Tigranes III was the second son born to Artavasdes II of Armenia[2] by a mother whose name is unknown.

Tigranes III had an elder brother called Artaxias II[3] and a sister,[4] name unknown, who possibly married King Archelaus of Cappadocia.

In 20 BC after living in Rome for 10 years,[8] Artaxias II proved to be an unpopular leader with his people.

[9] As the Armenians lost faith in their ruling monarch, they sent messengers to Augustus requesting him to remove Artaxias II from his throne and to install Tigranes III as his successor.

Before Tiberius and Tigranes III arrived in Armenia, a cabal within the palace was successful in murdering Artaxias II.