Geography and power
Yervandashat was built in the late third or early second century BCE during the reign of King Orontes IV. The city stood on a rocky elevation near the confluence of the Arax and Akhurian rivers. Natural slopes, rivers, and a fortified citadel made it more defensible than Armavir, which lay on the plain.
The transfer of the capital was not merely a response to environmental changes. It was also a step taken by Orontes IV to reassert his own authority. The new city bore the king’s name and was intended to emphasize that the center of the state was directly connected to his rule. The royal complex of Yervandakert, situated opposite the city on the other side of the river, probably complemented the administrative and residential functions of the capital. In the structure of Yervandashat, the inherited experience of fortification from earlier periods was combined with the ambition to create a new royal center.
Nevertheless, the city did not remain the capital for long. After the fall of the Orontid dynasty and the accession of Artaxias I, the new ruling house needed a capital that would not only be defensible but also stand at the economic and communication center of the developing kingdom. For this reason, Yervandashat was replaced by Artashat.
Historical evidence
In Movses Khorenatsi’s account, rock and rivers are part of the defence system. Archaeological research in 2005–2008 compared the written description with the terrain. The topography can still be tested on the ground, whereas the account of the king’s intentions was written centuries later.
Later history of the city
After losing its capital status, the city continued to exist but never regained its former political significance. In the fourth century, it was destroyed during the campaigns of the Sasanian king Shapur II. The history of Yervandashat demonstrates that even a well-defended city could not preserve the role of capital for long if the ruling dynasty, state borders, and economic centers of the country changed.
Sources and further reading
Մովսես Խորենացի, Հայոց պատմություն, II · Encyclopaedia Iranica, “Eruandašat”.