[1] Certain scholars proposed that Sanatruk succeeded Tiridates between 75 and 110, but this hypothesis, for which there is no explicit evidence, has been rejected by others.

Hagiographic tradition blames him for the martyrdom of the Apostle St. Thaddeus and St. Bartholomew in Armenia,[3] as well as that of his own daughter, St. Sandukht the Virgin.

[4] In 110, the throne of Armenia was held by Axidares, the son of the Parthian monarch of Atropatene, Pacorus II of Parthia who was deposed in 113 by Trajan.

They spent three days battling the storm and the child survived thanks to a white-coated animal that kept him warm.

It is thought that the animal must have been a white dog based on the etymology of the name Sanatruk that was soon after bestowed on the child (San - accusative form of Armenian Շուն (shun: dog) and truk (truk: tribute/gift ultimately from Armenian tur: give).