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Orontes I or Yervand I (Old Persian: *Arvanta-) was an Bactrian nobleman,^[1] who ruled as satrap of the Achaemenid satrapy of Armenia from 401 to 344 BC. He is regarded as the ancestor of the Orontid dynasty.

Biography

Satrap of Armenia

Orontes was a son of the Bactrian^[2]^[3] Artasyrus. According to the Greek sources (Xenophon, Strabo), Orontes was made Satrap of Sophene and Matiene (Mitanni).^[4] He was called "Praefectus Armeniae" by Trogus.^[5]

Battle of Cunaxa (401 BC)

Orontes was given these Satrapies of Armenis in 401 BC for supporting the Persian king Artaxerxes II in the Battle of Cunaxa against Cyrus the Younger. After the Battle of Cunaxa, Orontes harassed the Ten Thousand as they attempted to return home and made their way through Armenia.^[6] It is likely he ruled from Armavir as the previous Satrap of Armenia, Hydarnes, had ruled from there. He married Rhodogoune, the daughter of king Artaxerxes II by one of his concubines.^[7]

Cyprus campaign (381 BC)

Mysia

class=notpageimage|

Approximate location of Mysia in Asia Minor.

He next appears in 381 BC as the army commander during the campaign to recapture Cyprus from its rebel leader, King Evagoras, whilst the navy was under the command of Tiribazus. They managed to lay siege to the city of Salamis; however, Orontes intrigued against Tiribazus before king Artaxerxes II, but this led to Orontes falling from favor. It may be because of this that he was stripped of his satrapy and sent to the west of the Empire to become satrap of Mysia.^{[citation needed]}.

Satrap of Mysia

In 362 BC a great rebellion occurred in Anatolia, led by Datames, Satrap of Cappadocia (Revolt of the Satraps). Some sources say that it was Orontes who was chosen by the rebels as their leader. However, Orontes stayed loyal to king Artaxerxes II and aided in the collapse of the rebellion. Apparently, he wanted to rule Anatolia and Armenia alone. He captured the city of Pergamon and sent bribes to Athens, where a decree seeking an alliance records his name. He was able to fund these activities as he is recorded as having a personal fortune of 3,000 talents of silver.

From around 362-361, Orontes is said to be "Satrap of Mysia", and there is various proof of his activity in the region and around Pergamon.^[8]^[9]

In 355 BC he rebelled against the new king of the Achaemenid Empire, Artaxerxes III. He still had possession of parts of western Anatolia. He fought a battle against the satrap of Daskyleion and minted his own coins in Ionia, such as the one displayed in the Bibliothèque Nationale in Paris. He handed back Pergamon to the king.

The kings of the Kingdom of Commagene claimed descent from Orontes I and also claimed Darius I of Persia as an ancestor, thanks to Orontes' marriage to Rhodogoune, daughter of Artaxerxes II who was a direct descendant of king Darius I.^[10]^[11]

Xenophon's Anabasis mentions that the region near the river Centrites was defended by the Satrap of Armenia for Artaxerxes II and named Orontes son of Artasyrus who had Armenian contingents. Xenophon mentioned that he had a son called Tigranes. His successor was Darius III and after Codomannus these Satrapies were ruled by Orontes II. Whether he was the same person as Tigranes but had adopted the name Orontes or that they were brothers is not known.

Coinage

All the known coinage of Orontes is confined to the region of Mysia, and was only found in cities from Lampsacus to Colophon, particularly Adramyteion and Kisthene in the area of Aeolis on the coast.^[12]

References

^ Schmitt 2002.
^ Gershevitch 1985, p. 354.
^ Chahin 2001, p. 185.
^ Petrie, Flinders. Mitannian (Armenian) origin
^ Stylianou, P. J.; Stylianou, Research Associate P. J. (1998). A Historical Commentary on Diodorus Siculus. Clarendon Press. p. 530. ISBN 9780198152392.
^ Xen. Anab. 2.4-5 passim
^ Plutarch. Life of Artaxerxes.
^ Briant, Pierre (2002). From Cyrus to Alexander: A History of the Persian Empire. Eisenbrauns. p. 662. ISBN 9781575061207.
^ Stylianou, P. J.; Stylianou, Research Associate P. J. (1998). A Historical Commentary on Diodorus Siculus. Clarendon Press. p. 532. ISBN 9780198152392.
^ Cook, J.M. (1993). The Persian Empire ([Repr.] ed.). New York: Barns & Noble Books. pp. 170, 173, 193, 212, 213, 216, 217, 221–223, 257, 263. ISBN 1-56619-115-7.
^ The Armenian People from Ancient to Modern Times - 2 Vols., Richard G. Hovannisian, St. Martin's Press, New York, 1997
^ Stylianou, P. J.; Stylianou, Research Associate P. J. (1998). A Historical Commentary on Diodorus Siculus. Clarendon Press. p. 532. ISBN 9780198152392.

Sources

Garsoian, Nina (2004). "Armeno-Iranian Relations in the pre-Islamic period". Encyclopaedia Iranica. {{cite encyclopedia}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)
Schmitt, Rüdiger (2002). "Orontes". Encyclopaedia Iranica. {{cite encyclopedia}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)

[FOOTNOTESchmitt2002-1] Schmitt 2002.

[FOOTNOTEGershevitch1985354-2] Gershevitch 1985, p. 354.

[FOOTNOTEChahin2001185-3] Chahin 2001, p. 185.

[4] Petrie, Flinders. Mitannian (Armenian) origin

[5] Stylianou, P. J.; Stylianou, Research Associate P. J. (1998). A Historical Commentary on Diodorus Siculus. Clarendon Press. p. 530. ISBN 9780198152392.

[6] Xen. Anab. 2.4-5 passim

[7] Plutarch. Life of Artaxerxes.

[8] Briant, Pierre (2002). From Cyrus to Alexander: A History of the Persian Empire. Eisenbrauns. p. 662. ISBN 9781575061207.

[9] Stylianou, P. J.; Stylianou, Research Associate P. J. (1998). A Historical Commentary on Diodorus Siculus. Clarendon Press. p. 532. ISBN 9780198152392.

[10] Cook, J.M. (1993). The Persian Empire ([Repr.] ed.). New York: Barns & Noble Books. pp. 170, 173, 193, 212, 213, 216, 217, 221–223, 257, 263. ISBN 1-56619-115-7.

[11] The Armenian People from Ancient to Modern Times - 2 Vols., Richard G. Hovannisian, St. Martin's Press, New York, 1997

[12] Stylianou, P. J.; Stylianou, Research Associate P. J. (1998). A Historical Commentary on Diodorus Siculus. Clarendon Press. p. 532. ISBN 9780198152392.

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@@ Line 2: / Line 2: @@
 | name               = Orontes I
 | succession         = Satrap of [[Sophene]] and [[Matiene]]
-| image              = Orontes I portrait.jpg
+| image              = Orontes I.jpg
-|image_size=250
+| image_size         = 300px
-| caption            = Portrait of Orontes as satrap of [[Mysia]], wearing the satrapal headdress, from his coinage.
+| caption            = Orontes I's portrait on the observe of a coin, showing him with the satrapal headdress
-| reign              = 401 BC – 344 BC
+| reign              = 401 – 344 BC
 | coronation         = 401 BC
 | full name          = Orontes (Aurand/Yervand)
@@ Line 23: / Line 23: @@
 | place of burial    =
 }}
+'''Orontes I''' or '''Yervand I''' ([[Old Persian]]: ''*Arvanta-'') was an [[Bactria]]n nobleman,{{sfn|Schmitt|2002}} who ruled as satrap of the [[Achaemenid Empire|Achaemenid]] satrapy of [[Satrapy of Armenia|Armenia]] from 401 to 344 BC. He is regarded as the ancestor of the [[Orontid dynasty]].
-'''Orontes I''' or '''Yervand I''' ([[classical Armenian]]: Երուանդ Ա, Yervand I) was an [[Armenians|Armenian]] ruler of the [[Orontid Dynasty]] who ruled as satrap of the [[Achaemenid Empire]] between 401 BC – 344 BC. The Persian version of the name is '''Auruand''' which meant "Great Warrior" in the [[Avestan language]]. It is likely this was a special title given by the Persian king, though this seems to have become a hereditary title in that family.
 ==Biography==
 ===Satrap of Armenia===
-According to the Greek sources ([[Xenophon]], [[Strabo]]), Orontes was made [[Satrap]] of [[Sophene]] and [[Matiene]] ([[Mitanni]]).<ref>[[Flinders Petrie|Petrie, Flinders]]. [https://books.google.com/books?id=zDgWAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA384 Mitannian (Armenian) origin]</ref> He was called ''"Praefectus Armeniae"'' by [[Trogus]].<ref>{{cite book |last1=Stylianou |first1=P. J. |last2=Stylianou |first2=Research Associate P. J. |title=A Historical Commentary on Diodorus Siculus |date=1998 |publisher=Clarendon Press |isbn=9780198152392 |page=530 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=dJTK3mCMq9sC&pg=PA530 |language=en}}</ref>
+Orontes was a son of the [[Bactria]]n{{sfn|Gershevitch|1985|page=354}}{{sfn|Chahin|2001|page=185}} [[Artasyrus]]. According to the Greek sources ([[Xenophon]], [[Strabo]]), Orontes was made [[Satrap]] of [[Sophene]] and [[Matiene]] ([[Mitanni]]).<ref>[[Flinders Petrie|Petrie, Flinders]]. [https://books.google.com/books?id=zDgWAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA384 Mitannian (Armenian) origin]</ref> He was called ''"Praefectus Armeniae"'' by [[Trogus]].<ref>{{cite book |last1=Stylianou |first1=P. J. |last2=Stylianou |first2=Research Associate P. J. |title=A Historical Commentary on Diodorus Siculus |date=1998 |publisher=Clarendon Press |isbn=9780198152392 |page=530 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=dJTK3mCMq9sC&pg=PA530 |language=en}}</ref>
 ====Battle of Cunaxa (401 BC)====
@@ Line 34: / Line 33: @@
 ====Cyprus campaign (381 BC)====
-He next appears in 381 BC as the army commander during the campaign to recapture Cyprus from its rebel leader, King [[Evagoras I|Evagoras]], whilst the navy was under the command of [[Tiribazus]]. They managed to lay siege to the city of Salamis; however, Orontes intrigued against Tiribazus before king Artaxerxes II, but this led to Orontes falling from favor. It may be because of this that he was stripped of his satrapy and sent to the west of the Empire to become satrap of Mysia.{{Citation needed|date=August 2018}}.
-===Satrap of Mysia===
-[[File:Orontes coin with running Achaemenid king.jpg|thumb|upright|left|Orontes coin with running Achaemenid king. Legend ''OΡONTA'' (Orontes). Minted in [[Caria]].]]
-In 362 BC a great rebellion occurred in [[Anatolia]], led by [[Datames]], Satrap of [[Cappadocia]] ([[Revolt of the Satraps]]). Some sources say that it was Orontes who was chosen by the rebels as their leader. However, Orontes stayed loyal to king Artaxerxes II and aided in the collapse of the rebellion.  Apparently, he wanted to rule Anatolia and Armenia alone. He captured the city of [[Pergamon]] and sent bribes to [[Athens]], where a decree seeking an alliance records his name.  He was able to fund these activities as he is recorded as having a personal fortune of 3,000 talents of silver.
 {{Location map
 | Aegean
@@ Line 60: / Line 53: @@
 | lon_deg    = 28.5
 }}
+He next appears in 381 BC as the army commander during the campaign to recapture Cyprus from its rebel leader, King [[Evagoras I|Evagoras]], whilst the navy was under the command of [[Tiribazus]]. They managed to lay siege to the city of Salamis; however, Orontes intrigued against Tiribazus before king Artaxerxes II, but this led to Orontes falling from favor. It may be because of this that he was stripped of his satrapy and sent to the west of the Empire to become satrap of Mysia.{{Citation needed|date=August 2018}}.
+===Satrap of Mysia===
+[[File:Orontes coin with running Achaemenid king.jpg|thumb|upright|left|Orontes coin with running Achaemenid king. Legend ''OΡONTA'' (Orontes). Minted in [[Caria]].]]
+In 362 BC a great rebellion occurred in [[Anatolia]], led by [[Datames]], Satrap of [[Cappadocia]] ([[Revolt of the Satraps]]). Some sources say that it was Orontes who was chosen by the rebels as their leader. However, Orontes stayed loyal to king Artaxerxes II and aided in the collapse of the rebellion.  Apparently, he wanted to rule Anatolia and Armenia alone. He captured the city of [[Pergamon]] and sent bribes to [[Athens]], where a decree seeking an alliance records his name.  He was able to fund these activities as he is recorded as having a personal fortune of 3,000 talents of silver.
 From around 362-361, Orontes is said to be "Satrap of [[Mysia]]", and there is various proof of his activity in the region and around [[Pergamon]].<ref>{{cite book |last1=Briant |first1=Pierre |title=From Cyrus to Alexander: A History of the Persian Empire |date=2002 |publisher=Eisenbrauns |isbn=9781575061207 |page=662 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=lxQ9W6F1oSYC&pg=PA662 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Stylianou |first1=P. J. |last2=Stylianou |first2=Research Associate P. J. |title=A Historical Commentary on Diodorus Siculus |date=1998 |publisher=Clarendon Press |isbn=9780198152392 |page=532 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=dJTK3mCMq9sC&pg=PA532 |language=en}}</ref>
@@ Line 65: / Line 64: @@
 The kings of the [[Kingdom of Commagene]] claimed descent from Orontes I and also claimed [[Darius I of Persia]] as an ancestor, thanks to Orontes' marriage to Rhodogoune, daughter of [[Artaxerxes II]] who was a direct descendant of king Darius I.<ref>{{cite book|last=Cook|first=J.M.|title=The Persian Empire|year=1993|publisher=Barns & Noble Books|location=New York|isbn=1-56619-115-7|pages=170, 173, 193, 212, 213, 216, 217, 221–223, 257, 263|edition=[Repr.]}}</ref><ref>The Armenian People from Ancient to Modern Times - 2 Vols., [[Richard G. Hovannisian]], St. Martin's Press, New York, 1997</ref>
-An inscription called Orontes a "Bactrian", though it was because his father, [[Artasyrus]] (Artaxerxes), had been the Satrap of [[Bactria]] during the reign of King [[Artaxerxes II]].<ref>{{cite book |title=OGIS |location=264a |url=http://www.attalus.org/docs/ogis/s264.html}}</ref> Some sources {{who|date=March 2015}} suggest that Artasyrus was Artaxerxes II, who had seven known children and eleven children whose names are not known in Western historical records. During the [[Achaemenid Empire]], [[Bactria]] was ruled by the heir to the throne.
 [[Xenophon]]'s Anabasis mentions that the region near the river Centrites was defended by the Satrap of Armenia for [[Artaxerxes II]] and named Orontes son of [[Artasyrus]] who had [[Armenians|Armenian]] contingents. Xenophon mentioned that he had a son called [[Tigranes Orontid|Tigranes]]. His successor was [[Darius III]] and after Codomannus these Satrapies were ruled by [[Orontes II]]. Whether he was the same person as Tigranes but had adopted the name Orontes or that they were brothers is not known.
@@ Line 72: / Line 69: @@
 ==Coinage==
 All the known coinage of Orontes is confined to the region of [[Mysia]], and was only found in cities from [[Lampsacus]] to [[Colophon (city)|Colophon]], particularly [[Adramyteion]] and [[Cisthene (Mysia)|Kisthene]] in the area of [[Aeolis]] on the coast.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Stylianou |first1=P. J. |last2=Stylianou |first2=Research Associate P. J. |title=A Historical Commentary on Diodorus Siculus |date=1998 |publisher=Clarendon Press |isbn=9780198152392 |page=532 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=dJTK3mCMq9sC&pg=PA532 |language=en}}</ref>
-<gallery widths="200px" heights="100px" perrow="4">
-File:Orontes I.jpg|Gold coinage of Orontes. Head of satrap, wearing satrapal headdress.
-File:MYSIA, Adramyteion. Orontes, Satrap of Mysia. Circa 357-352 BC.jpg|Coin of Orontes as Satrap of [[Mysia]], Adramyteion. Circa 357-352 BC
-File:MYSIA, Adramytion. Orontes. Satrap of Mysia, Circa 357-352 BC. Æ 10 mm (1.10 g). Head of satrap right.jpg|Coin of Orontes as Satrap of [[Mysia]], Adramyteion. Circa 357-352 BC. Head of Zeus right.
-File:Orontes Mysia coin.jpg|Coin of Orontes as Satrap of [[Mysia]], Kisthene. Circa 357-352 BC. Nude hoplite crouching left behind shield, spear at ready.
-File:MYSIA, Adramytion. Orontes. Satrap of Mysia circa 357-352 BC.jpg|Coin of Orontes I. Bearded head, wearing satrapal headdress. Forepart of winged boar.
-File:Orontes Asia Minor.jpg|Coin of Orontes, minted in Asia Minor.
-</gallery>
-==See also==
-{{Commons category|Orontes I}}
-*[[Satrapy of Armenia]]
 ==References==
-{{Reflist}}
+{{reflist|2}}
+== Sources ==
+* {{cite encyclopedia | title = Armeno-Iranian Relations in the pre-Islamic period | last = Garsoian | first = Nina | authorlink = | url = http://www.iranicaonline.org/articles/armeno-iranian-relations-in-the-pre-islamic-period | editor-last = | editor-first = | editor-link = | encyclopedia  = Encyclopaedia Iranica | pages = | location = | publisher = | year = 2004 | isbn = |ref=harv}}
+* {{cite encyclopedia | title = Orontes | last = Schmitt| first = Rüdiger | authorlink = | url = http://www.iranicaonline.org/articles/orontes | editor-last = | editor-first = | editor-link = | encyclopedia  = Encyclopaedia Iranica | pages = | location = | publisher = | year = 2002 | isbn = |ref=harv}}
+{{Commons category|Orontes I}}
 {{Armenian kings}}
 {{Achaemenid rulers}}
 [[Category:5th-century BC kings of Armenia]]
 [[Category:4th-century BC kings of Armenia]]
+[[Category:5th-century BC Iranian people]]
+[[Category:4th-century BC Iranian people]]
 [[Category:Orontid dynasty]]
 [[Category:344 BC]]
-[[Category:Year of birth unknown]]
+[[Category:5th-century BC births]]
 [[Category:4th-century BC rulers]]
 [[Category:340s BC deaths]]

Rulers in the Achaemenid Empire
Family tree - Achaemenid Kingdom
Kings of Kings of the Achaemenid Empire	Achaemenes Ariaramnes Arsames Teispes Cyrus I Cambyses I Cyrus the Great Cambyses II Bardiya Darius the Great Xerxes I Artaxerxes I Xerxes II Sogdianus Darius II Artaxerxes II Mnemon Artaxerxes III Ochus Artaxerxes IV Arses Darius III Codomannus Artaxerxes V Bessus
Satraps of Lydia	Tabalus Mazares Harpagus Oroetus Bagaeus Otanes Artaphernes I Artaphernes II Pissuthnes Tissaphernes Cyrus the Younger Tissaphernes Tithraustes Tiribazus Struthas Autophradates Spithridates
Satraps of Hellespontine Phrygia	Mitrobates Megabazus Megabates Oebares II Artabazus I Pharnabazus I Pharnaces II Pharnabazus II Ariobarzanes Artabazus II Pharnabazus III Arsites
Satraps of Cappadocia	Datames Ariamnes I Mithrobuzanes Ariarathes I
Greek Governors of Asia Minor cities	Miltiades Demaratus Gongylos Eurysthenes Prokles Histiaeus Aristagoras Themistocles Archeptolis Aridolis Amyntas II Philiscus
Dynasts of Lycia	Kheziga Kybernis Kuprlli Harpagus Teththiweibi Kheriga Kherei Arbinas Artembares Artumpara Mithrapata Perikle
Dynasts of Caria	Lygdamis I Artemisia Pisindelis Lygdamis II Adusius (satrap) Hecatomnus Mausolus Artemisia II Idrieus Ada Pixodarus Orontobates
Kings of Macedonia	Amyntas I of Macedon Alexander I of Macedon
Kings of Tyre	Mattan IV Boulomenus Abdemon Evagoras Azemilcus
Kings of Sidon	Eshmunazar I Tabnit Queen Amoashtart (regent) Eshmunazar II Bodashtart Yatonmilk Anysos Tetramnestos Baalshillem I Baana Baalshillem II Abdashtart I Tennes Evagoras II Abdashtart II Abdashtart III
Satraps of Armenia	Artasyrus Orontes I Darius III Orontes II
Satraps of Egypt	Aryandes Pherendates Achaemenes Arsames Pherendates II Sabaces Mazaces
Satraps of Bactria	Hystaspes Dadarsi Masistes Bessus
Satraps of Media	Hydarnes Hydarnes the Younger Atropates
Satraps of Cilicia	Syennesis Camisares Mazaeus Arsames
Other known satraps	Megabyzus, Abrocomas, Belesys (Syria) Ochus (Hyrcania) Satibarzanes (Aria) Atizyes (Greater Phrygia) Phrataphernes (Parthia) Ariobarzanes (Persis) Abulites (Susiana) Mazaeus (Babylon)
In most territories, Achaemenid rulers were succeeded by Hellenistic satraps and Hellenistic rulers from around 330 BC

Revision as of 18:53, 27 October 2019