Tiridates III
King of Armenia, who recovered his throne after serving in the Roman army. The Armenian tradition recorded by Agathangelos makes him first a persecutor of Christians and then, after his healing by Gregory, the first king to bring his people to baptism.
Agathangelos, the fifth-century source for his reign, says that Tiridates was the son of King Chosroes, was taken to the Roman empire as a child when his father was murdered and the Persians overran Armenia, served in the Roman army, and returned with a great army to recover his kingdom (Agathangelos, History 1.9–14). He ordered his subjects to denounce Christians and had the nun Hripsime and her companions put to death at Vagharshapat (Agathangelos, History 2.2, 2.14–15). The story goes on that he lost his reason and took on the likeness of a beast until Gregory the Illuminator was fetched from the pit and prayed for him (Agathangelos, History 2.17–19). He then joined Gregory in destroying the pagan shrines (Agathangelos, History 3.19) and was baptised with his court in the Euphrates (Agathangelos, History 4.6).
Eusebius, a contemporary, does not name him. He says only that the Armenians were Christians and allies of Rome when the emperor Maximinus made war on them, about 312 (Eusebius, Church History 9.8.2).
In the timeline
- AD 301 (traditional) or c. 314, traditional dateArmenia Adopts Christianity
King Tiridates of Armenia, by the account of the Armenian church, is converted by Gregory the Illuminator and brings his court and people to baptism. The Armenian church dates this to 301; the story was written down more than a century later.
Primary sources
History of the Armenians
- Agathangelos, History 1.9–14livius.org
- Agathangelos, History 2.2, 2.14–15livius.org
- Agathangelos, History 2.17–19livius.org
- Agathangelos, History 3.19livius.org
- Agathangelos, History 4.6livius.org