Emirate of Armenia
Encyclopedia
The Emirate of Armenia also called the Principality of Armenia, refers to an aristocratic regime in early medieval
Armenia
that flourished in the period of interregnum
between the seventh and ninth centuries, following the Marzpanate Period
when the leading political authority was exercised by a succession of princes.
By 637
AD Armenia
emerged as an autonomous principality within the Arabic Empire under Caliph
Umar
, reuniting Armenian lands previously ruled by the Byzantine Empire
as well. The principality was ruled by the Prince of Armenia, recognised by the Caliph and the Byzantine Emperor.
raid reached Armenia in 639 AD. Dvin
was captured and pillaged during this raid on 6 October 640. A second invasion took place in 642–643 and a third in 650, which captured some land north of Lake Van
. According to bishop Sebeos
, in January [642], the Arabs took the city of Tovin (Duin) by storm, slaughtered twelve thousand of its inhabitants and carried away thirty-five thousand into slavery. Armenia however remained under Byzantine
suzerainty until 653/654 AD, when Theodore Rshtuni voluntarily conceded Arab suzerainty and was recognized as autonomous prince of Armenia in return. According to this agreement, Armenia was recognized as an autonomous state subject to an annual tribute and a contribution of fifteen thousand troops to the Arab army. With Arab aid, Rhstuni repelled Byzantine attacks, and Arab troops even captured Theodosiopolis in 655, and cemented their control of the country by taking Rhstuni to Damascus
and appointing his rival Hamazasp Mamikonian in his stead. The outbreak of the Muslim Civil War
in 657 led to the recall of the Arab troops to Syria. Thereupon the Byzantines re-asserted their authority over the country, aided by Mamikonian. In 661 however, the victor of the Muslim civil war Mu'awiyah ordered the Armenian princes to re-submit to his authority and pay tribute. In order to avoid another war, the princes complied. The Arab policy of demanding that the tribute be paid in money had an effect on Armenian economy and society. Coins were struck in Duin. The Armenians were forced to produce a surplus of food and manufactured goods for sale. A strong urban life was developed in Caucasia
as the economy revived.
The Arabs, for administrative purposes, gathered the whole of the South Caucasus
into one vast viceroyalty called al-Arminiya. Under the Umayyads especially, it was usually combined with the governorship of Azerbaijan
(classical Media Atropatene), sometimes with the Jazira (northern Mesopotamia
), and less often, with Tabaristan
(southeast of Gīlān
) and even Fars (central Persia). Armenia was governed by an emir or wali
headquartered at Dvin (Dabil in Arab sources), whose role however was limited to defence and the collection of taxes: the country was largely run by the local princes, the nakharar
. The province was formally established by the time of the caliph Abd al-Malik (r. 685–705). The Emirate of Armenia (al-Arminiya) was divided into four regions: Arminiya I (Caucasian Albania
), Arminiya II (Caucasian Iberia
), Arminiya III (the area around Aras River), Arminiya IV (Taron
). This viceroyalty also contained two large lakes: the salt lake
known as Lake Van
in the south-west, and the fresh water Lake Gukchah on its north-eastern border.
The most prominent Caliph of the Abbasid
Dynasty was Harun al-Rashid
who rose to power on 14 September 786 AD. According to contemporary Armenian sources, he was a greedy and avaricious man. Harun brought such excessive oppression upon Armenia that, considering the fact that Armenians generally preferred Arab suzerainty to Byzantine Greek absorption, many cantons went over to the Greeks.
Despite several insurrections, the Emirate of Armenia lasted till 884 AD, when Ashot I of the Bagratuni Dynasty
, who had managed to win control over most of its area, declared himself "King of the Armenians". He received recognition by Caliph Al-Mu'tamid
of the Abbasid dynasty in 885 and Byzantine Emperor Basil I
of the Macedonian dynasty
in 886. Armenia thus emerged as an independent region.
Early Middle Ages
The Early Middle Ages was the period of European history lasting from the 5th century to approximately 1000. The Early Middle Ages followed the decline of the Western Roman Empire and preceded the High Middle Ages...
Armenia
Armenia
Armenia , officially the Republic of Armenia , is a landlocked mountainous country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia...
that flourished in the period of interregnum
Interregnum
An interregnum is a period of discontinuity or "gap" in a government, organization, or social order...
between the seventh and ninth centuries, following the Marzpanate Period
Marzpanate Period
Marzpanate period refers to the period in Armenian history after the fall of the Arshakuni Dynasty of Armenia in 428, when Marzpans , nominated by the Sassanid Persian King, governed the eastern part of Armenia...
when the leading political authority was exercised by a succession of princes.
By 637
637
Year 637 was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Julian calendar. The denomination 637 for this year has been used since the early medieval period, when the Anno Domini calendar era became the prevalent method in Europe for naming years.- Europe :* Battle of Mag Rath: Dál Riata influence...
AD Armenia
Armenia
Armenia , officially the Republic of Armenia , is a landlocked mountainous country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia...
emerged as an autonomous principality within the Arabic Empire under Caliph
Caliph
The Caliph is the head of state in a Caliphate, and the title for the ruler of the Islamic Ummah, an Islamic community ruled by the Shari'ah. It is a transcribed version of the Arabic word which means "successor" or "representative"...
Umar
Umar
`Umar ibn al-Khattāb c. 2 November , was a leading companion and adviser to the Islamic prophet Muhammad who later became the second Muslim Caliph after Muhammad's death....
, reuniting Armenian lands previously ruled by the Byzantine Empire
Byzantine Empire
The Byzantine Empire was the Eastern Roman Empire during the periods of Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages, centred on the capital of Constantinople. Known simply as the Roman Empire or Romania to its inhabitants and neighbours, the Empire was the direct continuation of the Ancient Roman State...
as well. The principality was ruled by the Prince of Armenia, recognised by the Caliph and the Byzantine Emperor.
History
The first ArabArab
Arab people, also known as Arabs , are a panethnicity primarily living in the Arab world, which is located in Western Asia and North Africa. They are identified as such on one or more of genealogical, linguistic, or cultural grounds, with tribal affiliations, and intra-tribal relationships playing...
raid reached Armenia in 639 AD. Dvin
Dvin
Dvin was a large commercial city and the capital of early medieval Armenia. It was situated north of the previous ancient capital of Armenia, the city of Artaxata, along the banks of the Metsamor River, 35 km to the south of modern Yerevan...
was captured and pillaged during this raid on 6 October 640. A second invasion took place in 642–643 and a third in 650, which captured some land north of Lake Van
Lake Van
Lake Van is the largest lake in Turkey, located in the far east of the country in Van district. It is a saline and soda lake, receiving water from numerous small streams that descend from the surrounding mountains. Lake Van is one of the world's largest endorheic lakes . The original outlet from...
. According to bishop Sebeos
Sebeos
Sebeos was a 7th century Armenian bishop and historian who participated in the first Council of Dvin in 645.The history of Sebeos contains detailed descriptions from the period of Sassanid supremacy in Armenia up to the Islamic conquest in 661...
, in January [642], the Arabs took the city of Tovin (Duin) by storm, slaughtered twelve thousand of its inhabitants and carried away thirty-five thousand into slavery. Armenia however remained under 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...
suzerainty until 653/654 AD, when Theodore Rshtuni voluntarily conceded Arab suzerainty and was recognized as autonomous prince of Armenia in return. According to this agreement, Armenia was recognized as an autonomous state subject to an annual tribute and a contribution of fifteen thousand troops to the Arab army. With Arab aid, Rhstuni repelled Byzantine attacks, and Arab troops even captured Theodosiopolis in 655, and cemented their control of the country by taking Rhstuni to Damascus
Damascus
Damascus , commonly known in Syria as Al Sham , and as the City of Jasmine , is the capital and the second largest city of Syria after Aleppo, both are part of the country's 14 governorates. In addition to being one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world, Damascus is a major...
and appointing his rival Hamazasp Mamikonian in his stead. The outbreak of the Muslim Civil War
First Fitna
The First Islamic Civil War , also called the First Fitna , was the first major civil war within the Islamic Caliphate. It arose as a struggle over who had the legitimate right to become the ruling Caliph...
in 657 led to the recall of the Arab troops to Syria. Thereupon the Byzantines re-asserted their authority over the country, aided by Mamikonian. In 661 however, the victor of the Muslim civil war Mu'awiyah ordered the Armenian princes to re-submit to his authority and pay tribute. In order to avoid another war, the princes complied. The Arab policy of demanding that the tribute be paid in money had an effect on Armenian economy and society. Coins were struck in Duin. The Armenians were forced to produce a surplus of food and manufactured goods for sale. A strong urban life was developed in Caucasia
Caucasus
The Caucasus, also Caucas or Caucasia , is a geopolitical region at the border of Europe and Asia, and situated between the Black and the Caspian sea...
as the economy revived.
The Arabs, for administrative purposes, gathered the whole of the South Caucasus
South Caucasus
The South Caucasus is a geopolitical region located on the border of Eastern Europe and Southwest Asia also referred to as Transcaucasia, or The Trans-Caucasus...
into one vast viceroyalty called al-Arminiya. Under the Umayyads especially, it was usually combined with the governorship of Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan (Iran)
Azerbaijan or Azarbaijan , also Iranian Azerbaijan, Persian Azarbaijan is a region in northwestern Iran. It is also historically known as Atropatene and Aturpatakan....
(classical Media Atropatene), sometimes with the Jazira (northern Mesopotamia
Mesopotamia
Mesopotamia is a toponym for the area of the Tigris–Euphrates river system, largely corresponding to modern-day Iraq, northeastern Syria, southeastern Turkey and southwestern Iran.Widely considered to be the cradle of civilization, Bronze Age Mesopotamia included Sumer and the...
), and less often, with Tabaristan
Mazandaran Province
Mazandaran Province is a Caspian province in the north of Iran. Located on the southern coast of the Caspian Sea, it is bordered clockwise by the Golestan, Semnan, Tehran, Alborz, Qazvin, and Gilan provinces....
(southeast of Gīlān
Gilan Province
Gilan Province is one of the 31 provinces of Iran. It lies along the Caspian Sea, just west of the province of Mazandaran, east of the province of Ardabil, north of the provinces of Zanjan and Qazvin....
) and even Fars (central Persia). Armenia was governed by an emir or wali
Wali
Walī , is an Arabic word meaning "custodian", "protector", "sponsor", or authority as denoted by its definition "crown". "Wali" is someone who has "Walayah" over somebody else. For example, in Fiqh the father is wali of his children. In Islam, the phrase ولي الله walīyu 'llāh...
headquartered at Dvin (Dabil in Arab sources), whose role however was limited to defence and the collection of taxes: the country was largely run by the local princes, the nakharar
Nakharar
Nakharar was a hereditary title of the highest order given to houses of the ancient and medieval Armenian nobility.-Nakharar system:Medieval Armenia was divided into large estates, which were the property of an enlarged noble family and were ruled by a member of it, to whom the title of Nahapet...
. The province was formally established by the time of the caliph Abd al-Malik (r. 685–705). The Emirate of Armenia (al-Arminiya) was divided into four regions: Arminiya I (Caucasian Albania
Caucasian Albania
Albania is a name for the historical region of the eastern Caucasus, that existed on the territory of present-day republic of...
), Arminiya II (Caucasian Iberia
Caucasian Iberia
Iberia , also known as Iveria , was a name given by the ancient Greeks and Romans to the ancient Georgian kingdom of Kartli , corresponding roughly to the eastern and southern parts of the present day Georgia...
), Arminiya III (the area around Aras River), Arminiya IV (Taron
Taron (historic Armenia)
Taron was a canton of the Turuberan province of Greater Armenia, now in the Muş Province, Turkey. It was divided into four districts: Mamikonian, Palauni, , Artokh Taron was a canton of the Turuberan province of Greater Armenia, now in the Muş Province, Turkey. It was divided into four districts:...
). This viceroyalty also contained two large lakes: the salt lake
Salt lake
A salt lake or saline lake is a landlocked body of water which has a concentration of salts and other dissolved minerals significantly higher than most lakes . In some cases, salt lakes have a higher concentration of salt than sea water, but such lakes would also be termed hypersaline lakes...
known as Lake Van
Lake Van
Lake Van is the largest lake in Turkey, located in the far east of the country in Van district. It is a saline and soda lake, receiving water from numerous small streams that descend from the surrounding mountains. Lake Van is one of the world's largest endorheic lakes . The original outlet from...
in the south-west, and the fresh water Lake Gukchah on its north-eastern border.
The most prominent Caliph of the Abbasid
Abbasid
The Abbasid Caliphate or, more simply, the Abbasids , was the third of the Islamic caliphates. It was ruled by the Abbasid dynasty of caliphs, who built their capital in Baghdad after overthrowing the Umayyad caliphate from all but the al-Andalus region....
Dynasty was Harun al-Rashid
Harun al-Rashid
Hārūn al-Rashīd was the fifth Arab Abbasid Caliph in Iraq. He was born in Rey, Iran, close to modern Tehran. His birth date remains a point of discussion, though, as various sources give the dates from 763 to 766)....
who rose to power on 14 September 786 AD. According to contemporary Armenian sources, he was a greedy and avaricious man. Harun brought such excessive oppression upon Armenia that, considering the fact that Armenians generally preferred Arab suzerainty to Byzantine Greek absorption, many cantons went over to the Greeks.
Despite several insurrections, the Emirate of Armenia lasted till 884 AD, when Ashot I of the Bagratuni Dynasty
Bagratuni Dynasty
The Bagratuni, Bagratid or alternatively Pakradouni royal dynasty of Armenia was a royal family whose branches formerly ruled many regional polities, including the Armenian lands of Sper|presently Ispir in Tayk Province of the Armenian Kingdom, Bagrevand in Ayrarat Province of the Armenian...
, who had managed to win control over most of its area, declared himself "King of the Armenians". He received recognition by Caliph Al-Mu'tamid
Al-Mu'tamid
This article is about the Abbasid Caliph al-Mu'tamid of Baghdad. For the Andalusi Arabic poet who was also the Abbadid king of Seville, see Muhammad Ibn Abbad Al Mutamid...
of the Abbasid dynasty in 885 and Byzantine Emperor Basil I
Basil I
Basil I, called the Macedonian was a Byzantine emperor of probable Armenian descent who reigned from 867 to 886. Born a simple peasant in the Byzantine theme of Macedonia, he rose in the imperial court, and usurped the imperial throne from Emperor Michael III...
of the Macedonian dynasty
Macedonian dynasty
The Macedonian dynasty ruled the Byzantine Empire from 867 to 1056, following the Amorian dynasty. During this period, the Byzantine state reached its greatest expanse since the Muslim conquests, and the Macedonian Renaissance in letters and arts began. The dynasty was named after its founder,...
in 886. Armenia thus emerged as an independent region.
Emirs (Ostikans) of Armenia
- Muhammad ibn MarwanMuhammad ibn MarwanMuḥammad ibn Marwān ibn al-Ḥakam was an Umayyad prince and one of the most important generals of the Caliphate in the period 690–710, completing the Arab conquest of Armenia...
(ca. 702–706) - Abdallah ibn Hatim al-Bahili (706–709), as Muhammad ibn Marwan's deputy
- Maslamah ibn Abd al-MalikMaslamah ibn Abd al-MalikMaslamah ibn Abd al-Malik was an Umayyad prince and one of the most prominent Arab generals of the early decades of the 8th century, leading several campaigns against the Byzantine Empire and the Khazar Khaganate...
(709–721) - al-Djarrah ibn Abdallah al-Hakami (721–725)
- Maslamah ibn Abd al-MalikMaslamah ibn Abd al-MalikMaslamah ibn Abd al-Malik was an Umayyad prince and one of the most prominent Arab generals of the early decades of the 8th century, leading several campaigns against the Byzantine Empire and the Khazar Khaganate...
(725–729) - al-Djarrah ibn Abdallah al-Hakami (729–730)
- Maslamah ibn Abd al-MalikMaslamah ibn Abd al-MalikMaslamah ibn Abd al-Malik was an Umayyad prince and one of the most prominent Arab generals of the early decades of the 8th century, leading several campaigns against the Byzantine Empire and the Khazar Khaganate...
(730–732) - Marwan ibn Muhammad (732–744)
- Ishaq ibn Muslim (744–750)
- al-Mansur (750–753)
- Yazid ibn Usayd ibn Zafir al-Sulami (753–755)
- Sulayman (755–?)
- Salih ben Subai al-Kindi (ca. 767)
- Bakkar ibn Muslim al-'Uqayli (ca. 769–770)
- al-Hasan ibn Qahtaba (770/771–773/774)
- Yazid ibn Usayd ibn Zafir al-Sulami (773/774–778)
- Uthman ibn 'Umara ibn Khuraym (778–785)
- Khuzayma ibn Khazim (785–786)
- Yusuf ibn Rashid al-Sulami (786–787)
- Yazid ibn Mazyad al-Shaybani (787–788)
- Abd al-Qadir (788)
- Sulayman ibn Yazid (788–799)
- Yazid ibn Mazyad al-Shaybani (799–801)
- Rauh ibn Hatim al-Muhallabi (801–803)
- Khuzayma ibn Khazim (803–?)
- Ishaq ibn Sulayman (ca. 813)
- Khalid ibn Yazid ibn Mazyad (826–833)
- Abu Sa'id Muhammad al-Marwazi (849–851)
- Yusuf ibn Abu Sa'id al-Marwazi (851–852)
- Muhammad ibn Khalid (855–862)
- Ali ibn Yahya al-Armani (862–863)
Presiding princes of Armenia
- Mjej II Gnuni Մժեժ Բ Գնունի, 628-635
- David SaharuniDavid SaharuniDavid Saharuni was sparapet, curopalates, ishkhan, and presiding prince of Byzantine controlled Armenia from 635 to 638.David was a nakharar from the princely noble House of Saharuni. When the marzpan of Persarmania Varaz-Tirots Bagratuni was in the imperial court in Osroene, he entered in a plot...
Դավիթ Սահառունի, 635-638 - Theodore Rshtuni Թէոդորոս Ռշտունի, 638-645
- Varaz-Tirots II BagratuniVaraz-Tirots II BagratuniVaraz-Tirots II Bagratuni was an Armenian nakharar from the Bagratuni family, aspet until 616, marzpan of Armenia from 628 to 634 and presiding prince of Armenia in 645....
Վարազ Տիրոց Բ Բագրատունի, 645 - Theodore Rshtuni Թէոդորոս Ռշտունի, 645-653, 654-655
- Mushegh II Mamikonian Մուշէղ Բ Մամիկոնեան, 654
- Hamazasp II Mamikonian Համազասպ Բ Մամիկոնեան, 655-658
- Gregory I Mamikonian Գրիգոր Ա Մամիկոնեան, 662-684/85
- Ashot II Bagratuni Աշոտ Բ Բագրատունի, 686-690
- Nerses Kamsarakan Ներսէս Կամսարական, 689-691
- Smbat VI BagratuniSmbat VI BagratuniSmbat VI Bagratuni was a member of the Bagratuni family who was presiding prince of Armenia from 691 to 711. During his reign, he frequently shifted alliances between the Byzantines, who gave him the title of kouropalates, and the Umayyads. He was the son of Varaz-Tirots III Bagratuni, and the...
Սմբատ Զ Բագրատունի, 691-711 - Ashot III BagratuniAshot III BagratuniAshot III Bagratuni also known as Ashot the Blind was a member of the Bagratuni family who was presiding prince of Armenia as a Prince from 726 and as an ishxan from 732 to 748...
Աշոտ Գ Բագրատունի, 732-748 - Gregory II Mamikonian Գրիգոր Բ Մամիկոնեան, 748-750
- Sahak VII Bagratuni Սահակ Է Բագրատունի, 755-761
- Smbat VII Bagratuni Սմբատ Է Բագրատունի, 761-772
- Tachat Andzevatsi Տաճատ Անձեւացի, 780-782/785
- Ashot IV Bagratuni Աշոտ Դ Բագրատունի, 806-826
- Smbat VIII Bagratuni Սմբատ Ը Բագրատունի, 826-855
- Bagrat II Bagratuni Բագրատ Բ Բագրատունի, 830-852
- Ashot V Bagratuni Աշոտ Ա Հայոց Արքա, Աշոտ Ե իշխան Հայոց, 862-885