Gagik I of Vaspurakan

Gagik I Artsruni
King of Vaspurakan
Depiction of Gagik in the central medallion, from the eastern facade of the Church of the Holy Cross
Reign	904–937/943
Investiture	908
Predecessor	Ashot-Sargis Artsruni
Successor	Derenik-Ashot
Issue	Derenik-Ashot, Abusahl-Hamazasp
Armenian	Գագիկ Ա Արծրունի
House	Artsruni
Born	879/880
Died	936 or 943

Gagik I Artsruni (Armenian: Գագիկ Ա Արծրունի; 879/880 – 936/943) was an Artsruni ruler of Vaspurakan in southern Armenia, first as prince of northwestern Vaspurakan (Gagik III, 904–908) and after that until his death as king, claiming also the title of "King of Armenia" from the Bagratid line.

He began his career as an ally of the Sajid emir of Azerbaijan Yusuf ibn Abi'l-Saj, from whom he received recognition as king in 908, against the Bagratid Smbat I. His state was recognized by the Byzantine Empire, who awarded him the title of "prince of princes" traditionally borne by the pre-eminent Armenian ruler, and his legitimacy received a further boost when the Armenian catholicos, John V the Historian, abandoned Muslim-ruled Dvin for Vaspurakan in 924. However, Gagik later reversed his position and allied himself with Smbat's son and successor, Ashot II. He is also notable as the founder of the Armenian Cathedral of the Holy Cross.

Sources

• Garsoïan, Nina G. (1997). "The independent kingdoms of medieval Armenia". In Hovhannisian, Richard G. The Armenian People from Ancient to Modern Times. Volume 1, The Dynastic Periods: From Antiquity to the Fourteenth Century. New York: St. Martin's Press. pp. 143–185. ISBN 0-312-10169-4. 
• Ter-Ghewondyan, Aram (1976). The Arab Emirates in Bagratid Armenia. Transl. Nina G. Garsoïan. Lisbon: Livraria Bertrand. OCLC 490638192.