THE LONGEST CENTURY OF ARMENIA: A QUEST FOR BALANCING BETWEEN THE ROMAN–SASANIAN IN THE FOURTH CENTURY

Öz

Bu çalışma, 4. yüzyılda Armenia’yı şekillendiren karmaşık siyasi ve dini dinamikleri, Roma ve Sâsânî imparatorluk müdahalelerinin etkisine ve Armenia’daki iç bölünmelere odaklanarak incelemektedir. Armenia’nın 387 anlaşmasını takiben Roma ve Sâsânî arasında bölünmesi, bölgenin istikrarı üzerinde önemli etkileri olan çalkantılı bir siyasi yapıyla sonuçlanmıştır. Naxararlar olarak bilinen yerel aristokrat aileler arasındaki rekabet, değişen sadakatleri ve iç çatışmaları her iki imparatorluğun da dış manipülasyonunu kolaylaştırdığı için bu parçalanmada çok önemli bir rol oynadı. Buna ek olarak, Hıristiyanlık ve Zerdüştlük arasındaki dini çatışma, merkezi kontrolün zayıflamasına katkıda bulunarak ve iç çekişmeleri şiddetlendirerek siyasi manzarayı daha da karmaşık hale getirmiştir. Bu çalışma, Tirdates dönemindeki iç mücadelelerden Vramšapuh döneminde Sâsânî kontrolünün nihai olarak pekiştirilmesine kadar, bu faktörlerin Armenia’nın siyasi gidişatını nasıl etkilediğini incelemektedir. Bu dinamikleri analiz eden bu çalışma, Armenia’nın bu dönemdeki tarihsel yörüngesini belirleyen iç ve dış güçlerin karmaşık etkileşimini vurgulayarak bölgesel siyaseti şekillendirmede emperyal rekabet ve dini çatışmanın daha geniş etkilerine ışık tutmayı amaçlamaktadır.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Roma ve Sâsânîler
• Arasında Armenia
• Dördüncü Yüzyılda Armenia
• Armenia Feodalizmi
• Naxararlar
• Antik Armenia.

THE LONGEST CENTURY OF ARMENIA: A QUEST FOR BALANCING BETWEEN THE ROMAN–SASANIAN IN THE FOURTH CENTURY

Öz

This study explores the intricate political and religious dynamics that shaped Armenia during the fourth century, focusing on the impact of Roman and Sasanian imperial interventions and the internal divisions within Armenia. The division of Armenia into Roman and Sasanian spheres following the agreements of 387 resulted in a bifurcated political structure, with significant implications for the region’s stability. The rivalry among local aristocratic families, known as naxarars, played a crucial role in this fragmentation, as their shifting loyalties and internal conflicts facilitated external manipulation by both empires. Additionally, the religious conflict between Christianity and Zoroastrianism further complicated the political landscape, contributing to the erosion of centralized control and exacerbating internal strife. The study examines how these factors combined to influence the political trajectory of Armenia, from the internal struggles during the reign of King Tiridates to the eventual consolidation of Sasanian’s control under Vramšapuh. By analyzing these dynamics, this research highlights the complex interplay of internal and external forces that defined Armenia’s historical trajectory in this period, offering insights into the broader implications of imperial rivalry and religious conflict in shaping regional politics.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Armenia Between Roman and Sasanian
• Armenia in the Fourth Century
• Armenian Feudalism
• Naxarars
• Ancient Armenia.

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