Bidaxsh (bidakhsh, also spelled Pitiakhsh; in Roman sources Vitaxa) was a title of Iranian origin attested in various languages from the 1st to the 8th-century. It has no identical word in English, but it is similar to a margrave, toparch and marcher lord. The etymology of the term is disputed, and it has been interpreted as literally meaning "the eye of the king," "second ruler" or "vice king." The word was borrowed into Armenian as Bdeaà ¡x (âäÃ¥á÷ÃÂ), and into Georgian as Pitiaxshi (áÂÂáÂÂá¢áÂÂáÂÂá®á¨áÂÂ) and Patiaxshi (áÂÂáÂÂá¢áÂÂáÂÂá®á¨áÂÂ).
The title was prominent in Armenia and Georgia, being used by the military governor of a province, and being the hereditary title of the dynasts of Gugark. The Armenian sources mention four bdeaà ¡xs in the Kingdom of Greater Armenia, who are referred to by different names. Those four were the bdeaà ¡xs of Nor Shirakan (New Siracene), Aghdznik (Arzanene), Tsopk (Sophene), and Gugark (Gogarene). According to Cyril Toumanoff, the bdeaà ¡xs of Armenia likely emerged in connection with the conquests of Tigranes the Great () as viceroys tasked with protecting the newly conquered border territories.