Zakarid-Mxargrzeli

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The Zakarids (Armenian: Զաքարյաններ, Zakaryanner), also known by their Georgian language moniker as Mxargrdzeli, were a noble family of Kurdish origin ^[1] prominent in medieval Armenia and Georgia. Their name in Georgian, Mxargrdzeli, or Armenian: Երկայնաբազուկ (Yerkaynbazook) meant long-armed. A family legend says that this name refers to their ancestor (version) King Achemenide Artaxerxes II "Longarmed" (404-358 BC).

[edit] Origin

They originate from a Kurdish (Iranian) family who probably were of Arsacides decent (another version tells they were of mixed Kurdish origin or of Artsruni descent from Vaspurakan according to some scholars), who later emigrated in northern Armenia, namely the Kingdom of Lori, where they attained to a noble rank and served the Bagratuni family. When the Georgian King David IV the Restorer liberated these lands from the Sejuqgrasp, the Zakarid came to be the loyal vassals of the Georgian Bagratids, as they had served the Kingdom of Lori. They subsequently gained more prominence as military commanders and sponsors of cultural activities in both Armenian and Georgian lands. Zakare and Ivane were the most brilliant representatives of the family, who succeeded in liberating several Armenian districts from the Muslim overlords and were responsible for Georgian-Armenian military victories during the era of Tamara of Georgia (1184-1212/3). Around the same time, Ivane converted into Georgian Orthodox Christianity, while Zakare remained Armenian in faith. Both brothers left several bilingual inscriptions across the Armeno-Georgian marchlands and built churches and forts.

[edit] References

Minorsky, Vladimir (1953). Studies in Caucasian History. New York: Taylor’s Foreign Press, pp. 102-103. ISBN 0521057353.
Sim, Steven. The City of Ani: A Very Brief History. VirtualANI. Retrieved on 2007-07-15.
Vardan, Arewelts'i. Compilation of History: 82. RBedrosian. Retrieved on 2007-07-15.