Movses Kaghankatvatsi
Encyclopedia
Movses Kaghankatvatsi or Movses Daskhurantsi ( Movses Dasxuranc’i), is the reputed author (or authors) of a 10th-century Old Armenian historiographical work on Caucasian Albania
, known as The History of the Country of Albania .
, referring to him as Movses Daskhurantsi.
A later historian, Kirakos Gandzaketsi
, referred to a statement in the History itself, to attribute the name of the author as Movses Kaghankatvatsi. The statement in question (Book II, ch. 11) says:
Movses narrates the Khazar invasion of Transcaucasia and other events up to the 7th century in Book I and II of History.
Book III of his History differs from the previous ones in style of writing and date. It deals with the Caspian expeditions of the Rus
and their conquest of Partav in the 10th century.
Because of such time lapse and difference in style, attribution of the work to a single author seems doubtful. For this reason it has been common to assume two consecutive authors or editors,
Kaghankatvatsi (7th century) as the author of Books I and II, and Daskhurantsi (10th century) as the editors of Kaghankatvatsi's text and the author of Book III.
Caucasian Albania
Albania is a name for the historical region of the eastern Caucasus, that existed on the territory of present-day republic of...
, known as The History of the Country of Albania .
Authorship
The first historian to mention an author of the work Mkhitar GoshMkhitar Gosh
Mkhitar Gosh was an Armenian scholar, writer, public figure, thinker, and priest. He was born in the city of Gandzak. He got his early education from public institutions. When he reached his adolescence he decided to dedicate his life to church...
, referring to him as Movses Daskhurantsi.
A later historian, Kirakos Gandzaketsi
Kirakos Gandzaketsi
Kirakos of Gandzak was an Armenian historian of the 13th century and author of the History of Armenia, a summary of events from the 4th to the 12th century and a detailed description of the events of his own days. The work concentrates primarily on the history of Medieval Armenia and events...
, referred to a statement in the History itself, to attribute the name of the author as Movses Kaghankatvatsi. The statement in question (Book II, ch. 11) says:
Movses narrates the Khazar invasion of Transcaucasia and other events up to the 7th century in Book I and II of History.
Book III of his History differs from the previous ones in style of writing and date. It deals with the Caspian expeditions of the Rus
Caspian expeditions of the Rus
The Caspian expeditions of the Rus were military raids undertaken by the Rus' between 864 and 1041 on the Caspian Sea shores. Initially, the Rus' appeared in Serkland in the 9th century traveling as merchants along the Volga trade route, selling furs, honey, and slaves. The first small-scale raids...
and their conquest of Partav in the 10th century.
Because of such time lapse and difference in style, attribution of the work to a single author seems doubtful. For this reason it has been common to assume two consecutive authors or editors,
Kaghankatvatsi (7th century) as the author of Books I and II, and Daskhurantsi (10th century) as the editors of Kaghankatvatsi's text and the author of Book III.