Tigranes II of Armenia

Tigranes II of Armenia(140-55BC) aka Tigranes the great was the most successful political and military leader in history of Armenia, under whose reign Kingdom of Armenia reached its greatest extent.

He led many campaigns against Parthians and Seleucids, captured numerus territories in Mesopotamia, Syria and Anatolia and became the first Armenian King that earned the title of king of kings, that was given to kings which ruled at least over four other kings. After Mithradates VI's defeat in the first Mithridatic war, he asked for refuge in Armenia. Tigranes, who used to be an ally of Pontos, received him generously and denied to surrender him to the Romans what cuased a beginn of a conflict between Rome and Armenia. In 69 BC Tigranes's army was decisively defeated by Romans under Lucullus in Tigranocerta, Tigranes II retreated to north and gathered a new army. Lucullus finally was stopped by Tigranes II at bettle of Artaxata near river of Aratsanti, his campaign failed and he left Armenia. In about 65 BC Pompey Magnus led another campaign against Tigranes II what made Tigranes II, whose kingdom had been weakened, sign a treaty with him and Armenia became a vasal state of Rome.

Tigranes II of Armenia was a noble king, he treated all of his subjects, Arabs, Greeks, Kurds, Georgians etc. with a certain generosity and avoided unnecessary violence. His name'll always remain among the greatest rulers of all time, imperious as well as righteous.