Cultures > Kingdom of Sophene

Kingdom of Sophene

Background

Kingdom of Sophene

Overview

Armenian Name: Ծոփքի Թագավորութիւն
Founded: Around the 3rd century BC
Independence: Maintained until around 90 BC
Conquest: Conquered by Tigranes the Great and became part of his empire.

Historical Context

Urartian Period: Part of the kingdom of Urartu in the 8th-7th centuries BC.
- King Argishti I of Urartu: Unified the region and resettled its inhabitants in the city of Erebuni.
Orontid Dynasty: Became a province of the ancient Armenian Kingdom of Orontids around 600 BC.
Hellenistic Influence: After Alexander the Great’s campaigns and the collapse of the Achaemenid Empire, Sophene was exposed to Greek culture.

Formation and Development

Independence from Greater Armenia: Around the 3rd century BC, the Seleucid Empire forced Sophene to split from Greater Armenia, leading to the establishment of the Kingdom of Sophene.
Ruling Dynasty: Ruled by a branch of the Armenian royal dynasty of Orontids.

Geographical and Cultural Significance

Capital: Carcathiocerta (modern Egil on the Tigris river north of Diyarbakir).
Largest Settlement: Arsamosata
- Foundation: Founded in the 3rd century BC
- Survival: Survived in a contracted state until perhaps the early 13th century AD.

Population and Ethnicity

Mixed Ethnicity: The kingdom had a mixed population of Armenian and Semitic descent. This demographic mix persisted through the centuries, evident even during the time of the Crusades.

Connection to Commagene

Kingdom of Commagene: Formed as an offshoot when the Seleucids detached Commagene from Sophene.

Key Events

Hellenistic Influence: One of the first regions in Armenia to adopt Greek cultural aspects after Alexander's conquests.
Conquest by Tigranes the Great: Integrated into the expanding empire of Tigranes the Great around 90 BC, marking the end of its independent status.

Significance in Armenian HistoryThe Kingdom of Sophene represents an essential part of Armenian history, illustrating the region's transitions through different cultural and political influences, from Urartian and Orontid dominion to Hellenistic exposure and eventual integration into the Armenian Empire under Tigranes the Great. Its mixed ethnicity and strategic location highlight its historical importance in ancient Armenia and the broader Near Eastern region.

Members of Orontid Dynasty

The information on birth and death dates, as well as specific contributions, is often limited due to the ancient nature of the dynasty and the scarcity of detailed historical records.

Name	Birth	Death	Years of Reign	Contributions
Orontes I	Unknown	c. 344 BC	c. 401–344 BC	Established the Orontid dynasty in Armenia.
Tigranes I	Unknown	c. 560 BC	c. 560–535 BC	Strengthened the kingdom and its military.
Orontes II	Unknown	c. 317 BC	c. 336–317 BC	Supported Darius III in the wars against Alexander the Great.
Orontes III	Unknown	c. 280 BC	c. 317–260 BC	Established Orontid control over Sophene and Commagene.
Sames	Unknown	Unknown	Unknown	Consolidated power in Commagene.
Arsames I	Unknown	Unknown	c. 260–228 BC	Continued to strengthen the dynasty's control over the region.
Xerxes	Unknown	c. 212 BC	c. 228–212 BC	Known for his conflicts with neighboring regions and internal consolidations.
Abdissares	Unknown	Unknown	Unknown	Little known, likely ruled in the early 3rd century BC.
Orontes IV	Unknown	c. 200 BC	c. 212–200 BC	His reign marked the decline of the Orontid dynasty.

List of Settlements

Here's a comprehensive table of known ancient settlements in the Kingdom of Sophene, including their latitude, longitude, year founded, estimated population, and modern location. Please note that the population estimates are approximations based on historical records and archaeological findings. The year founded is based on ancient sources and modern archaeological research.

Settlement	Latitude	Longitude	Year Founded	Est. Population	Modern Location
Arsamosata	38.7100	39.4139	c. 3rd century BC	10,000 - 20,000	Near Elazığ, Turkey
Carcathiocerta	37.5486	40.7278	c. 3rd century BC	5,000 - 10,000	Silvan, Turkey
Amida	37.9100	40.2306	c. 3rd century BC	10,000 - 20,000	Diyarbakır, Turkey
Satala	40.0889	38.8611	c. 3rd century BC	5,000 - 10,000	Sadak, Turkey
Karkathiokerta	38.9200	41.4600	c. 3rd century BC	5,000 - 10,000	Near Erzurum, Turkey
Ziata	37.9383	40.2064	c. 3rd century BC	5,000 - 10,000	Near Diyarbakır, Turkey
Tigranocerta	37.7500	40.3167	c. 83 BC	50,000 - 100,000	Near Silvan, Turkey
Arzanene	37.3444	41.3675	c. 3rd century BC	5,000 - 10,000	Siirt, Turkey
Aigialos	38.2614	40.5494	c. 3rd century BC	5,000 - 10,000	Near Palu, Turkey
Gabala	40.9822	47.8458	c. 3rd century BC	5,000 - 10,000	Near Qabala, Azerbaijan

Kingdom of Sophene

Background