page_title: Khosrov IV of Armenia
section_title: Reign
hierarchical_section_title: Khosrov IV of Armenia / Reign
caption_attribution_description: English: Image of the creator of the Armenian alphabet Mesrob Mashtots, Grammar of Simeon of Julfa, Matenadaran, Ms. 5996, 1776 Русский: создателя армянского алфавита Месропа Маштоца
context_page_description: Khosrov IV, was a Prince who served as a Sassanid King of Arsacid Armenia, which flourished during the second half of the 4th century & first half of the 5th century, from 387 until 389.
context_section_description: As a sign to extend his courtesies to Sassanid Armenia, Shapur III gave his sister Zruanduxt to Khosrov IV to marry as his wife. Zruanduxt became a Queen consort, whom her brother had given her with Khosrov IV a large army to protect Armenia and had given Khosrov IV a tutor called Zik. Khosrov IV was a Christian Client Monarch governing under a non-Christian state whose official religion was Zoroastrianism. Little is known of Khosrov IV’s relationship with Zruanduxt. According to modern genealogies, Zruanduxt and Khosrov IV were the parents of two sons: Tigranes and Arsaces.
  In his reign, Khosrov IV had shown too great assertiveness of his royal authority. In the first year of his kingship, Khosrov IV bestowed Sahak son of Nerses as the Armenian Catholicos (Patriarch). Sahak was the last Gregorian Patriarch and he was distantly related to Khosrov IV, as Sahak’s late paternal grandmother was the Arsacid Princess Bambish. Bambish was a sister to King Tigranes VII (Tiran) and a daughter of King Khosrov III. Saint Mesrop Mashtots in 387, on account of his piety and learned background was appointed by Khosrov IV as his imperial secretary. Mesrop’s duty was to write in Greek and Persian characters the decrees and edicts of the kingdom. He restored many Nakharars to their former nobility status and he was well known for his sympathies towards the Byzantine Empire, in particular to Theodosius I and his family. 
  The goodwill that existed between Khosrov IV and Shapur III didn’t last, as in 388 Shapur III died. Shapur III was succeeded by his son Bahram IV, who was Khosrov IV’s nephew-in-marriage. Sometime in 389 Bahram IV, dethroned Khosrov IV and placed him in confinement in Ctesiphon. Bahram IV was unsatisfied with Khosrov IV. Bahram IV considered Khosrov IV, as being too assertive in his royal authority as a governing Client Monarch and did various acts in his kingship without consultation from the Sassanid dynasty. Bahram IV in 389 replaced Khosrov IV, with his brother Vramshapuh as Sassanid Client King of Arsacid Armenia. The fate of the wife and sons of Khosrov IV after this moment is unknown. 
  The release of Khosrov IV from political exile is associated with the death of Vramshapuh or with the final years of the reign of his brother. Vramshapuh died in 417. After the death of Vramshapuh, Sahak visited the court of the Sassanid King Yazdegerd I in releasing Khosrov IV from political exile. Yazdegerd I consented with Sahak in releasing Khosrov IV from imprisonment. 
  When Khosrov IV was released from political exile, there is a possibility he may have served again as King of Armenia from 417 until about 418. He may have reigned again as his nephew, Artaxias IV was too young to succeed his father. The possible second reign of Khosrov IV, may have only lasted up to a year, as he died in 418. From 417 to 422, Armenia was under the direct rule of the Nakharars and the Sassanid dynasty. Artaxias IV in 422, was appointed as King of Armenia by the Sassanid dynasty.
caption: Illustration of Mesrop Mashtots from a 1776 manuscript.
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