Tigranocerta (Tigranakert) was a city in the southwest of ancient Armenia founded and made capital by Tigranes the Great in 83 BCE. Famous for its riches and fine buildings, as well as its mix of Hellenistic and Persian culture, the city, despite possessing impressive fortifications, was captured twice by Roman armies in 69 BCE and 59 CE. Continuing as an important settlement into Late Antiquity, it was then abandoned and its precise location has been lost in the mists of time.
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Definition
Timeline
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c. 95 BCE - c. 56 BCEReign of Tigranes II, king of Armenia.
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83 BCEArmenian king Tigranes II founds a new capital at Tigranocerta (aka Tigranakert).
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69 BCELicinius Lucullus leads a Roman army which defeats Armenian king Tigranes II and his capital Tigranocerta is captured. Artashat becomes the capital again.
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66 BCEPompey the Great rebuilds the Armenian city of Tigranocerta.
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54 CE - 60 CERoman general Corbulo successfully campaigns in Armenia.
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387 CETigranocerta in Armenia is renamed Martyropolis.
