Caucasian Albania

Albania (debate [ alba'nia ] ), ( ancient Greek: Ἀλβανία, Azerbaijani: Albaniya, altarmenisch: Աղուանք; neuarmenisch: Աղվանք; transcribed: Aghwank ) and Caucasian Albania, is by ancient Greek and Latin records in the West coined term for an ancient kingdom in the Caucasus, mainly in the area of present-day Azerbaijan. The proper name of the inhabitants of the empire, as their language is unknown. One can assume that the inhabitants took advantage of several languages.

Etymology

It is likely that the Greek and Latin name is a translation of the proper name. The name by James Stuart Olson is translate with mountainous country. Further evidence give self- designations of different peoples of the region, such as the Roxolani. Thus, Albania could have been the home of the White or Light and originally unwritten population was rather Sarmatian or alanisch marked (see also: Nart Saga ( Narta Mongolian for sun) ). The Armenian name for the population is Aghwanzi ( Աղվանցի ).

History

The kingdom existed probably as of the end of the 4th century BC to the first half of the 9th century, more or less sovereign of the neighboring kingdoms. The Albanians were first mentioned 331 BC at the Battle of Gaugamela as part of the troops of the Median satrapy of Persia. But at that time was not yet known albanianische city. The later capital Albanias lay on the coast of the Caspian Sea.

In the 2nd century BC, the parts were conquered Albanias right of the Kura of Armenia. After Claudius Ptolemy and Strabo, this river has long been the boundary between the two States. After the conquest of Armenia by the Romans 66 BC lost many of its areas, so that the southern border Albanias postponed until the macaws. After that it was also a time of Roman vassal. From the 1st century AD, the Armenians were able to conquer parts Albanias to Kura. As 387 AD, Armenia was divided between the Sassanid Empire and Rome, Albania received as a Persian vassal back the areas between the Kura and Aras.

Christianization

From the 4th century Christianity of Armenia spread out in Albania. The Armenian bishop Grigor the Illuminator is said to have baptized the king albanianischen Urnayr that albanianische church remained closely connected with the Armenian in the following centuries. The takeover of Christianity, there was a rapprochement with Byzantium and deterioration of relationship with the Sassanid Empire. After the battle of Avarayr between insurgent Armenians and the Persians, AD 451, which won the Sassanids, many nobles and clergy fled into the mountainous Artsakh. This was a center of resistance against the Persians. During the 5th century, a private native alphabet developed as in the neighboring countries of Armenia and Iberia ( Eastern Georgia ). However, few linguistic monuments of Caucasian- Albanian language have been preserved; only the deciphering of a few years ago discovered in St. Catherine's Monastery on the Sinai palimpsests are now more information.

Downfall of the monarchy - Arab conquests

In the year 510, the Sassanids succeeded after the death of King Vatzagan from the indigenous monarchy in Albania, and set up a Marzban as governor in the capital Partaw. In the late 6th and early 7th century Albania also the scene of the wars between the Sassanid Empire and the Eastern Roman and Byzantine Empire was. When the Byzantine Emperor Heraclius 624/625 was operating in Albania, he sat with Varaz - Grigor of Gardman from the House of Mihraniden a prince of Albania, a; but at the same time devastated the Khazar allies of the emperor difficult the country. As from 640 penetrated the Arabs in the Caucasus region, the Byzantine power was pushed back. From 662 also Mihranidenfürst Juansher recognized the Arab supremacy. The initially loose Arab rule enabled but the Byzantines in the decades during periods of weakness of the Caliphate to Armenia and Albania to penetrate and to see the noble allies, so that the Arabs at the end of the 7th century Armenia, Iberia and Albania to the United Province Arminiya summarizing and this one listed in the Armenian sources Wostikan governor assumed. He also had Arab garrisons and subdued the countries of the Islamic control system. He resided first in Dvin in Armenia, then in Partaw in Albania. There the house of Mihraniden had further held the title of prince, but lost more and more power, especially as the Arab governor by Partaw moved and later a governor of families in Azerbaijan and parts Albanias established an independent state. 822 Mihraniden died with Varaz - Trdat from the title of Prince went over to the in-laws house Siwnik, but de facto disappeared Albania as a Christian polity during the 9th and 10th centuries and was largely Islamized and Turkish Siert. Western parts of the country were conquered by Heretien in the first half of the 9th century.

Only the preserved in Armenian history Movses Albanias of Daschuranci are more accurate news of this kingdom. As descendants of the Christian inhabitants Albanias small minorities in present-day Azerbaijan can like the Udinen apply.