Yeghishe

Yeghishe is the author of the History of Vardan and the Armenian War, the account of the Armenian rising against the Persian king Yazdegerd II. The revolt began in 450 in answer to Persian persecution of Armenian Christians and was led by Vardan Mamikonian. The Armenians lost the Battle of Avarayr in June 451.¹

The History is praised for its literary quality and for its attention to the motives of the men it describes more than to the fighting. It holds up the Maccabees as the model for the Armenian defenders.¹ Vardan remains a patriotic symbol for Armenians.¹ Ghazar Parpetsi wrote a shorter account of the same events around the year 500.¹

Of Yeghishe himself nothing is recorded beyond what the text says. The Classical Armenian text, with a parallel English version, is available online here.