Armenians was divided between the Ottomans and the Safavid Empire in Iran. In the Bronze Age, several states flourished in the area of Greater Armenia, including the Hittite Empire (at the height of its power), Mitanni (South-Western historical Armenia), and Hayasa-Azzi (1600–1200 BC). Soon after Hayasa-Azzi came Arme-Shupria (1300s–1190 BC), the Nairi (1400–1000 BC) and the Kingdom of Urartu (860–590 BC), who successively established their sovereignty over the Armenian Highland. Each of the aforementioned nations and tribes participated in the ethnogenesis of the Armenian people. Under Ashurbanipal (669–627 BC), the Assyrian empire reached the Caucasus Mountains (modern Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan).
Ariarathes I of Cappadocia conquering the Achaemenid Empire and installed a governor there (though two different names of this governor are given). Nevertheless, during the time Alexander was ruler of the Achaemenid Empire, Ariarathes had managed to assume power as the first king of Cappadocians and even expanded the kingdom by subduing Cataonia. After the death of Alexander in 323 BC, the Macedonian general and regent Perdiccas appointed Eumenes as governor of Cappadocia; but when Ariarathes refused to submit to Eumenes, Perdiccas made war upon him. Ariarathes was defeated, taken prisoner and crucified, together with many of his relations, in 322 BC. Eumenes then