428 CE - 652 CEPersia rules one half of Armenia as the Marzpanate, that is with marzpan viceroys.
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c. 439 CEMamikonian prince Hamazasp marries Sahakanyush and so unifies the estates of the Mamikonians and descendants of Saint Gregory the Illuminator.
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451 CEBattle of Avarayr between Armenian forces and those of the Sasanian Empire.
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484 CEThe Treaty of Nvarsak is signed between Persia and Armenia giving the latter a greater political autonomy and freedom of religious thought.
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485 CEVahan Mamikonian is made marzpan of Armenia.
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c. 554 CEThe Council of Dvin declares the Armenian Church's adherence to the doctrine of monophysitism.
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627 CEByzantine emperor Heraclius wins a crushing victory over the Persian army at Nineveh.
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640 CE - 650 CEThe Rashidun Caliphate conquers Armenia.
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651 CEArab Rashidun Caliphate conquers the Sasanian Empire.
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701 CEArmenia is formally annexed as a province of the Umayyad Caliphate.
