Kingdom of Artsakh

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.

See also

• Artsakh

References

Further reading

• Robert H. Hewsen. "The Kingdom of Arc'ax" in Medieval Armenian Culture (University of Pennsylvania Armenian Texts and Studies). Thomas J. Samuelian and Michael E. Stone (eds.) Chico, California: Scholars Press, 1984. ISBN 0-8913-0642-0.