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Yervandashat – The Last Capital of the Yervanduni Kings Yervandashat (Armenian: Երուանդաշատ, "Joy of Yervand") was founded by King Yervand IV, the last ruler of the Yervanduni (Orontid) dynasty, around 210–200 BC. He established the city to replace Armavir, which had served as the royal capital for centuries. Why Was the Capital Moved? Ancient Armenian tradition, supported by historical scholarship, suggests several reasons for the relocation: The changing course of the Araks (Araxes) River, which reduced Armavir's strategic and economic advantages by affecting irrigation and river access. The need to establish a stronger and better-defended royal center on a naturally fortified site. A political and symbolic desire to reinforce the authority of the Yervanduni dynasty through the foundation of a new capital. The Last Capital of the Yervanduni Dynasty Yervandashat served as the capital of the Kingdom of Armenia until approximately 189–176 BC. During the decline of Seleucid authority following the Battle of Magnesia (190 BC), Artaxias I emerged as an independent ruler, ended Yervanduni rule, founded the Artaxiad dynasty, and established the new capital of **Artashat (Artaxata) around 176 BC. Yervandashat therefore became the final capital of the Yervanduni dynasty, marking the end of one of Armenia's earliest native royal houses. Urban Layout and Importance Although only limited archaeological excavations have been carried out, historical and archaeological evidence indicates that Yervandashat was an impressive Hellenistic-era city. It stood on a naturally fortified plateau overlooking the confluence of the Akhuryan and Araks rivers, providing excellent defensive and commercial advantages. The city was protected by substantial fortifications and likely contained: Royal palaces Administrative buildings Religious sanctuaries Public spaces influenced by Hellenistic urban planning Its location at the crossroads of major trade routes made it an important center where Armenian, Iranian, and Hellenistic cultural traditions interacted. Under the Artaxiads and Arsacids Although it lost its status as the royal capital, Yervandashat remained an important regional city. During the reign of Tigranes the Great (95–55 BC), the city appears to have retained strategic significance, although direct evidence that he rebuilt or extensively resettled Yervandashat is limited. In the early 4th century AD, Tiridates III granted the city to the noble Kamsarakan family. It subsequently became the administrative center of the district of Arsharunik. Destruction and Decline During the campaigns of Shapur II in the 360s AD, Yervandashat suffered catastrophic destruction. Like several major Armenian cities, it was devastated, and many of its inhabitants were deported into the Sasanian Empire—a policy frequently employed to weaken Armenia while strengthening Persia with skilled craftsmen and settlers. Although occupation continued for some time afterward, Yervandashat never regained its former political or economic importance. Christian Heritage Following Armenia's adoption of Christianity in AD 301, Yervandashat remained home to a Christian community. Archaeological remains from the surrounding area include early church foundations, medieval cemeteries, and khachkars (cross-stones), demonstrating continued habitation well into the Middle Ages. Nearby ecclesiastical ruins, including the remains of an early basilica dating to the 4th–5th centuries, testify to the city's enduring religious significance. Modern Legacy Today, the site of ancient Yervandashat lies on both sides of the modern Armenian–Turkish border, with much of the ancient urban area located on the western bank of the Araks River in present-day eastern Turkey (historical Western Armenia). The modern village of Yervandashat in Armenia's Armavir Province preserves the ancient name, while the archaeological remains across the river can still be observed from the Armenian side, although the historic site itself is difficult to access. Historical Significance Yervandashat represents the closing chapter of the Yervanduni dynasty, one of Armenia's earliest native royal houses. Although it served as the capital for only a few decades, it occupies an important place in Armenian history as the final royal center before the rise of the Artaxiad Kingdom. Its surviving ruins, historical traditions, and enduring place name continue to symbolize the continuity of Armenian civilization across changing dynasties and empires.