Artaxias IV

Artaxias IV
King of Armenia
Reign	422–428
House	Arsacid

Artaxias IV or Artashir IV who is also known as Artaxias,Artashes,Artashes IV,Artashir,Ardases,Ardasir and Artases (Armenian: Արտաշես, flourished 5th century) was a prince who served as a Sassanid client king of eastern Armenia from 422 until 428. Artaxias IV was the last Arsacid king of Armenia and the last person to hold the crown of the ancient Armenian Kingdom.

Artaxias IV was the son of Vramshapuh who ruled eastern Armenia as a Sassanid vassal from 389 until 417. Artaxias' uncle, Khosrov IV, ruled Armenia before Vramshapuh (and possibly after as well). Modern genealogies depict Artaxias IV as the grandson of Varasdates (Varazdat). Artaxias IV was born about 405, as he was seventeen years old when enthroned. The identity of his mother is unknown. She may have been Vramshapuh's wife or concubine. Artaxias IV was born and raised in Armenia and little is known about his life, prior to his kingship. Artaxias IV was named in honor of past kings of Armenia and Iberia .

When Vramshapuh died in 417, Artaxias IV was too young to succeed his father as king. After his father died, the Armenian Catholicos Sahak, who was Artaxias IV’s distant relative, visited the court of the Sassanid king, Yazdegerd I, to obtain the release of Khosrov IV from political exile. Yazdegerd consented and released Khosrov from imprisonment. Upon release, Khosrov may have served again as king of Armenia from 417 until 418, when he died. Little is known about Artaxias IV’s relationship with his father and uncle.

Until 422, Armenia was under direct rule of the local Armenian nakharar nobility and the Sassanid dynasty. The nakharar requested that the Sassanid dynasty enthrone a client king from the Arsacid line. In 422, Artaxias IV was enthroned as king of Armenia.

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