Astute Armenian prince who made his small kingdom in the Causasus a key catalyst in reshaping the political map of the Near East,  effectively bringing Seleucid influence to an end. At the height of his power he ruled most of the territory from eastern Asia Minor to the Caspian Sea & from the Black Sea to Phoenicia. Yet, in the end, he was forced to retreat to the natural borders of his mountain homeland.

Tigranes first drew historical note as a royal hostage after his father was defeated by Parthia in 105 BCE. When the latter died (95 BCE), he bought his freedom by ceding Armenian territory to his captors. Returning to assume the Armenian throne he quickly allied himself with Mithridates VI of Pontus (a grandson of Antiochus IV Epiphanes) by marrying his daughter, Cleopatra. Avoiding direct involvement in his father-in-law's challenges to Roman dominance in Asia Minor, Tigranes initially focused on extending Armenia's borders deeper into Asia. Taking advantage of political turmoil in the Parthian empire after 88 BCE, he not only regained the Armenian provinces he had lost but moved to take control of northern Mesopotamia & Persia, even claiming the ancient Persian title "King of Kings" (85 BCE). Impressed by these successes, Syrians--weary of years of civil war between rival branches of the Seleucid dynasty--invited Tigranes to be their protector (83 BCE). Over the next decade his forces gained control of the remnants of Seleucid territory from Antioch to Damascus & Ptolemaïs.

Flush with these victories, he offered his father-in-law refuge from the Romans. His one strategic mistake was rejecting Roman demands to surrender their long-time adversary. This led to a series of defeats & the loss of his Syrian territory. When Pompey invaded Armenia in 66 BCE Tigranes, unlike his father-in-law, surrendered without a fight.  As a consequence Pompey allowed him to retain his throne providing he relinquish conquests beyond his homeland. So the final decade of Tigranes' 40 year reign was spent as a "friend (i.e., nominally independent client) of Rome."

Reference: Strabo, Geography 11.14.15.

Other resources on line:

• Tigranes II - Jona  Lendering outlines Tigranes' career [Livius: Articles in Ancient History].

• Tigranes the Great - article in Wikipedia's web.

Silver tetradrachma minted at Tigranakert about 80 BCE bearing image of Tigranes II wearing the five pointed crown of Armenia. Inscription on the reverse reads, in Greek: Basileos basileon Tigranou ("of Tigranes, King of Kings"). For high resolution images of more coins of Tigranes II see Dane Kurth's ancient coin website: Wildwinds.