What is Arsacid Dynasty of Armenia?
[[Image:Arshakuni Armenia 150-en.svg|thumb|Kingdom of Armenia under the Arshakuni Dynasty, 150|300px|right]] The '''Arsacid Dynasty''' or (sometimes called the '''Arshakuni Dynasty''') ruled the [[Kingdom of Armenia (Antiquity)|Kingdom of Armenia]] from 54 to 428. They started as a branch of the [[Parthia]]n Arsacids but became a distinctly Armenian dynasty later on.<ref>{{cite book | last = Olson |first = James | title = An Ethnohistorical Dictionary of the Russian and Soviet Empires | publisher = Greenwood Press |date= 1994 | pages = 42}}</ref> Armenia was between the Parthian and [[Roman Empire]]<nowiki/>s and both were trying to control it. Arsacid Kings reigned intermittently throughout the chaotic years after the fall of the [[Artaxiad Dynasty]] until 62 when [[Tiridates I of Armenia]] secured Arsacid rule in Armenia. An independent line of Kings was established by [[Vologases II of Armenia]] (Valarses/Vagharshak) in 180. Two of the most notable events under Arsacid rule in Armenian history were the conversion of Armenia to [[Christianity]] by [[St. Gregory the Illuminator]] in 301 and the creation of the [[Armenian alphabet]] by [[Mesrop Mashtots]] in 405. ==References== {{reflist}} *History of Education in Armenia - by Kevork A. Sarafian, G A Sarafean *The heritage of Armenian literature Vol.1 - by A. J. (Agop Jack) Hacikyan, Nourhan Ouzounian, Edward S. Franchuk, Gabriel Basmajian ==Other websites== *[http://www.armenianhighland.com Armenian History; Armenian Highland] *[http://www.hyeetch.nareg.com.au/armenians/arshakuni_p1.html Armenian History: Arshakuni Dynasty by Levon Zekiyan] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051214014451/http://www.hyeetch.nareg.com.au/armenians/arshakuni_p1.html |date=2005-12-14 }} *[http://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Gazetteer/Places/Asia/Armenia/_Texts/KURARM/17*.html The Arshakuni Dynasty of Armenia by Vahan M. Kurkjian] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210213001330/http://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Gazetteer/Places/Asia/Armenia/_Texts/KUR