Battle of Varnakert

Battle of Varnakert
Date 697-705
Location Varnakert
Result Armenian victory
Belligerents
Arabs Armenia
Commanders and leaders
? Smbat Bagratouni
Strength
8,000 40
Casualties and losses
? ?

Battle of Varnakert (697-705) Smbat Bagratouni defeated the 8,000 strong Arab army from the garrison in Nakhichevan. Smbat, with the aid of Byzantine Empire, managed to re-conquer the majority of Armenia and drive the Arabs out of the country. [1]

During the period when the Arab governor Merwan ruled Armenia (723-744), the country experienced relatively great freedom, but his successors introduced a reign of terror, fore-fronted by persons such as Suleiman, Bekir and Hassan (766-778). In 774 the Armenians revolted again, this time led by Moushegh Mamikonian, who managed with his remaining 30 men to push back the 4,000 Arab riders which had been sent against him from the garrison in Dvin [2]

References

  1. ^ Ghevond, Histoire des Guerres et Conquêtes des Arabes en Arménie, translated by Chamazarian, Paris, 1856, p. 23
  2. ^ Ghevond, Histoire des Guerres et Conqu�tes des Arabes en Arm�nie, translated by Shahnazarian, Paris, 1856, p. 133