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Total Categories: 6
The name 'Mirian' is of Greek origin and means 'beloved by the gods'.
Answer: False
The name 'Mirian' is of Iranian origin, a Georgian transliteration of Mihrān, and is associated with 'given by Mithra,' referring to the ancient Iranian sun god.
Mirian III was born in Iran, a member of the House of Mihran, and was originally a Zoroastrian.
Answer: True
Mirian III originated from the House of Mihran in Iran, a prominent Sasanian noble family, and adhered to Zoroastrianism prior to his conversion.
Mirian III ascended the Iberian throne through a popular uprising supported by local Iberian nobility, without Sasanian intervention.
Answer: False
Mirian III's ascension to the Iberian throne in 284 CE was orchestrated by the Sasanian King of Kings Bahram II, who sought to reinforce Sasanian authority in the Caucasus.
To secure Mirian III's position, Bahram II arranged a marriage alliance with a powerful Roman noble family.
Answer: False
Bahram II secured Mirian III's position by sending a Mihranid grandee, Mirvanoz, as a guardian for the young king, rather than arranging a Roman marriage alliance.
Upon Mirian III's marriage to Abeshura, 40,000 Sasanian 'select mounted warriors' were stationed in eastern Iberia, Caucasian Albania, and Gugark, and 7,000 Sasanian cavalrymen were sent to Mtskheta.
Answer: True
Following Mirian III's marriage to Abeshura, the Sasanian Empire deployed substantial military forces, including 40,000 mounted warriors and 7,000 cavalrymen, to secure its influence in Iberia and the broader Caucasus region.
The Mihranid family's influence in the Caucasus was limited solely to Iberia during Mirian III's reign.
Answer: False
The Mihranid family's influence extended beyond Iberia, with other branches establishing themselves on Caucasian thrones in Gugark and Gardman within decades of Mirian III's accession.
During Mirian III's early reign, Iberia and the Caucasus were primarily under Roman cultural and religious influence.
Answer: False
In Mirian III's early reign, Iberia and the broader Caucasus region were predominantly shaped by Iranian cultures and Zoroastrianism, forming part of what is termed the 'Iranian Commonwealth'.
Mirian III's status as a Sasanian vassal is indicated in the Paikuli inscription of *shahanshah* Narseh.
Answer: True
The Paikuli inscription of *shahanshah* Narseh explicitly lists an unnamed king of Iberia as a Sasanian vassal, a reference widely understood to be Mirian III.
Mtskheta's significance to the Sasanian Empire was primarily due to its rich gold mines and agricultural output.
Answer: False
Mtskheta's strategic importance to the Sasanian Empire stemmed from its role as a crucial gateway to the vital passes through the Caucasus Mountains, rather than its mineral or agricultural wealth.
What is the origin and meaning associated with the name 'Mirian'?
Answer: Iranian, associated with Mihrān and 'given by Mithra'.
The name 'Mirian' is the Georgian rendition of the Iranian name Mihrān, which is further linked to Mirdat, signifying 'given by Mithra,' the ancient Iranian sun god.
What was Mirian III's original religious affiliation and ancestral background?
Answer: Zoroastrianism, a member of the House of Mihran from Iran.
Mirian III was born into the House of Mihran, one of the Seven Great Houses of Iran, and his original religious adherence was Zoroastrianism.
Who secured the Iberian throne for Mirian III in 284, and what was their motivation?
Answer: Sasanian King of Kings Bahram II, to strengthen Sasanian authority in the Caucasus.
In 284 CE, the Sasanian King of Kings Bahram II installed Mirian III on the Iberian throne, aiming to consolidate Sasanian geopolitical influence across the Caucasus region.
What measures did Bahram II take to secure Mirian III's position as king of Iberia?
Answer: He sent a Mihranid grandee, Mirvanoz, as a guardian for the young Mirian.
To solidify Mirian III's rule, Bahram II reportedly visited Mtskheta and appointed Mirvanoz, a Mihranid grandee, as a guardian for the then seven-year-old monarch.
How did the Sasanian Empire provide military support to Mirian III upon his accession?
Answer: They sent 7,000 Sasanian cavalrymen to Mtskheta and 40,000 mounted warriors to eastern Iberia.
Upon Mirian III's marriage to Abeshura, the Sasanian Empire deployed 40,000 'select mounted warriors' to eastern Iberia, Caucasian Albania, and Gugark, and an additional 7,000 cavalrymen to Mtskheta to secure his position.
Beyond Iberia, where else did Mihranid family influence expand in the Caucasus after Mirian III's accession?
Answer: Gugark and Gardman.
Decades after Mirian III's enthronement, other branches of the Mihranid family established their rule in additional Caucasian territories, specifically Gugark and the Armeno-Albanian principality of Gardman.
How did Stephen H. Rapp describe the Caucasus, including Iberia, during Mirian III's early reign?
Answer: As part of the 'Iranian Commonwealth'.
Stephen H. Rapp characterized the Caucasus region, including Iberia, during Mirian III's initial reign as an integral component of the 'Iranian Commonwealth,' reflecting its pervasive Iranian cultural and religious dominance.
Mirian III's status as a Sasanian vassal is indicated in which historical inscription?
Answer: The Paikuli inscription of *shahanshah* Narseh.
The Paikuli inscription of *shahanshah* Narseh provides epigraphic evidence of Mirian III's vassalage to the Sasanian Empire, listing an unnamed Iberian king among Narseh's tributaries.
Mirian III remained neutral during the Sasanian-Roman war of 297-298, avoiding any direct involvement.
Answer: False
As a Sasanian vassal, Mirian III actively participated in the Sasanian-Roman war of 297-298, which ultimately resulted in a significant Sasanian defeat and the cession of Iberia to Roman influence.
Following the Sasanian defeat, Mirian III quickly adapted by establishing close ties with Rome, solidified by his conversion to Christianity.
Answer: True
After the Sasanian defeat, Mirian III strategically reoriented Iberia's foreign policy, forging strong ties with Rome, a shift that was significantly reinforced by his subsequent adoption of Christianity.
What was the outcome for Iberia of Mirian III's involvement in the Sasanian-Roman war of 297-298?
Answer: Iberia, along with Armenia, was ceded to the Romans by the defeated Sasanians.
The Sasanian defeat in the 297-298 CE war compelled *shahanshah* Narseh to cede both Armenia and Iberia to the Roman Empire, fundamentally altering Iberia's geopolitical alignment.
How did Mirian III adapt to the shift in political power after the Sasanian defeat by the Romans?
Answer: He established close ties with Rome, solidified by his conversion to Christianity.
In response to the altered geopolitical landscape following the Sasanian defeat, Mirian III strategically cultivated a strong alliance with Rome, an alignment further cemented by his adoption of Christianity.
Iberia was the first kingdom in the world to declare Christianity as its state religion, preceding Armenia by several decades.
Answer: False
Iberia became the second kingdom to adopt Christianity as its state religion, following Armenia, with Mirian III's conversion occurring either in 319 or 326 CE.
Mirian III's conversion legend describes him being cured of a severe illness by a Roman physician, which led him to embrace Christianity.
Answer: False
The traditional narrative of Mirian III's conversion recounts a miraculous event during a hunting expedition where he was blinded by darkness and regained his sight only after invoking 'Nino's God'.
Tradition credits Nino, a Cappadocian female missionary, with being the instrument of Mirian III's spiritual transformation and conversion to Christianity.
Answer: True
Saint Nino, a Cappadocian missionary, is traditionally revered as the catalyst for Mirian III's spiritual awakening and his subsequent decision to embrace Christianity.
Nana, Mirian III's second wife, remained a staunch pagan throughout her life, opposing her husband's conversion.
Answer: False
Tradition indicates that Nana, Mirian III's second wife, converted to Christianity prior to her husband and may have played a role in influencing his own conversion.
When did Mirian III convert to Christianity, and what was its significance for Georgia?
Answer: In 319 or 326, making Georgia the second kingdom to declare Christianity as its state religion after Armenia.
Mirian III's conversion to Christianity, dated to either 319 or 326 CE, was a momentous event, establishing Iberia as the second kingdom, after Armenia, to officially adopt Christianity as its state religion.
According to legend, what miraculous event led to Mirian III's conversion to Christianity?
Answer: He was blinded by darkness while hunting and regained sight after praying to 'Nino's God'.
The legendary account of Mirian III's conversion describes a supernatural occurrence during a hunting expedition where he was afflicted by blindness, which was miraculously cured upon his supplication to 'Nino's God'.
What was Nino's role in Mirian III's conversion to Christianity?
Answer: She was a Cappadocian female missionary credited with his spiritual transformation.
Tradition attributes Mirian III's spiritual transformation and subsequent conversion to Christianity to the evangelistic efforts of Nino, a Cappadocian female missionary.
Who was Nana, and what was her traditional role in the Christianization of Iberia?
Answer: Mirian III's second wife, who traditionally converted before him and may have influenced him.
Nana, Mirian III's second wife, is traditionally believed to have converted to Christianity prior to her husband, potentially serving as an influential figure in his own spiritual journey.
The Georgian Orthodox Church canonized Mirian III as Saint Equal to the Apostles King Mirian for his pivotal role in the Christianization of Iberia.
Answer: True
The Georgian Orthodox Church formally recognized Mirian III's profound impact on the Christianization of Iberia by canonizing him as Saint Equal to the Apostles King Mirian.
Mirian III's conversion strengthened the central royal government, leading to the confiscation of pagan temple properties and their redistribution to the nobility and the church.
Answer: True
The adoption of Christianity by Mirian III significantly bolstered the central royal government, facilitating the appropriation of pagan temple assets for reallocation to the aristocracy and the nascent Christian church.
Christianity was universally and immediately accepted by all segments of Iberian society after Mirian III's conversion.
Answer: False
The propagation of Christianity throughout Iberia after Mirian III's conversion faced considerable resistance, particularly from the mountain communities, indicating that acceptance was not immediate or universal.
Emperor Constantine provided military aid to Iberia to suppress pagan rebellions, but did not send religious personnel.
Answer: False
Emperor Constantine responded to Iberian requests for religious support by dispatching priests and holy relics, rather than military aid, to bolster the newly Christianized kingdom.
How does the Georgian Orthodox Church recognize Mirian III?
Answer: As Saint Equal to the Apostles King Mirian.
The Georgian Orthodox Church venerates Mirian III as Saint Equal to the Apostles King Mirian, acknowledging his foundational role in the Christianization of Iberia.
What were the immediate effects of Mirian III's conversion on the central royal government and the church?
Answer: It fostered the growth of the central royal government and led to the redistribution of pagan temple properties.
Mirian III's conversion to Christianity had immediate and profound effects, strengthening the central royal government and enabling the confiscation and redistribution of pagan temple properties to the nobility and the nascent Christian church.
What challenge did the monarchy and nobility face when propagating Christianity throughout Iberia?
Answer: Resistance from the mountain folk.
The efforts of the Iberian monarchy and nobility to disseminate Christianity across the kingdom were met with significant opposition, particularly from the indigenous mountain communities.
What assistance did Emperor Constantine provide to Iberia after its conversion to Christianity?
Answer: Priests and holy relics, in response to requests for clergymen.
In response to Iberia's request for ecclesiastical support, Emperor Constantine dispatched Christian priests and sacred relics to bolster the newly established state religion.
Mirian III is historically significant as the founder of the royal Chosroid dynasty and the first Christian king of Iberia.
Answer: True
Mirian III is recognized as the founder of the royal Chosroid dynasty and is historically significant as the first monarch to establish Christianity as the state religion of Iberia.
Georgian tradition attributes to Mirian III the construction of a cathedral in Mtskheta and a pilgrimage to Jerusalem before his death.
Answer: True
Traditional Georgian accounts credit Mirian III with the establishment of a cathedral in Mtskheta and undertaking a pilgrimage to Jerusalem in the period preceding his demise.
Mirian III and his wife Nana are traditionally buried at the Samtavro convent in Mtskheta, where their tombs are publicly displayed.
Answer: True
The tombs of King Mirian III and Queen Nana are traditionally located and publicly exhibited at the Samtavro convent in Mtskheta, serving as a site of historical and religious significance.
Mirian III's first wife, Abeshura, was a Roman princess, solidifying an alliance with the Roman Empire.
Answer: False
Mirian III's first wife, Abeshura, was the daughter of the last Arsacid Iberian king, Aspacures, and her lineage traced back to the ancient Pharnabazid dynasty of Iberia, not a Roman noble family.
Abeshura's death without issue in 292 marked the end of the 'kingship and queenship of the Pharnabazid kings in Iberia'.
Answer: True
The demise of Abeshura without progeny in 292 CE is recorded as the termination of the Pharnabazid royal line in Iberia, signifying a dynastic shift.
Mirian III and Nana had only one son, who later succeeded him, and no daughters.
Answer: False
Mirian III and Queen Nana had two sons, Rev and Varaz-Bakur, and an unnamed daughter, not solely one son.
Mirian III ruled independently throughout his entire reign, never sharing power with co-rulers.
Answer: False
Mirian III did not rule autonomously for his entire reign; from 345 to 361 CE, he shared power with co-rulers Rev II and Salome.
Who was Mirian III primarily known for being in Iberian history?
Answer: The first Christian king of Iberia and founder of the Chosroid dynasty.
Mirian III holds a preeminent position in Iberian history as the progenitor of the royal Chosroid dynasty and the monarch who formally established Christianity as the state religion.
What significant construction and personal journey are attributed to Mirian III in Georgian tradition after his conversion?
Answer: The construction of a cathedral in Mtskheta and a pilgrimage to Jerusalem.
Georgian tradition credits Mirian III with the erection of a cathedral in Mtskheta and undertaking a pilgrimage to Jerusalem in the aftermath of his conversion to Christianity.
Where are Mirian III and his wife Nana traditionally believed to be buried?
Answer: At the Samtavro convent in Mtskheta.
King Mirian III and Queen Nana are traditionally interred at the Samtavro convent in Mtskheta, where their tombs remain accessible to the public.
Who was Mirian III's first wife, and what was her lineage?
Answer: Abeshura, daughter of the last Arsacid Iberian king, tracing ancestry to the Pharnabazid dynasty.
Mirian III's initial consort was Abeshura, the daughter of Aspacures, the final Arsacid king of Iberia, whose lineage was rooted in the ancient Pharnabazid dynasty.
What was the significance of Abeshura's death for the Pharnabazid dynasty?
Answer: It marked the end of the 'kingship and queenship of the Pharnabazid kings in Iberia'.
Abeshura's death without issue in 292 CE, as recorded by chroniclers, signified the definitive cessation of the Pharnabazid royal line in Iberia.
How many children did Mirian III have with his second wife, Nana, according to the source?
Answer: Two sons, Rev and Varaz-Bakur, and an anonymous daughter.
Mirian III and his second wife, Nana, had two sons, Rev and Varaz-Bakur, in addition to an unnamed daughter.
Who was Mirian III's daughter married to?
Answer: Peroz, the first Mihranid dynast of Gugark.
Mirian III's daughter entered into a marital alliance with Peroz, who subsequently became the inaugural Mihranid dynast of Gugark.
Who was Mirian III's predecessor on the throne of Iberia?
Answer: Aspacures I
Mirian III was preceded on the Iberian throne by King Aspacures I.
All historical chronologies agree that Mirian III's reign lasted 77 years, from 268 to 345.
Answer: False
Historical chronologies present differing durations for Mirian III's reign; while traditional accounts suggest 268 to 345, Professor Cyril Toumanoff proposed an adjusted period of 284 to 361.
Medieval Georgian authors consistently used regnal numbers like 'III' to distinguish kings with the same name.
Answer: False
Regnal numbers such as 'III' for Mirian are modern historiographical additions and were not employed by medieval Georgian chroniclers.
The only significant historical source for Mirian III's reign is the *Life of the Kings*, with no mentions in Roman or Armenian records.
Answer: False
Mirian III's reign is documented not only in the *Life of the Kings* but also in the writings of the Roman historian Ammianus Marcellinus and in medieval Armenian chronicles.
Modern historians consider claims in the *Life of the Kings* that Mirian III was a pretender to the Iranian throne or controlled Colchis and Albania as fictional.
Answer: True
Modern historical scholarship regards certain assertions within the *Life of the Kings*, such as Mirian III's purported claim to the Iranian throne or his control over Colchis and Albania, as lacking factual basis.
According to Professor Cyril Toumanoff's chronology, what was the duration of Mirian III's reign?
Answer: 284 to 361
Professor Cyril Toumanoff's revised chronology places Mirian III's reign from 284 to 361 CE, differing from traditional accounts.
Why is Mirian III assigned the regnal number 'III' in Georgian historiography?
Answer: It was a modern addition to distinguish him from two preceding kings of the same name.
The ordinal 'III' appended to Mirian's name is a contemporary historiographical convention, introduced to differentiate him from two earlier Iberian kings bearing the same name, as medieval authors did not employ such numbering.
Which of the following historical sources provides details about Mirian III's reign?
Answer: The *Life of the Kings*, Ammianus Marcellinus, and medieval Armenian chronicles.
Primary accounts of Mirian III's reign are found in the Georgian *Life of the Kings*, supplemented by mentions in the works of the Roman historian Ammianus Marcellinus and various medieval Armenian chronicles.
What aspect of Mirian III's reign, as described in the *Life of the Kings*, is considered fictional by modern historians?
Answer: His control over Colchis and Albania.
Modern scholarship identifies claims within the *Life of the Kings*, such as Mirian III's purported control over Colchis and Albania or his ambition for the Iranian throne, as historically unsubstantiated.