Map of the Macedonian Empire by Alexander the Great, Armenia unconquered.Historical Atlas by William

Map of the Macedonian Empire by Alexander the Great, Armenia unconquered.Historical Atlas by William R. Shepherd, 1911

During the great conquests of the young Macedonian Emperor Alexander the Great, entire Asia was subdued. Except Armenia. According to many sources, Alexander the Great, nor his successor were able to conquer Armenia.

The Cambridge University historian W. Tran on Alexander’s conquests noted: Alexander the Great appointed Mithrinés as the satrap of Armenia and sent him there, but the country was never conquered.” Later he continued: “The successors of Alexander came quickly to the conclusion that it was wiser to give up any hope of having a satrap in Armenia, since the country already had become independent and was ruled by a dynasty founded by Orontés.

The Roman historian Pompeius Trogus (recounted by Marcus Junianius) confirms as he mentions that: “Neither Alexander, who subdued all Asia, nor any of his successors or posterity had been able to meddle with the people of Greater and Lesser Armenia”. Justin, Epitome of Pompeius Trogus (Roman Historian of the 1st century BC), Book XXXVIII