Kingdom of Vaspurakan

Kingdom of Vaspurakan
Վասպուրական
Kingdom
← 908–1021 →
The Kingdom of Vaspurakan from 908 to 1021
Capital		Van
Languages		Armenian
Religion		Armenian Apostolic Church
Government		Monarchy
King
-	908-943	Gagik I Artsruni
-	1003-1021	Seneqerim Artsruni
Historical era		Middle Ages
-	Gagik I recognized as King of Armenia by Arab Caliph	908
-	Seneqerim Artsruni gave Vaspurakan to the Byzantine Empire	1021
Area		40,870 km² (15,780 sq mi)
Population
-	est.	1,000,000
Density		24.5 /km²  (63.4 /sq mi)
Currency		Solidus (coin), Hyperpyron
Today part of		Turkey  Iran  Azerbaijan  Iraq  Armenia

History of Armenia
Etymology Timeline Traditional Urheimat
Prehistory Stone & Copper Age Shulaveri-Shomu culture c.6500–3400 BCE Areni-1 Cave Complex Kura–Araxes culture c.3400–2000 BCE Legend of Hayk (?) 2492 BCE Bronze & Iron Age Hayasa-Azzi c.1500–1290 BCE Arme-Shupria c.1300s–1190 BCE Ararat/Urartu Nairi Tribes 1114–860 BCE Kingdom of Van 860–590 BCE
Antiquity Achaemenid Period Satrapy of Armina 549–331 BCE Orontid Dynasty Ancient Armenia Kingdom of Armenia 321 BCE–428 CE Artaxiad Dynasty 189 BCE–12 CE Empire 84–34 BCE Arsacid Dynasty 52–428 CE Roman–Parthian War 58–63 CE Roman Province of Armenia 114–118 CE Christianization 301 CE Armenia Minor 331–72 BCE Kingdom of Sophene c.200–94 BCE Kingdom of Commagene 163 BCE–72 CE Marzpanate Period Byzantine Armenia 387–536 Persian Armenia 428–646 Mamikonian Dynasty Battle of Avarayr 451
Middle Ages Arabic Period Emirate of Armenia 653–884 Hamamshen 700s–1300s Amatuni Dynasty Medieval Armenia Bagratid Armenia 884–1045 Bagratid Dynasty 861–1118 Kingdom of Vaspurakan 908–1021 Artsruni Dynasty Kingdom of Tashir-Dzoraget 979–1118 Kingdom of Artsakh 1000–1261 House of Hasan-Jalalyan Battle of Manzikert 1071 Cilician & Turco-Mongol Period Seljuq rule 1071–1201 Georgian union 1201–1236 Ilkhanid rule 1236–1335 Principality of Khachen 1261–1750 Turkmen rule 1335–1508 Kingdom of Cilicia 1198–1375 Rubenid Dynasty 1000–1261 Hethumid Dynasty 1226–1373 Lusignan Dynasty 1341–1375
Early Modern Age Perso-Ottoman Period Safavid & Qajar rule 1508–1828 Five Melikdoms Nakhichevan deportation 1606 Ottoman rule 1548–1915 Six Vilayets 1878 Hamidian massacres 1895–1896 Armenian Genocide 1909–1918 Russian Period Russian rule 1828–1918 Armenian Oblast 1828–1840 Western Armenia 1915–1918 National Liberation Movement Armenakan 1885 S.D. Hunchakian Party 1887 ARF (Dashnaktsutyun) 1890 Caucasus Campaign 1914–1918 Battle of Sardarapat 1918 Battle of Karakilisa 1918 Modern Armenia First Republic of Armenia 1918–1920 Treaty of Batum 1918 War with Azerbaijan 1918–1920 War with Georgia 1918 Treaty of Sèvres 1920 Wilsonian Armenia 1920 War with Turkey 1920 Treaty of Alexandropol 1920
Modern Age Soviet Period Armenian S.S.R. 1920–1991 February Uprising 1921 Republic of Mountainous Armenia 1921 Treaty of Moscow 1921 Treaty of Kars 1921 Territorial claims against Turkey 1945–1953 Independence Armenian Diaspora Hidden Armenians Republic of Armenia since 1991 Nagorno-Karabakh Republic since 1994 Nagorno-Karabakh War 1989–1994
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Vaspurakan (also transliterated as Vasbouragan in Western Armenian; Armenian: Վասպուրական, (Vaspowrakan) meaning the "noble land" or "land of princes"^[1]) was the first and biggest province of Greater Armenia, which later became an independent kingdom during the Middle Ages, centered on Lake Van. Located in what is now called eastern Turkey and northwestern Iran, the region is considered to be the cradle of Armenian civilization.^[1]

History

During most of its history it was ruled by the Ardzruni dynasty, which first managed to create a principality in the area. At its greatest extent Vaspurakan comprised the lands between Lake Van and Lake Urmia (also known as Kaputan) in 908. During this time they were under the sovereignty of the Bagratuni Kingdom of Ani.

Vaspurakan was elevated to the status of a kingdom in 908, when Gagik I of Vaspurakan was recognized King of Armenia by the Abbasids and at first was on their side, but soon he regretted and together with Ashot II defeated the Arabs. Soon he was recognized as the King of Vaspurakan by the Bagratuni Ashot II. In 1021 Seneqerim Artsruni gave Vaspurakan to the Byzantine Empire, receiving Sebasteia and its surroundings. Vaspurakan became the Byzantine province (thema) of Vasprakania or Media.^[2] In about 1050 Vasprakania was merged with that of Taron, but was conquered by the Saljuq Turks between 1054-1056. In the 13th century part of Vaspurakan was liberated by Zakarids. But soon was conquered by Mongols, then by Ottoman Turks. Turks several times tried to kill Armenians in Vaspurakan, especially in Van. But Van's Armenian population always resisted, especially is notable Siege of Van of 1915, when the Ottoman forces attacked on Van during 1915's Armenian Genocide.

After the Byzantine annexation the dynasty continued with Derenik, son of Gurgen Khatchik, who became lord of Antzivaziq by 1004 and had two brothers: Gugik and Ashot. King Hovhannes-Seneqerim also had several children among them David, Atom, Abushal and Constantine. There is a legend that one of Seneqerim's daughter is thought to have married Mendo Alao, an Alan who lived in Lusitania. David had a daughter that married King Gagik II of Ani.

Another branch of the family appeared on the person of Khatchik the Great in 1040, who had three children: Hasan, Djendjluk and Ishkhanik. Hasan had a son called Abelgharib who had a daughter that married King David of Ani.^[3]

The kingdom of Vaspurakan had no specific capital, the court moving as the king transferred his residence from place to place – Van, Ostan/Vostan (modern Gevaş), and so on.^[4]

Rulers

Princes

• Hamazasp II, Prince (800–836). Married to a daughter of Ashot Msaker of the Bagratuni family.
• Ashot I Abulabus Artsruni, Prince (836–852). Son of Hamazasp II. First time.
• Gurgen I Artsruni, Prince (852–853). Brother of Ashot I.
• Abu Djafar Artsruni, Prince (853–854). Probably brother of Ashot I.
• Gurgen II Artsruni of Mardastan, Prince. (854–857). Distant relative.
• Grigor-Derenik Artsruni, Prince (857–868). Married Sofia, daughter of Ashot I Bagratuni the Great, Prince of Armenia. Son of Ashot I Artsruni. First time.
• Ashot I Abulabus Artsruni, Prince (868–874). Second time.
• Grigor-Derenik Artsruni, Prince (874–887). Second time.
• Gagik Abu Morvan Artsruni, regent for Grigor-Derenik's sons (887–896), then usurper prince (896–898).
• Ashot-Sargis Artsruni (Ashot II), Prince (898–900). Son of Grigor-Derenik.
• ( Vaspurakan occupied by the Sajid emir Afshin (900).)
• Safi, as governor of Van (900–901).
• Ashot-Sargis Artsruni (Ashot II) (901–904). Reinstated. Afterhis death Vaspurakan is divided:
• Gagik III (I) Artsruni, Prince (later king) in northwest Vaspurakan (904–908).Brother of Ashot-Sargis.
• Gurgen III Artsruni, Prince in southeast Vaspurakan (904–925). Brother of Ashot-Sargis.

Kings

• Gagik I (III) Artsruni, crowned king (908-925 norhwestern part, 925-943 all Vaspurakan)
• Derenik-Ashot (Ashot III), King (943–953). Son of Gagik I.
• Abusahl-Hamazasp, King (953–972). Brother of Derenik-Ashot I.
• Ashot-Sahak (Ashot IV), King (972–983). Son of Abusahl-Hamazasp.
• Gurgen-Khachik (Gurgen IV), King (983–1003) and Lord of Antzevasiq. Brother of Ashot-Sahak.
• Seneqerim-Hovhannes, Brother of Ashot-Sahak, King (1003–1021) and lord of Rechtuniq. Brother of Gurgen Khatchik.

References

«Վասպուրական» Հայրենակցական միություն http://vaspurakan.blogspot.com/

Bibliography

• Hovannisian, Richard G., ed. (2000),  Armenian Van/Vaspurakan , Historic Armenian Cities and Provinces , Costa Mesa, California: Mazda Publishers , OCLC 44774992 
• Der Nersessian, Sirarpie. Armenia and the Byzantine Empire: a Brief Study of Armenian Art and Civilization. Cambridge: Harvard University Press. 1947.

Historical states and regions of Armenia Independent Armenian states Kingdom of Ararat (Urartian kings, 860 BC–590 BC) Kingdom of Armenia (antiquity) (Orontids, Artaxiads and Arsacids, 553 BC–428 AD) Kingdom of Armenia (middle ages) (Bagratunis, 884-1045) Armenian Principality of Cilicia (Rubenids, 1080-1198) Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia (Rubenids, Hethumids and Lusignans, 1198-1375) Republic of Armenia (1918-1920) Republic of Armenia (1991-) Minor or dependent Armenian states Kingdom of Sophene (Hellenized Orontids, 3rd century–94 BC) Kingdom of Commagene (Hellenized Orontids, 163 BC–72 AD) Kingdom of Vaspurakan (Artsrunis, 908–1021) Kingdom of Tashir-Dzoraget (Kiurikians, 979–1118) Kingdom of Artsakh (Siunis, 1000–1261) Zakarid Principality of Armenia (Zakarians, 1201–1360) Melikdoms of Karabakh (Beglarians, Israelians, Hasan-Jalalians, Shanazarians and Avanians, 1603-1822) Republic of Mountainous Armenia (unrecognized, 1921) Soviet Armenia (1920-1991) Provinces or Ashkhars of Armenia Major Upper Armenia Sophene Arzanene Turuberan Moxoene Corduene Nor Shirakan Vaspurakan Syunik Artsakh Paytakaran Utik Gugark Tayk Ayrarat Other Armenian regions Lesser Armenia (regions: First, Second and Third Armenia) Commagene Armenian Mesopotamia Cilicia (regions: Mountainous, Plain and Rocky Cilicia) Other provinces under Tigranes the Great Syria Atropatene Adiabene Assyria Iberia Albania Cappadocia Judea Osroene

Coordinates: 38°48′N 44°00′E / 38.8°N 44.0°E / 38.8; 44.0