Chronological Overview of the Armenian Kingdoms
The following chronology brings together the principal political developments. Ancient dates are approximate where the evidence is incomplete.
| Period | Kingdom or political development | Historical significance |
|---|---|---|
| c. 860–590 BCE | Kingdom of Urartu | Major predecessor state in the Armenian Highlands |
| Sixth–fourth centuries BCE | Armenia under Achaemenid rule | Armenia appears in Persian imperial records |
| Sixth–early second centuries BCE | Orontid dynasty | Early documented Armenian dynastic rule |
| c. 189 BCE | Artaxias I becomes king | Establishment of independent Artaxiad rule |
| 95–55 BCE | Tigranes II | Greatest territorial expansion of ancient Armenia |
| 69 BCE | Battle of Tigranocerta | Major Roman victory against Tigranes |
| 66 BCE | Settlement with Pompey | Armenia retains its monarchy under Roman supremacy |
| First century CE | Establishment of Arsacid rule | Armenia becomes a central issue in Roman-Parthian relations |
| 66 CE | Coronation of Tiridates I | Roman-Parthian compromise over Armenian kingship |
| 114–117 CE | Roman annexation under Trajan | Temporary direct Roman control |
| Early fourth century | Christianization of the monarchy | Transformation of Armenian religious and political identity |
| c. 405 CE | Creation of Armenian alphabet | Foundation of a lasting written literary tradition |
| 387 CE | Partition of Armenia | Roman and Sasanian division of the kingdom |
| 428 CE | End of eastern Arsacid kingship | Abolition of the ancient monarchy |
| 451 CE | Battle of Avarayr | Major Armenian resistance to Sasanian religious pressure |
| 484 CE | Settlement of Nvarsak | Recognition of important Armenian religious and aristocratic rights |
| Seventh century | Arab conquest | Incorporation into the caliphal political world |
| 885 CE | Coronation of Ashot I | Restoration of Armenian kingship under the Bagratids |
| 908 CE | Artsruni kingship in Vaspurakan | Development of a major regional Armenian kingdom |
| 961 CE | Ani becomes Bagratid capital | Major era of urban and architectural development |
| 989–c. 1020 | Gagik I | High point of Bagratid prosperity |
| 1021–1022 | Transfer of Vaspurakan | Byzantine expansion into Armenian territories |
| 1045 | Byzantine annexation of Ani | End of the principal Bagratid kingdom |
| 1064 | Seljuk capture of Ani | Major transformation of regional political power |
| 1071 | Battle of Manzikert | Acceleration of Byzantine decline in Anatolia |
| c. 1080 | Rise of the Rupenids | Beginning of the Armenian principality in Cilicia |
| 1198/1199 | Coronation of Levon the Great | Establishment of the Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia |
| 1226 | Hetumid accession | New Cilician ruling dynasty |
| 1254 | Hetum I visits the Mongol court | Major Armenian-Mongol diplomatic alliance |
| 1266 | Battle of Mari | Severe Cilician Armenian defeat |
| 1292 | Fall of Hromkla | Major loss for the Armenian Church in Cilicia |
| 1375 | Fall of Sis | End of the independent Cilician Armenian kingdom |