ONCE MORE ABOUT THE MAIN FUNCTION OF THE ARMENIAN PITIASHKHS (BDEAŠXS)

At present, it can be assumed with great confidence that the main function of the Armenian pitiashkhs-governorships was mi¬litary. They were responsible for protecting the external border of neighboring small allied states, and in this matter the entire ar¬my of the satellite state was subordinate to them. Thus, the pitiashkhs of Gugarq were responsible for pro¬tec¬ting the external border of the kingdom of Iberia (Virq), the pi¬tiashkhs of Ałdzniq were responsible for protecting the external border of the kingdom of Osroene (Edessa), the pitiashkhs of the Nor-Shirakan sides were responsible for protecting the external bor¬der of the kingdom of Adiabene (Assyria), and the pitiashkhs of Kor¬duq were responsible for protecting the external border of the kingdom Aruastan (Migdonia). As compensation for their ser¬vice, the pitiashkhs received control over small areas of the neighboring satellite states. Probably, such an Iranian institution of pitiashkhs was introduced in Armenia by Tigran II during the acceptance of the rights and duties of the king of kings. Analysis of information from Armenian sources shows that several border principalities / governorships also had similar pi¬tiashkh functions. Thus, specific rela¬tions were formed between some individual pitiashkhs of the Ar¬menian Kingdom (the bdeašxs) and neighboring states, which sometimes led to sepa¬ra¬tist tendencies. One of the striking examples of this is the relationship between the Armenian principalities / governorship of Gardman on the right bank of the Kura River and the kingdom of Albania Proper on the left bank of the Kura. In the 4th century the principalities / viceroyalties of the Eas¬tern side of Armenia (Gardmanatsiq and Gorozuayq - “Gargara¬tsiq” who were separated from Syuniq) - on behalf of the king of Greater Armenia, performed military pitiashkh functions with respect to the Albanian and Bağasakan kingdoms on the left bank of the Kura, bearing supreme responsibility for the pro¬tec¬tion of their external (northern) borders.