The Kingdom of Vaspourakan, 908-1021
The Isle of
Aghtamar, the residence of King Gagik I (908-943/944)
Vaspurakan (also transliterated as Vasbouragan in Western Armenian; Armenian: Վասպուրական, (Vaspowrakan) meaning the "noble land" or "land of princes"1) was first a province and then a kingdom of Greater Armenia during the Middle Ages centered around Lake Van. The region is considered to be the cradle of Armenian civilization.1 During most of its history it was ruled by the Ardzruni dynasty, which first managed to create a principality in the area. At its greatest extent Vaspurakan comprised the lands between Lake Van and Lake Urmia (also known as Kaputan) in 908. During this time they were under the sovereignty of the Kingdom of Ani. In contrast to the Armenian Vaspourakan, Bagratouni Armenia continued to energetically fight invading forces. In 1021, the Saljuq Turks suffered a heavy defeat against an Armenian army, led by Vasak Pahlavouni, who died during the battle.2
Vaspurakan was elevated to kingdom status in 908. It was annexed by the Byzantine Empire in 1021 and became known as the province of Basprakania or Media. 3 In about 1050 the whole province of Basprakania was merged with that of Taron. But, it was conquered by the Saljuq Turks between 1054-1056.
The kingdom of Vaspurakan had no specific capital, the court moving as the king transferred his residence from place to place – Van, Ostan/Vostan (modern Gevaş), and so on.4
Rulers
- Hamazasp II, Prince (800-836). Married to a daughter of Ashot Msaker of the Bagratuni family.
- Ashot I Abulabus Ardzruni, Prince (836-852). Son of Hamazasp II.
- Gurgen I Ardzruni, Prince (852-853). Brother of Ashot I.
- Abu Djafar Ardzruni, Prince (853-854). Probably brother of Ashot I.
- Gurgen II Ardzruni of Mardastan, Prince. (854-857). Distant relative.
- Grigor Derenik Ardzruni, Prince (857-868). Married Sofia, daughter of Ashot I Bagratuni the Great, Prince of Armenia. Son of Ashot I Ardzruni.
- Ashot I Abulabus Ardzruni, Prince (868-874). Second term.
- Grigor Ardzruni, Prince (874-887). Second term.
- Gagik Abu Morvan Ardzruni, regent for Sargis Ashot (887-897), then prince (897-898).
- Sargis Ashot, Prince (898-900). Son of Grigor Ardzruni.
- Emir Afshin (900).
- Safi, as governor of Van (900-901).
- Sargis Ashot (901-904). Reinstated.
- Khatchik Gagik III Ardzuni, Lord of Rechtuniq (887-897). Prince of northwest Vaspurakan (904-937). King of Vaspurakan (937-943). Brother of Sargis Ashot.
- Gurgen III Artzruni, Lord of Parskahaiq (887-897). Prince of southeast Vaspurakan (904-925). Brother of Sargis Ashot.
- Derenic Ashot III, King (943-953). Son of Gagik III.
- Abushal Hamazasp III, King (953-972). Brother of Derenic Ashot III.
- Ashot Sahak, King (972-983). Son of Abushal Hamazasp III.
- Gurgen Khatchik, King (983-1003) and Lord of Antzevaziq. Brother of Ashot Sahak.
- Seneqerim Ioan, King (1003-1021) and lord of Rechtuniq. Also King of Sebaste (1021). Brother of Gurgen Khatchik.
After the Byzantine annexation the dynasty continued with Derenic, son of Gurgen Khatchik, who became lord of Antzivaziq by 1004 and had two brothers: Gugik and Ashot. King Seneqerim Ioan also had several children among them David, Atom, Abushal and Constantine. There is a legend that one of Seneqerim's daughter is thought to have married Mendo Alao, an Alans who lived in Lusitania. David had a daughter that married King Gagik II of Ani.
Another branch of the family appeared on the person of Khatchik the Great in 1040, who had three children: Hasan, Djendjluk and Ishkhanik. Hasan had a son called Abelgharib who had a daughter that married King David of Ani.
Cantons
Vapusrakan was divided into 35 cantons. They usually took the name of the local nashrakar (canton chief) that ruled them:
Sites of Interest
- The old city of Van
- Former Armenian Katholicosate of Aghtamar on the Isle of Aghtamar
- Varagavank, an Armenian monastery on the slopes of Mt. Varag (9 km. east of Van), founded by King Sennacherib-John early in his reign (1003-1024). It became the richest and most celebrated monastery of the Lake Van area. Here, Khrimian Hayrik founded Arciv Vaspurakani (The Eagle of Vaspurakan), the first newspaper ever printed in Armenia. The archbishop of Van resided here until the late nineteenth century.4 On April 30, 1915, the Turkish army destroyed the monastery; its ruins are still visible, though.
- The Monastery of Saint Gregory the Illuminator, near Mount Varag
- Naregavank, a destroyed 10th century Armenian monastery where Krikor Naregatsi is buried
- Karmravank, a 10th century Armenian monastery on the shores of Lake Van
- Saint Gregory of Goms monastery, on the souther shores of Lake Van
- Saint Thomas Monastery, near the shores of Lake Van
- Saint Bartholomew Monastery
- The Church of the Holy Cross at Soradir
- Hayots Dzor (now Gürpınar plain), the valley in which the Armenian progenitor Hayk defeated the Assyrian king Bel
- Haykaberd (now Çavuştepe), the castle constructed by Hayk in Hayots Dzor
- Plain of Avarayr
- Saint Thaddeus Monastery
- Saint Stepanos Monastery
Notable People from Vaspurakan
Gallery
Medieval Armenian cathedrals and monasteries in Vaspurakan
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References
«Վասպուրական» Հայրենակցական միություն http://vaspurakan.blogspot.com/
Bibliography
- Hovannisian, Richard G., ed. (2000) Armenian Van/Vaspurakan Historic Armenian Cities and Provinces Costa Mesa, California: Mazda Publishers OCLC 44774992
- Der Nersessian, Sirarpie. Armenia and the Byzantine Empire: a Brief Study of Armenian Art and Civilization. Cambridge: Harvard University Press. 1947.
Coordinates: 38°48′N 44°00′E / 38.8°N 44.0°E / 38.8; 44.0
The above article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the copyrighted Wikipedia "Vaspurakan" article.
