Karin was Greater Armenia's Upper Armenia province's main city. The territory of Karin was inhabited from 3rd millennium BC. By 387's division the city passed to the Roman Empire. As Karin was near to the border with Persia, many fortresses were built around Karin. In 421 AD in the honor of Theodosius II the city was renamed Theodosopoulos. In 647 AD the city was conquered by Arabs, they renamed the city Kalikala. In 752 AD the city passed to the Byzantine Empire, in 885 AD to the Bagratuni dynasty of Armenia, in 949 reconquered by Byzantine Empire. In 1071 AD after Battle of Manzikert the city was conquered by Seljuks, in 1206 reconquered by united Armenian-Georgian forces. In 1242 AD the city passed to the Mongol Empire. In 1480 Karin was conquered by Persians, in 1514 by Ottoman Turks and renamed Erzurum. In 1829, 1878, 1916 the city was conquered by Russian forces with the help of Armenian volunteers, but then was left. A big number of Armenians lived in Karin up to 1915 Armenian Genocide.