Vaspurakan

Vaspurakan (Armenian Վասպուրական, meaning: Nobles land or land of the prince ) was a medieval Armenian kingdom in southwestern Armenia, between Lake Van in eastern Turkey today and the Great Zab.

History

During much of its history Vaspurakan was ruled by the dynasty of Arzruni. The Arzruni built after 800 a principality on Lake Van. At its peak, 908 Vaspurakan occupied the country between Lake Van and Lake Urmia. At that time was under Vaspurakan the Kingdom of Ani.

From about 800 the area of Arab invasions was hit. 851 was held a revolt against the Arab ruler who is celebrated by the Armenian national epic Sasnay ​​CRER, " the crazy heroes of Sason ".

Vaspurakan was imposed after 908 to the kingdom. The incursions of the Oghuz Turks from 1018 led to the inclusion Vaspurakans to the Byzantine Empire, which was the strongest non-Muslim power in the region. Matthew of Edessa in 1018 reported a " barbarous nation of Turks" who had attacked between Van and Naxçıvan an Armenian principality. According to his report, the Armenian army had first faced " mounted, long-haired archer ".

In 1021 it was annexed after negotiations in Trebizond between Basil II and David, the son of King John Seneqerim from Byzantium in exchange for territories in Central Anatolia. The Last King Seneqerim John moved with 14,000 families to Sebaste in Cappadocia and founded the cities Arapgir and Akn. Senekerim - John managed as magistros strategist of Cappadocia and titular king of his fief in Cappadocia and Armenia Minor of Sebaste.

Under Byzantium Vaspurakan belonged to topic Basprakania or media. 1041, after King Gagik, son of John, had taken refuge on the territory of Byzantium, the Seljuquen Tughrul Beg attacked ( Arm. Tullup ) Ani and besieged it. Ani was captured in 1064 by Tugruls nephew Alp Arslan. 1050 Basprakania was associated with the topic Talon.

Following annexation by Byzantium there were in 1004 with Derenic, son of Gurgen Khatchik, a ruler of Antzivaziq. He had two brothers named GUGiK and Ashot. Seneqerim King John's granddaughter later married King Gagik II of Ani.

Another part of the dynasty lived with Khatchik continued the Great. A descendant of him later married the King David of Ani.

In the 15th century Catholicos Zacharias III tried. of Aghtamar to a revival of the kingdom of Vaspurakan. His successor and cousin, Catholicos of Stephanos V. Aghtamar (1465-1487), anointed 1466 Smbat Sefedinean, a nephew of Zacharias, the only modern King of Vaspurakan.

Ruler

  • Hamazasp II, Prince ( 800-836 ). He married the daughter of Ashot Bagratides Msaker
  • Ashot I. Abulabus Ardzruni, Prince ( 836-852 ). Son of Hamazasp II
  • Gurgen I. Ardzruni, Prince ( 852-853 ). Brother of Ashot I.
  • Abu Djafar Ardzruni, Prince ( 853-854 ). Probably the brother of Ashot I.
  • Gurgen II Ardzruni of Mardastan, Prince. ( 854-857 ). Distant relative.
  • Grigor Derenik Ardzruni, Prince ( 857-868 ). Married to Sdesia, daughter of Ashot I.
  • Ashot I. Abulabus Ardzruni, Prince ( 868-874 ). Second time
  • Grigor Ardzruni, Prince ( 874-887 ). Second time
  • Gagik Abu Morvan Ardzruni, Regent for Sargis Ashot ( 887-897 ), followed by Prince ( 897-898 )
  • Sargis Ashot, Prince ( 898-900 ). Son of Grigor Ardzruni

Muslim Governors

  • Emir Afschin ( 900).
  • Safi ( 900-901 ).

Again, local dynasty

  • Sargis Ashot ( 901-904 )
  • Khatchik Gagik III. Ardzuni, ruler of Rechtuniq ( 887-897 ). Prince of Northwest Vaspurakan ( 904-937 ). King of all Vaspurakan ( 937-943 ). Brother of Ashot Sargis
  • Gurgen III. Artzruni, ruler of Parskahaiq ( 887-897 ). Prince of Southeast Vaspurakan ( 904-925 ). Brother of Ashot Sargis
  • Derenic Ashot III. , King ( 943-953 ). Son of Gagik III.
  • Abuschal Hamazasp III. , King ( 953-972 ). Brother of Ashot III Derenic.
  • Ashot Sahak, King ( 972-983 ). Son of Abuschal Hamazasp III.
  • Gurgen Khatchik, King (983-1003) and Ruler of Antzevaziq. Brother of Ashot Sahak
  • Seneqerim John King (1003-1021) and Ruler of Rechtuniq. Also King of Sivas ( 1021). Brother of Gurgen Khatchik.

Empire outline

The Kingdom Vaspurakan had no fixed capital. The royal court moved from one city to the other. These included, for example, Van and Ostan / Vostan (now Gevaş ). Vapusrakan was divided into 35 cantons. This was after the local ruler ( ar: Nashrakar ) named.

  • Aghiovit
  • Aghvandrot
  • Akeh
  • Andzakhidzor
  • Antzevasiq
  • Arberani
  • Archishaovit
  • Arnoyotn
  • Artavanian
  • Artashesian
  • Artaz
  • Atrpatunik
  • Bagan
  • Bujnunik
  • Bogunik
  • Darni
  • Ervandunik
  • Gavityan
  • Gazrikan
  • Gokhten
  • Gukan
  • Kirchunik
  • Kughanovit
  • Mardastan
  • Metz Aghbak
  • Metznunik
  • Nakhichevan
  • Rechtuniq
  • Patspatounik
  • Palouniq
  • Taygirian
  • Tchevashrot
  • Tornavan
  • TOSB
  • Varajnuni

Culture

The Church of the Holy Cross ( ar: Surb Chatsch ) on the island Aghtamar is founded 915-921 of King Gagik Arzruni. The monastery Varagavank (tr: Yedi Kilise ) on the mountain Varag 9 km east of Van founded by King John Seneqerim. It became the most famous and most important monastery of the area Van. Here later printed Chrimian Hairik the first Armenian newspaper called Arciv Vaspurakani ( The Eagle of Vaspurakan ). Until the late 19th century, the Armenian Archbishop of Van resided in this monastery. The monastery was destroyed by the Armenians on April 30, 1915 in the wake of the genocide.

Armenian language Seneqerim-Hovhannes of Vaspurakan Theme (Byzantine district) Bagratuni Dynasty Gagik I of Vaspurakan Armenian Cathedral of the Holy Cross Tovma Artsruni
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