Aram
The hero who shaped his homeland’s borders and name
Aram was the grandson of Gegham and the son of Harma, lord of Armavir. He was a hardworking, energetic, and patriotic man who preferred to die for his homeland rather than see foreign tribes trample his country and exploit his kin.
Disturbed by the incursions of neighboring nations, Aram gathered 50,000 disciplined spearmen and skilled archers—strong, fearless young warriors. Near the borders of Armenia, he encountered a detachment of Median soldiers led by the proud and warlike Nyucar Mades, who had previously occupied Armenia for two years, trampling its borders with his horses' hooves.
Aram caught the enemy by surprise. Before dawn, he launched an unexpected attack, completely crushing the Median forces. He captured Nyucar Mades and brought him to Armavir. There, by Aram's order, Mades was taken to the top of the city tower, an iron spike was driven into his forehead, and he was nailed to the wall as a warning to all passersby. Aram subsequently subjugated the land of Nyucar Mades (Media) as far as Mount Zarasp, making it a tributary.
In neighboring Assyria, Ninos took the throne. He had long nurtured a desire for revenge, remembering the killing of his ancestor Bel by the brave Hayk. Seeing Aram's victories, Ninos feigned friendship, ordered Aram to rule his lands without fear, and even granted him the right to wear a pearl-studded headdress, bestowing the title of “second in command” upon him.
After securing his eastern borders, Aram marched south toward Assyria with his army. There, a giant named Barsham, who had devastated surrounding lands with his 40,000 infantry and 5,000 cavalry, was terrorizing the region. Aram confronted Barsham, chased him through Korduk to the plains of Assyria, and killed him. He forced the population of the Assyrian plains to pay tribute for a long time. The Assyrians eventually deified Barsham for his bravery.
Aram entrusted the administration of the southern borders (Assyria) to the successors of the House of Kadmos and the eastern borders to the Sisakians. Adding 40,000 infantry and 2,000 cavalry to his army, he moved west toward Caesarea in Cappadocia. There, he faced Payapis Kaghya Titanyan, who had forcibly seized the territory between the Pontus (Black Sea) and the Ocean (Mediterranean Sea). Aram defeated him and drove him to an island in the Mediterranean.
To secure Caesarea in Cappadocia, Aram appointed one of his kinsmen, Mshak, as ruler and left him 10,000 soldiers before returning to Armenia. Before leaving, Aram ordered the inhabitants of Caesarea to learn and speak Armenian. For this reason, the Greeks called the region “Proten Armenia,” meaning “First Armenia.” The settlement built by Mshak was called “Mazhak” by the locals (a corruption of his name), which was later expanded and renamed Caesarea.
Aram became so renowned for his nation-building deeds that neighboring peoples named his country and nation after him: the Greeks called it “Armen,” and the Persians and Assyrians called it “Armenik.” After living for many years, he left his son, the handsome Ara, as his heir.