# Varsken > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Varsken > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Varsken.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Varsken > Source revision: 1276025193 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{Short description|Mihranid prince}} {{good article}} {{Infobox royalty | name = Varsken | title = | image = | caption = | succession = {{lang|pal|[Bidaxsh](/source/Bidaxsh)}} of [Gugark](/source/Gugark) | reign = 470–482 | coronation = | birth_date = | birth_place = | death_date = 482 | death_place = | predecessor = [Arshusha II](/source/Arshusha_II) | successor = Arshusha III | queen = [Shushanik](/source/Shushanik),
Daughter of [Vardan Mamikonian](/source/Vardan_Mamikonian) | dynasty = [Mihranids](/source/Mihranids_of_Gugark) | father = Arshusha II | mother = Anushvram Artsruni | issue = Arshusha III | religion = [Christianity](/source/Christianity) (before 470)
[Zoroastrianism](/source/Zoroastrianism) (after 470) }} '''Varsken''' ([Middle Persian](/source/Middle_Persian): ''Vazgēn'') was an [Iranian](/source/Iranian_peoples) prince from the [Mihranid family](/source/Mihranids_of_Gugark) of [Gugark](/source/Gugark), who served as the {{lang|pal|[bidaxsh](/source/bidaxsh)}} ([margrave](/source/margrave)) of the region from 470 to 482. He was the son and successor of [Arshusha II](/source/Arshusha_II). Upon the death of his father, Varsken went to the [Sasanian](/source/Sasanian) capital of [Ctesiphon](/source/Ctesiphon) and was received by the {{lang|pal|[shah](/source/shah)anshah}} [Peroz I](/source/Peroz_I) ({{reign|459|484}}), converting to the family's former religion, [Zoroastrianism](/source/Zoroastrianism). As a reward for his conversion, he was given the viceroyalty of [Caucasian Albania](/source/Caucasian_Albania) and a daughter of Peroz in marriage. Espousing his pro-Iranian position, Varsken attempted to force his family to convert to Zoroastrianism, including his first wife [Shushanik](/source/Shushanik), which eventually resulted in her [martyrdom](/source/martyrdom), dying from the violence inflicted by her husband. His policies were unacceptable to the Iberian king [Vakhtang I](/source/Vakhtang_I_of_Iberia) ({{reign|447/49|502/22}}), who had him killed and then revolted against Iran in 482. Varsken was succeeded by Arshusha III. == Biography == [[File:Map of Persian Armenia and its surroundings.svg|right|300px|thumb|Map of the [Caucasus](/source/Caucasus)]] Varsken was the son of [Arshusha II](/source/Arshusha_II), who was the {{lang|pal|[bidaxsh](/source/bidaxsh)}} ([margrave](/source/margrave)) of [Gugark](/source/Gugark), a historical area in the [Caucasus](/source/Caucasus), which had originally been part of the [Kingdom of Armenia](/source/Kingdom_of_Armenia_(antiquity)), but fell under the authority of the [Iberian kings](/source/Kingdom_of_Iberia) after the Sasanians and Romans partitioned Armenia in 387.{{sfn|Rapp|2014|p=66}} Not much earlier, the Iberian Kingdom had fallen under the authority of the Sasanians, who under [Shapur II](/source/Shapur_II) ({{reign|309|379}}) installed [Aspacures II](/source/Aspacures_II_of_Iberia) on the Iberian throne in 363.{{sfn|Daryaee|2009}}{{sfn|Kia|2016|p=278}} The family of Varsken—the [Mihranids](/source/Mihranids_of_Gugark)—had under [Peroz](/source/Peroz_(Mihranid)) established themselves as the {{lang|pal|bidaxshes}} of Gugark in {{circa|330}}, thus supplanting the previous Gusharid {{lang|pal|bidaxshes}}.{{sfn|Rapp|2014|p=66}}{{sfn|Rapp|2014|p=67}}{{sfn|Toumanoff|1961|p=101}} Albeit the family claimed descent from the [Persian](/source/Persians) Sasanian rulers of Iran, they were in reality a branch of the [House of Mihran](/source/House_of_Mihran), one of the [Seven Great Houses of Iran](/source/Seven_Great_Houses_of_Iran).{{sfn|Toumanoff|1961|pp=38–39}} Under Peroz the family abandoned its [Zoroastrian](/source/Zoroastrian) beliefs in favour of Christianity.{{sfn|Rapp|2014|p=68}} The Mihranids of Gugark enjoyed close relations with the Iberian kings (also of Mihranid descent), with whom they intermarried.{{sfn|Rapp|2014|pp=67–68}} Varsken's mother was Anushvram Artsruni, an [Armenian](/source/Armenians) noblewomen from the [Artsruni family](/source/Artsruni), who was the sister-in-law of the Armenian military leader Hmayeak Mamikonian, himself brother of the Armenian rebel and martyr [Vardan Mamikonian](/source/Vardan_Mamikonian).{{sfn|Grousset|1947|pp=193–202}}{{sfn|Dédéyan|2007|pp=189–190}} Varsken's father, Arshusha II, was a hostage of the [Sasanian](/source/Sasanian) court at [Ctesiphon](/source/Ctesiphon), and could not participate in the Christian Armenian rebellion in 451, led by Vardan Mamikonian. After the defeat of the Armenian rebels at [Avarayr](/source/Battle_of_Avarayr), Hmayeak Mamikonian was killed at [Tao](/source/Tao_(historical_region)). Hmayeak's sons, [Vahan Mamikonian](/source/Vahan_Mamikonian), Vasak, [Vard](/source/Vard_Mamikonian) and Artaxias, were then taken hostage and sent to Ctesiphon, where they met Arshusha II.{{harvnb|Grousset|1947|pp=193–202}}.{{harvnb|Dédéyan|2007|pp=189–190}}. Arshusha was later able to buy his freedom back. He then freed the sons of Hmayeak, and took them back to [Armenia](/source/Persian_Armenia) with their mother. Later, Arshusha organized the wedding of his son Varsken with [Shushanik](/source/Shushanik), daughter of Vardan Mamikonian.{{sfn|Dédéyan|2007|p=191}}{{sfn|Grousset|1947|p=213}} [[Image:PerozICoinHistoryofIran.jpg|thumb|left|Coin of [Peroz I](/source/Peroz_I) ({{reign|459|484}})]] Upon the death of his Arshusha, Varsken went to Ctesiphon and was received by the Sasanian {{lang|pal|[shah](/source/shah)anshah}} [Peroz I](/source/Peroz_I) ({{reign|459|484}}), converting to the family's former religion, Zoroastrianism. He also shifted his allegiance from the Christian [Iberian monarchy](/source/Chosroid_dynasty) to the Sasanian Empire.{{sfn|Dédéyan|2007|p=191}}{{sfn|Rapp|2014|pp=38, 45, 67}} As a reward for his conversion, he was given the viceroyalty of [Caucasian Albania](/source/Caucasian_Albania) and a daughter of Peroz in marriage.{{sfn|Toumanoff|1961|p=101}}{{sfn|Toumanoff|1963|p=262}} The [basilica](/source/basilica) of [Bolnisi Sioni](/source/Bolnisi_Sioni) in Iberia is a testimony of the growing Sasanian influence there. It was constructed in 478/479 in the southern part of the country, which had fallen under the control of the Mihranids.{{sfn|Rapp|2014|p=251}}{{sfn|Toumanoff|1969|p=22}} The iconography of the basilica showed Iranian characteristics, while its [inscription](/source/Bolnisi_inscriptions), written in [Old Georgian](/source/Old_Georgian), mentions the {{lang|pal|shahanshah}} Peroz I.{{sfn|Rapp|2014|pp=19, 39, 251}} Under Varsken and his predecessors, the city of Tsurtavi was transformed into one of the seats of the {{lang|pal|bidaxshate}}.{{sfn|Rapp|2014|p=69}} The reports of the contemporary Iberian historian [Iakob Tsurtaveli](/source/Iakob_Tsurtaveli) indicates that Varsken was a sovereign in his own right, and acknowledged the [suzerainty](/source/suzerainty) of the {{lang|pal|shahanshah}} only as a counterbalance to the Iberian kings.{{sfn|Rapp|2014|pp=69, 81}} Espousing his pro-Iranian position, Varsken attempted to force his family to convert to Zoroastrianism, including Shushanik, which eventually resulted in her [martyrdom](/source/martyrdom), dying from the violence inflicted by her husband.{{sfn|Dédéyan|2007|p=191}}{{sfn|Rapp|2014|p=45}}{{sfn|Grousset|1947|p=216}} His Zoroastrianizing efforts were seemingly only limited to that of his family. There are no reports of attempts to convert his Christian subjects, and the main source for Shushanik's life—the ''[Martyrdom of the Holy Queen Shushanik](/source/Martyrdom_of_the_Holy_Queen_Shushanik)''—does not consider the martyrdom of his wife as part of a systematic Christian persecution.{{sfn|Rapp|2014|p=45}} His policies were unacceptable to the Iberian king [Vakhtang I](/source/Vakhtang_I_of_Iberia) ({{reign|447/49|502/22}}), who had him killed and then revolted against Iran in 482.{{sfn|Bonner|2020|p=134}} Varsken was succeeded by Arshusha III.{{sfn|Rapp|2014|p=42 (see note 42)}} ==Genealogy== {{ahnentafel |ref={{sfn|Toumanoff|1990|p=385}} |collapsed=yes |align=center |boxstyle_1=background-color: #fcc; |boxstyle_2=background-color: #fb9; |boxstyle_3=background-color: #ffc; |boxstyle_4=background-color: #bfc; |boxstyle_5=background-color: #9fe; |1= 1. '''Varsken''' |2= 2. [Arshusha II](/source/Arshusha_II) |3= 3. Anushvram Artsruni |4= 4. Bakur II |6= 6. Vasak I Artsruni |8= 8. Arshusha I |12= 12. Vache II Artsruni }} == References == {{reflist|2}} == Sources == * {{cite book | last = Bonner | first = Michael | title = The Last Empire of Iran | year = 2020 | publisher = Gorgias Press | location = New York | pages = 1–406 | isbn = 978-1463206161 }} * {{Encyclopaedia Iranica | article = ARRĀN | last = Bosworth | first = C. Edmund | author-link = Clifford Edmund Bosworth | url = http://www.iranicaonline.org/articles/arran-a-region | volume = 2 | fascicle = 5 | pages = 520–522 }} * {{Encyclopaedia Iranica | last = Chaumont | first = M. L. | title = Albania | url = https://iranicaonline.org/articles/albania-iranian-aran-arm | volume = 1 | fascicle = 8 | pages = 806–810 }} * {{Encyclopædia Iranica Online | article = Šāpur II | last = Daryaee | first = Touraj | author-link = Touraj Daryaee | url = http://www.iranicaonline.org/articles/shapur-ii | year = 2009 }} * {{cite book | last =Dédéyan | first =Gérard | author-link = Gérard Dédéyan| title=History of the Armenian people | year =2007 | location =Tolosa | publisher =Privat | isbn=978-2-7089-6874-5 }} * {{in lang|fr}} Histoire de l'Arménie: des origines à 1071, Paris, 1947. * {{cite book | last =Grousset | first =René | author-link = René Grousset | title=Histoire de l'Arménie des origines à 1071 | location=Paris| year =1947 }} * {{cite book|last1=Kia|first1=Mehrdad|title=The Persian Empire: A Historical Encyclopedia [2 volumes]: A Historical Encyclopedia|date=2016|publisher=ABC-CLIO|isbn=978-1610693912|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=B5BHDAAAQBAJ}} * {{cite book|last1=Rapp|first1=Stephen H.|title=The Sasanian World through Georgian Eyes: Caucasia and the Iranian Commonwealth in Late Antique Georgian Literature|publisher=Ashgate Publishing|year=2014|isbn=978-1-4724-2552-2|location=Farnham|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=T8VIBQAAQBAJ}} * {{cite book | title = The Making of the Georgian Nation | year = 1994 | publisher = Indiana University Press | last = Suny | first = Ronald Grigor | author-link = Ronald Grigor Suny | pages = 1–418 | isbn = 978-0253209153 | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=riW0kKzat2sC }} * {{cite journal |last=Toumanoff |first=Cyril |author-link=Cyril Toumanoff |year=1961|title=Introduction to Christian Caucasian History: II: States and Dynasties of the Formative Period |journal=Traditio |publisher= Cambridge University Press |volume=17|pages=1–106 |doi= 10.1017/S0362152900008473|jstor=27830424|s2cid=151524770 }} {{Registration required}} * {{cite book | title = Studies in Christian Caucasian history | year = 1963 | publisher = Georgetown University Press | last = Toumanoff | first = Cyril | pages = 1–599 | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=jlE1AAAAIAAJ}} * {{cite journal |last=Toumanoff|first=Cyril |year=1969 |title=Chronology of the early kings of Iberia|journal=Traditio |publisher=Cambridge University Press |volume=25 |pages=1–33 |doi= 10.1017/S0362152900010898|jstor=27830864 |s2cid=151472930 }} {{Registration required}} * {{in lang|fr}} {{cite book |last=Toumanoff|first=Cyril|author-link= Cyril Toumanoff |year=1990|title=Les dynasties de la Caucasie Chrétienne: de l'Antiquité jusqu'au XIXe siècle : tables généalogiques et chronologiques |publisher=Princeton University Press|volume=|isbn=978-1400832866|jstor=}} {{s-start}} {{s-bef|before=[Arshusha II](/source/Arshusha_II)}} {{s-ttl|title={{lang|pal|[Bidaxsh](/source/Bidaxsh)}} of [Gugark](/source/Gugark)|years= 470–482}} {{s-aft|after=[Arshusha III](/source/Arshusha_III)}} {{s-end}} {{Mihranids}} Category:482 deaths Category:Year of birth unknown Category:5th-century Iranian people Category:Mihranids Category:Converts to Zoroastrianism from Christianity Category:Zoroastrian monarchs Category:Vassal rulers of the Sasanian Empire Category:Caucasian Albania Category:Governors of the Sasanian Empire Category:Peroz I Category:Executed Iranian people --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Varsken](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Varsken) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Varsken?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.