Varsken

Varsken (Middle Persian: Vazgēn) was an Iranian prince from the Mihranid family of Gugark, who served as the bidaxsh (margrave) of the region from 470 to 482.

Upon the death of his father, Varsken went to the Sasanian capital of Ctesiphon and was received by the shahanshah Peroz I (r. 459–484), converting to the family's former religion, Zoroastrianism.

Espousing his pro-Iranian position, Varsken attempted to force his family to convert to Zoroastrianism, including his first wife Shushanik, which eventually resulted in her martyrdom, dying from the violence inflicted by her husband.

[9][10] Varsken's father, Arshusha II, was a hostage of the Sasanian court at Ctesiphon, and could not participate in the Christian Armenian rebellion in 451, led by Vardan Mamikonian.

[13][14] Upon the death of his Arshusha, Varsken went to Ctesiphon and was received by the Sasanian shahanshah Peroz I (r. 459–484), converting to the family's former religion, Zoroastrianism.

[21] Espousing his pro-Iranian position, Varsken attempted to force his family to convert to Zoroastrianism, including Shushanik, which eventually resulted in her martyrdom, dying from the violence inflicted by her husband.