Tigranes [key], c.140 b.c.–55 b.c., king of Armenia (c.96 b.c.–55 b.c.), called also Tigranes I and Tigranes the Great. By an alliance with his father-in-law, Mithradates VI of Pontus, he was able to extend his conquests across Asia Minor. He founded Tigranocerta (the modern Siirt, Turkey) as the capital of his large empire, but he and Mithradates were at war with Rome, and in 69 b.c. Lucullus captured Tigranocerta. Pompey with the aid of Tigranes' son vanquished Tigranes, who lost all his conquests and had to pay tribute to Rome.
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