Kingdom of Artsakh Khachen |
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The kingdom's location in relation to Zakarid Armenia (early 13th c.) | ||||
Capital | Khachen, Haterk, Vaykunik | |||
Language(s) | Armenian | |||
Religion | Armenian Apostolic Church | |||
Government | Monarchy | |||
King | John-Senecherib | |||
1000 | ||||
History | ||||
- Established | 1000 | |||
- Subdivision of the kingdom | 1182 | |||
- Acquiring of Dizak | 1261 | |||
- Assassination of Hasan Jalal, last king of Artsakh | 1261 |
The Kingdom of Artsakh (Armenian: Արցախի թագավորություն) is the modern name given to the medieval eastern Armenian state on the territory of Artsakh (present-day Nagorno-Karabakh), Gardman and Gegharkunik.[1] Contempororay sources referred to it as the "kingdom of Aghuank" or "Khachen". The royal house of Artsakh was a cadet branch of the ancient Syunid dynasty and was named Khachen, after its main stronghold. The kingdom emerged when John-Senecherib (Hovhannes-Senekerim) acquired the royal title in 1000. The monarchs of Artsakh maintained an internationally recognized sovereign status, though in the early 13th century they accepted Georgian, then Mongol suzerainty.[2] They lost the royal title after the assassination of Hasan-Jalal (1214–1261) by the Ilkhanid ruler Arghun Khan, but continued to rule Artsakh as a principality, which from the 16th century comprised five Armenian melikdoms and lasted until the early 19th century.[1] The descendants of the kings of Artsakh played a prominent role in the history of Artsakh as far as the 20th century.