Artashes I

Արտաշես Ա

Artashes I (Artaxias) was the ruler of Armenia in 189-159 BC. He revolted against the Seleucid king Antiochus the Great and thereby Armenia became an independent nation. He also built the city of Artashat (Artaxata) in 166 BC on the Araks River. He is mentioned in the works of Strabo and Plutarch.