Manuel Mamikonian was the real leader of Armenia after the exile of King Varasdates (Varazdat) who ruled from 374 until 378. The

Mamikonian Mamikonian or Mamikonean ( Classical hy, Մամիկոնեան; reformed orthography: Մամիկոնյան; Western Armenian pronunciation: ''Mamigonian'') was an aristocratic dynasty which dominated Armenian politics between the 4th and 8th c ...

family had long been the leading generals of Armenia, holding the title of ''

sparapet ' ( hy, սպարապետ) was a military title and office in ancient and medieval Armenia. Under the Arsacid dynasty of Armenia, the ' was the supreme commander of the kingdom's armed forces. During the Arsacid period and for some time afterwards ...

'', commander-in-chief. Manuel had served in the Kushan War in the troops of the Persian king. His brother

Mushegh I Mamikonian Mushegh I Mamikonian (also spelled Mushel; d. 377/8) was an Armenian military officer from the Mamikonian family, who occupied the hereditary office of ''sparapet'' (generalissimo) of the Kingdom of Armenia under the Arsacid kings Pap () and ...

had been slain by Varasdates and Manuel had come to be sparapet in his place. In 378 Varasdates and Manuel had become so mad at each other that they went to war. According to

Faustus of Byzantium Faustus of Byzantium (also Faustus the Byzantine, hy, Փաւստոս Բուզանդ, translit=P'awstos Buzand) was an Armenian historian of the 5th century. Faustus' ''History of the Armenians'' (also known as '' Buzandaran Patmut'iwnk) exists ...

, Manuel was convinced that the Persian ruler was plotting against him and so attacked the Persian emissary Suren and his 10,000 troops. Manuel decimated Suren's army but allowed Suren to live and leave. This led to an invasion of Armenia by the Persian forces. Armies under generals such as Varaz were sent to invade Armenia but were defeated by Manuel. According to Faustus, this led to seven years of peace for Armenia. Manuel died in 385 to 386. His daughter

Vardanduxt Vardandukht (4th century), was a Queen consort of Armenia, as the wife of Arsaces III (Arshak III) who was the last serving Roman Client King of Arsacid Armenia. Arsaces III reigned from 378 until his death in 387. Life Vardandukht was the daught ...

, ''History of the Armenians'', Book V, Chapter 44 was the wife of the Armenian King, Arsaces III (Arshak III).

References

Sources

*Faustus of Byzantium, ''History of the Armenians'', 5th century *History of Urartu and Armenia, in ''Encyclopædia Britannica'', 15th Edition, Vo. 18, p. 1042 385 deaths Sparapets Armenian nobility Year of birth unknown Manuel 4th-century Armenian people Generals of Shapur II Armenian people from the Sasanian Empire {{Armenia-noble-stub