The History of the Country of Albania

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The Sassanian fortress of Derbent, whose Siege and Sack during the Khazar Invasions was described in detail in this book.
The Sassanian fortress of Derbent, whose Siege and Sack during the Khazar Invasions was described in detail in this book.

The History of the Country of Albania (Armenian: Պատմություն Աղվանից, Patmut'iwn Aluaniç) is a historical compilation about Caucasian Albania written in Armenian between 7th century and the 10th century, consisting of three volumes. While it focuses on the geographic region of Caucasian Albania, it starts with the origins of man and the the Flood, chronicling events up to the time of writing.[1]

[edit] Authorship

The identity of the author or authors is the subject to scholarly debate. The first historian to mention this author was Mkhitar Gosh, referring to him as Movses Daskhurantsi, a name that does not appear anywhere else[2]. However, a later historian, Kirakos Gandzaketsi, referred to a statement in the History itself, to attribute the name of the author as Movses Kaghankatvatsi [2]. The statement in question (Book II, ch. 11) says:

“ When the enemy became aware of what had happened, they pursued them and overtook a group of them at the foot of the mountain opposite the large village of Kaghankatuk, which is in the same province of Uti where I too am from. ”

However, scholars question the content of this passage [2]. It is unknown whether the “I” in question was the original author or someone else [2]. Moreover, the passage suggests the author is from the province of Uti, and not necessarily from Kaghankatuk [2].

The attribution of the work to a single author was rejected from the beginning[2]. Movses narrates the Khazar invasion of Transcaucasia and other events up to the 7th century in Book I and II of History.[2]

However, Book III of his History differs from the previous ones in style of writing[3] and date[2]. It deals with the Caspian expeditions of the Rus and their conquest of Partav in the 10th century[2].

Because of such time lapse and difference in style, attribution of the work to a single author seems impossible[2]. Some have tried to solve this dilemma by attributing Book I and II to Kaghankatvatsi and Book III of the compilation to Daskhurantsi.[2]

[edit] Editions

  • (Russian)Movses Kaghankatvatsi (1984). The History of the Country of Albania (translated by Š.V. Smbatian). Yerevan: Matenadaran. 
  • (Georgian)Movses Kaghankatvatsi (1985). The History of Albania (translated by L. Davlianidze-Tatishvili). 
  • (English)Movsēs Dasxuranc'i (1961). The History of the Caucasian Albanians (translated by C. F. J. Dowsett). London: (London Oriental Series, Vol. 8). 

[edit] References

  1. ^ James D. Howard-Johnston (2006). East Rome, Sasanian Persia and the End of Antiquity. Ashgate Publishing, Ltd., p.49. ISBN 0860789926. 
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Hacikyan, Agop Jack (2000). The Heritage of Armenian Literature. Wayne State University Press, p. 171-172. ISBN 0814330231. 
  3. ^ Hewsen, Robert H. (1964). Notes and Communications. London: Bulletin of Oriental and African Studies, University of London vol. 27 Museum History, pp. 151-156.