Juansher

Juansher was the Mihranid prince of Caucasian Albania, ruling the principality from 637 to 669. He was the son and successor of Varaz Grigor (r. 628–637).

During his reign, Juansher changed his allegiance thrice. He started out as a subject to the Sasanian Empire, under which he fought against the Arab-Islamic invasion of Iran (632–654). Realizing the impending downfall of the Sasanians, he withdrew to Albania, where he rebelled. Although he briefly lost control over the Albanian lowlands and its capital, Partaw, his guerrilla warfare forced the Sasanians to grant him more autonomy.

Following the fall of the Sasanian Empire in 651, Juansher's father seemingly became the leader of Albania once more, due to his seniority. He took the safe route by acknowledging the suzerainty of the Rashidun Caliphate, but also instructed Juansher to establish contact with the Byzantine emperor Constans II (r. 641–668) and offer his services. Juansher submitted to the Byzantines, but this was implemented in practice only during the civil war in the caliphate between 656–661, when Constans II managed to exert his influence over all of the Southern Caucasus.

In 665, Juansher submitted to the Umayyad Caliphate, and in 667 reportedly played an important role in counselling Caliph Mu'awiya I (r. 661–680) on how to assassinate Constans II, which took place in 15 July 669. As a reward, Juansher was given control over Siwnik and one third of the tribute collected from Albania by the caliphate, which marked the zenith of Juansher's rule. He was himself assassinated on 14 September 669 during the Feast of the Cross by a traitor named Varaznoy, probably due to falling out with the Caliph. He was succeeded by his nephew Varaz-Tiridates I.

Albeit a Christian, Juansher still participated in activities related to Zoroastrianism, the official religion of the Sasanian Empire. He notably appears in what is considered to be the first long secular poem in Armenian literature, written by the 7th-century Armenian poet Davtak Kertogh.