Bagratid Armenia: Map & History
Bagratid Armenia was an independent Armenian state established by Ashot I of the Bagratuni dynasty in the early 880s following nearly two centuries of foreign domination of Greater Armenia under Arab Umayyad and Abbasid rule.
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Bagratid Armenia was an independent Armenian state established by Ashot I of the Bagratuni dynasty in the early 880s following nearly two centuries of foreign domination of Greater Armenia under Arab Umayyad and Abbasid rule. With each of the two contemporary powers in the region—the Abbasids and Byzantines—too preoccupied to concentrate their forces on subjugating the region, and with the dissipation of several of the Armenian nakharar noble families, Ashot succeeded in asserting himself as the leading figure of a movement to dislodge the Arabs from Armenia.
Modern Countries Once Part of Bagratid Armenia
At its mapped extent, Bagratid Armenia covered territory in 2 present-day countries. The period shown is when the mapped borders include that country, and the note says how much of it.
Largest Present-Day Cities in Its Territory
Each opens on the live map inside Bagratid Armenia's borders of that time.
Derived by testing mapped cities against this polity's dated territorial polygons, so the list is indicative and follows the borders in the source dataset.
Bagratid Armenia in Depth
History
The weakening of the Sasanian Empire during the 7th century led to the rise of another regional power, the Muslim Arabs. The Arabs under the Umayyad Caliphate had conquered vast swaths of territory in the Middle East and, turning north, began to periodically launch raids into Armenia territory in 640. Theodore Rshtuni, the Armenian Curopalates, signed a peace treaty with the Caliphate, although the continuing war with the Arabs and Byzantines soon led to further destruction throughout Armenia. In 661, Armenian leaders agreed to submit to Muslim rule while the latter recognized Grigor Mamikonian from the powerful Mamikonian nakharar family as ishkhan (prince) of Armenia. Known as al-Arminiya with its capital at Dvin, the province was headed by an ostikan, or governor.
Culture and society
The king of Bagratuni Armenia held unlimited powers and was the ultimate authority when it came to resolving questions on foreign and domestic affairs. The princes and nakharars were directly subordinate to the king and received and kept their lands only through his permission. Should certain nobles have disobeyed the king's orders, he would have the right to confiscate their lands and distribute them to other nobles. The concept of divine right, however, did not exist and insubordination by the nakharar elite could only be matched by the steadfastness of the king himself.
Most Armenians belonged to the Armenian Apostolic Church, but there were elements in Armenian society who also adhered to the Eastern Orthodox Church, the official religion of the Byzantine Empire.
Sections adapted from Wikipedia: Bagratid Armenia (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Bagratid Armenia: Key Facts
| Capitals | Shirakavan, Bagaran, Kars |
|---|---|
| Form of government | absolute monarchy |
| Founded | 884 CE |
| Dissolved | 1045 |
Succeeded by
- Sasanian Armenia
- Kingdom of Georgia
Facts from Wikidata Q2622868 (CC0).
Bagratid Armenia Map Over Time
Dated world maps on which Bagratid Armenia appears, with the other states of the time.
Bagratid Armenia Timeline
Key historical inflections from foundation to peak territorial expansion
Expansion to peak recorded area of 99,224 km² in 888 CE.
Bagratid Armenia: Frequently Asked Questions
When did Bagratid Armenia exist?
Bagratid Armenia is dated to 886 CE – 1045 CE, in the Early Middle Ages era.
What was the capital of Bagratid Armenia?
The capital of Bagratid Armenia was Bagaran (885–890), Shirakavan (890–929), Kars (929–961), Ani (961–1045).
How large was Bagratid Armenia at its peak?
At its peak in 888 AD Bagratid Armenia covered about 99,224 km².
How did the map of Bagratid Armenia change over time?
Bagratid Armenia appears on 2 dated world maps in the atlas, from 900 CE to 1000 CE. Each shows its borders in that year next to the other states of the time.
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