[5] Artaxias IV was the last Arsacid king of Armenia and the last person to hold the crown of the ancient Armenian Kingdom.

[7] Upon his elevation to the throne, Artaxias IV called himself Artashir[12] in deference to past Sasanid kings.

Following his uncle and father, Artaxias IV served as the third Sasanid vassal of eastern Armenia, ruling as a Christian monarch subservient to a Zoroastrian state.

[13] The leading members of the nobility soon resumed their intrigues under pretense of disgust at the young king's vices.

Due to his youth and weakness in character, Artaxias IV was unable to cope with the Armenian aristocracy.

[13] The nakharars lost confidence in the Armenian monarchy and determined that direct rule by Persia would be preferred over vassalage.