Upper Armenia

Բարձր Հայք
Province of Greater Armenia
189 BC–XI century
Capital Karin(Greater Armenia)
History
 - Artaxias I declaring himself independent 189 BC
 - Upper Armenia's conquest by Byzantine Empire XI century

Upper Armenia (Armenian: Բարձր Հայք - Bardzr Hayq) is a historic region of Armenia located in present-day Turkey roughly corresponding to the modern province of Erzincan. immediately west of the Kura River. Within the borders of the Kingdom of Armenia, it was bounded by the regions of Dsopk, Taron, Tayk, and Ayrarat. It was called Upper Armenia, as it was upper than the other provinces. Upper Armenia's area was 23,860 km2 (9,000 sq mi) and consisted of 9 districts:

Upper Armenia was famous by its lakes, rivers especially Euphrates, gold] mines and fields. In 2nd millennium BC Upper Armenia's wester parts were conquered by Hittite Empire, from XV century BC was conquered by Hayasa-Azzi. From 189 BC it became part of Kingdom of Armeni. Upper Armenia was famous by its pagan temples. From 62 AD it became part of Arsacid Dynasty of Armenia. As it was an outlying province it served as an defense shield against enemies. According to Pavstos Buzand, Armenian Arshakid Kings were buried in Ani (Upper Armenia). In 387 Upper Armenia passed to the Roman Empire. It was renamed into Inner Armenia, which was ruled by a count. Inner Armenia's capital was Teodosupolis (Karin). During Justinian I's reign Inner Armenia was made a province with the name of First Armenia. In VIII century western parts of Upper Armenia were conquered by Arabs, and soon many Arab tribes settled in that parts to separate Armenia from Byzantine Empire. In 885 Upper Armenia became part of Bagratuni Kingdom of Armenia. In XI century Upper Armenia was once again conquered by Byzantine Empire. In 1071 it passed to Seljuks, in 1157 it was conquered by Sultanate of Rome. In 1207 Upper Armenia's eastern parts were liberated by Zakarids. In 1242 Mongols conquered Upper Armenia, in 1502 was conquered by Persia, in 1514 by Ottoman Turkey. Upper Armenia had a big number of Armenians until 1915 Armenian Genocide. [1]

See also

References

  1. ^ Armenian Soviet Encyclopedia, 2nd volume, page 321-322
Traditional provinces or Ashkhars
Other Armenian regions
Provinces during the reign of Tigranes the Great