Khosrov I of Armenia


Khosrov I was a Parthian Prince who served as a Roman Client King of Armenia.
Khosrov I was one of the sons born to King Vologases II of Armenia who is also known as Vologases V of Parthia by an unnamed mother. Through his father, Khosrov I was a member of the House of Parthia and thus a relation of the Arsacid dynasty of Armenia. Khosrov I was the namesake of the Parthian monarchs: Osroes I and Osroes II, see Khosrau.
In 191, Vologases II ascended the Parthian throne, and as a result relinquished the Armenian throne to Khosrov I. Khosrov I served as Armenian King from 191 until 217. In Armenian sources, Khosrov I is often confused with his famous grandson Khosrov II. Little is known on his life, prior to becoming King of Armenia.
Khosrov I is the King whom classical authors present as a neutral monarch towards Rome. In 191 when the Roman emperor Septimius Severus was on his great campaign to the Parthian Empire sacking the capital Ctesiphon, Khosrov I had sent gifts and hostages to Severus. As a client monarch of Rome, Khosrov I was under the protection of Septimius Severus and his successor Caracalla.
Between 214-216, Khosrov I with his family were under Roman detention for unknown reasons which provoked a major uprising in Armenia against Rome. In 215, Caracalla with the Roman army had invaded Armenia to end the uprising. Khosrov I may be the Khosrov mentioned in an Egyptian inscription that speaks of Khosrov the Armenian.
In 217 when Khosrov I died, his son Tiridates II, was granted the Armenian Crown by the Roman emperor Caracalla. Tiridates II was declared King of Armenia upon Caracalla's assassination which was on April 8, 217.