Tigranes was the first-born son of Alexander and Glaphyra. His younger brother was called Alexander and he also had a younger sister. His nephew Tigranes VI served as a Roman Client King of Armenia during the reign of the Roman Emperor Nero. His father Alexander was a Judean Prince and was a son of King of Judea Herod the Great and his wife Mariamne. His mother Glaphyra was a Cappadocian Princess. She was the daughter of the King Archelaus of Cappadocia and her mother was from Armenia, possibly related to the Artaxiad Dynasty.