Ashot III
Encyclopedia
Ashot III the Merciful also known as Ashot the Gracious (952/953-977) was an Armenian king. He ruled from Armenia's capital city of Ani
.
Armenia
reached the height of its golden era during the reign of the Kings Abas I
(928-951), Ashot III (952/953-977), and his sons Smbat II
(X) (977-989) and Gagik I (990-1020), an era which according to Muyldermans “in regard to its brilliance and glory was unique.”
Ashot III won the favour of the caliphate by defeating one of the emirs in Azerbaijan
who had revolted against Baghdad
and attacked Armenia
. During the war between the Byzantine
emperor John Tzimiskes and the Arabs, Armenia did its best to remain neutral and forced the two battling parties to respect the boundaries of its country. The Byzantine
army began to march across the plain of Moush, thinking to strike the decisive blow against the Arabs from Armenia
, but when they met with the 30,000 strong army of Ashot III, they altered their plan and left Armenia.
He was the father of Prince Taros, fl. 1000, father of Ruben, Governor of Larisse in 1025, and grandfather of Prince John-Smbat, who was the father of Ruben I of Armenia
.
Ani
Ani is a ruined and uninhabited medieval Armenian city-site situated in the Turkish province of Kars, near the border with Armenia. It was once the capital of a medieval Armenian kingdom that covered much of present day Armenia and eastern Turkey...
.
Armenia
Armenia
Armenia , officially the Republic of Armenia , is a landlocked mountainous country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia...
reached the height of its golden era during the reign of the Kings Abas I
Abas I of Armenia
Abas I of Armenia was king of Armenia from 928 to 953. Abas was of the royal Bagratuni Dynasty. He was the son of Smbat I and the brother of Ashot "Yerkat" II. In contrast to the way his predecessors' ruled, Abas' reign was marked by years of peace, stability, and prosperity that Armenia had not...
(928-951), Ashot III (952/953-977), and his sons Smbat II
Smbat II
Smbat II King of Armenia , son of Ashot III and ruled from Ani. He fortified the city and began the construction of the Cathedral of Ani. Smbat II succeeded to Ashot III, and continued his father’s work. He ordered the construction of a wall around the city of Ani and built towers and...
(X) (977-989) and Gagik I (990-1020), an era which according to Muyldermans “in regard to its brilliance and glory was unique.”
Ashot III won the favour of the caliphate by defeating one of the emirs in Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan , officially the Republic of Azerbaijan is the largest country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded by the Caspian Sea to the east, Russia to the north, Georgia to the northwest, Armenia to the west, and Iran to...
who had revolted against Baghdad
Baghdad
Baghdad is the capital of Iraq, as well as the coterminous Baghdad Governorate. The population of Baghdad in 2011 is approximately 7,216,040...
and attacked Armenia
Armenia
Armenia , officially the Republic of Armenia , is a landlocked mountainous country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia...
. During the war between the Byzantine
Byzantine
Byzantine usually refers to the Roman Empire during the Middle Ages.Byzantine may also refer to:* A citizen of the Byzantine Empire, or native Greek during the Middle Ages...
emperor John Tzimiskes and the Arabs, Armenia did its best to remain neutral and forced the two battling parties to respect the boundaries of its country. The Byzantine
Byzantine
Byzantine usually refers to the Roman Empire during the Middle Ages.Byzantine may also refer to:* A citizen of the Byzantine Empire, or native Greek during the Middle Ages...
army began to march across the plain of Moush, thinking to strike the decisive blow against the Arabs from Armenia
Armenia
Armenia , officially the Republic of Armenia , is a landlocked mountainous country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia...
, but when they met with the 30,000 strong army of Ashot III, they altered their plan and left Armenia.
He was the father of Prince Taros, fl. 1000, father of Ruben, Governor of Larisse in 1025, and grandfather of Prince John-Smbat, who was the father of Ruben I of Armenia
Ruben I of Armenia
Ruben I, , also Roupen I or Rupen I, was the first lord of Armenian Cilicia or “Lord of the Mountains” . He declared the independence of Cilicia from the Byzantine Empire, thus formally founding the beginning of Armenian rule there...
.