Bagratid Armenia

Bagratid Armenia
Bagratid Armenia
880s–1045
	Bagratuni Armenia and other medieval Armenian kingdoms c. 1000
Status	Independent kingdom
Capital	Bagaran (885–890); Shirakavan (890–929); Kars (929–961); Ani (961–1045)
Common languages	Armenian
Religion	Christianity (Armenian Apostolic)
Government	Monarchy
Bagratuni dynasty
• 885–890	Ashot I
• 890–914	Smbat I
• 914–928	Ashot II
• 928–953	Abas I
• 953–977	Ashot III
• 977–989	Smbat II
• 989–1020	Gagik I
• 1020–1040 ; (1021–1039)	Hovhannes-Smbat III; Ashot IV (concurrently)
• 1042–1045	Gagik II
Historical era	Middle Ages
• Established	880s
• Disestablished	1045
Currency	Byzantine Hyperpyron ; Abbasid Dinar
Preceded by	Succeeded by
	Arminiya
Byzantine Empire
Kingdom of Syunik
Kingdom of Artsakh
Kingdom of Tashir-Dzoraget
Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia

Bagratid Armenia (Armenian: Բագրատունիների թագավորություն) was an independent Armenian state established by Ashot I Bagratuni of the Bagratuni dynasty in the early 880s^[2] following nearly two centuries of foreign domination of Greater Armenia under Arab Umayyad and Abbasid rule. With each of the two contemporary powers in the region—the Abbasids and Byzantines—too preoccupied to concentrate their forces on subjugating the region, and with the dissipation of several of the Armenian nakharar noble families, Ashot succeeded in asserting himself as the leading figure of a movement to dislodge the Arabs from Armenia.^[3]

Ashot's prestige rose as both Byzantine and Arab leaders—eager to maintain a buffer state near their frontiers—courted him. The Abbasid Caliphate recognized Ashot as "prince of princes" in 862 and, later on, as king (in 884 or 885). The establishment of the Bagratuni kingdom later led to the founding of several other Armenian principalities and kingdoms: Taron, Vaspurakan, Kars, Khachen and Syunik.^[4] During the reign of Ashot III (952/53–77), Ani became the kingdom's capital and grew into a thriving economic and cultural center.^[5]

The first half of the 11th century saw the decline and eventual collapse of the kingdom. The Byzantine emperor Basil II (r. 976–1025) won a string of victories and annexed parts of southwestern Armenia; King Hovhannes-Smbat felt forced to cede his lands and in 1022 pledged that his kingdom would pass to the Byzantines following his death. However, after Hovhannes-Smbat's death in 1041, his successor, Gagik II, refused to hand over Ani and continued resistance until 1045, when his kingdom, plagued by internal and external threats, was finally taken by Byzantine forces.^[6]

^ Bloom, Jonathan M.; Blair, Sheila, eds. (2009). The Grove Encyclopedia of Islamic Art and Architecture, Volume 3. Oxford: Oxford University Press. p. 371. ISBN 9780195309911.
^ Grigoryan, M. G. (2012). Բագրատունյաց թագավորության սկզբնավորման թվագրության շուրջ [On dating the formation of Bagratid Armenia]. Lraber Hasarakakan Gitutyunneri (in Armenian) (2–3): 114–125. Archived from the original on March 19, 2024. Retrieved March 19, 2024.
^ Bournoutian, George A. (2006). A Concise History of the Armenian People: From Ancient Times to the Present. Costa Mesa, CA: Mazda. p. 89. ISBN 978-1-56859-141-4.
^ Ter-Ghevondyan, Aram N. (1976). Բագրատունիների թագավորություն [Bagratuni Kingdom]. Armenian Soviet Encyclopedia. Vol. 2. Yerevan: Armenian SSR Academy of Sciences. p. 202.
^ Ghafadaryan, Karo (1974). Անի [Ani]. Armenian Soviet Encyclopedia (in Armenian). Vol. 1. Yerevan: Armenian Academy of Sciences. pp. 407–412.
^ Bournoutian, Concise History, p. 87.

[1] Bloom, Jonathan M.; Blair, Sheila, eds. (2009). The Grove Encyclopedia of Islamic Art and Architecture, Volume 3. Oxford: Oxford University Press. p. 371. ISBN 9780195309911.

[2] Grigoryan, M. G. (2012). Բագրատունյաց թագավորության սկզբնավորման թվագրության շուրջ [On dating the formation of Bagratid Armenia]. Lraber Hasarakakan Gitutyunneri (in Armenian) (2–3): 114–125. Archived from the original on March 19, 2024. Retrieved March 19, 2024.

[3] Bournoutian, George A. (2006). A Concise History of the Armenian People: From Ancient Times to the Present. Costa Mesa, CA: Mazda. p. 89. ISBN 978-1-56859-141-4.

[SAE1-4] Ter-Ghevondyan, Aram N. (1976). Բագրատունիների թագավորություն [Bagratuni Kingdom]. Armenian Soviet Encyclopedia. Vol. 2. Yerevan: Armenian SSR Academy of Sciences. p. 202.

[SAE2-5] Ghafadaryan, Karo (1974). Անի [Ani]. Armenian Soviet Encyclopedia (in Armenian). Vol. 1. Yerevan: Armenian Academy of Sciences. pp. 407–412.

[6] Bournoutian, Concise History, p. 87.

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