Sparapet

Sparapet (Armenian: սպարապետ) was a hereditary title of supreme commander of the armed forces in ancient and medieval Armenia. It originated in the 2nd century BC,[1] under the reign of King Artaxias I, and was used in the Kingdom of Armenia and the Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia (in Cilicia, the bearer of the title was known as a Gundstabl (գունդստաբլ, from the Byzantine and Western title of connetable). Sparapet was the equivalent of the Parthian Spahbed (cf. Georgian spaspet "high constable, commander in chief").

The title of Sparapet was traditionally held by the representatives of the House of Mamikonian since the beginning of the rule of the Arsacid kings of Armenia. Later in history, the title was held by the Bagratuni and Artsruni dynasties.

Modern usage

The 18th century commander Mkhitar Sparapet led the Armenian efforts for independence in Syunik (Zangezur) region.

The title "Sparapet of Syunik" (Սյունյաց սպարապետ) was held by the Garegin Nzhdeh, as supreme commander of the Republic of Mountainous Armenia, in 1920–21.[2][3]

The title is also used for the Grand Commander of the Knights of Vartan, an Armenian-American fraternal order. The title was held by Alex Manoogian during his leadership of that organization.[4]

Vazgen Sargsyan, Armenia's Defense Minister in 1991-92 and 1995-99,[5] is often informally referred to as Sparapet in recognition of his leadership during the Nagorno-Karabakh War.[6][7]

References

  1. ↑ Yeremian, Suren (1987). "Հայաստանը հելլենիստական դարաշրջանում [Armenia During the Hellenistic Era]". Soviet Armenian Encyclopedia, volume "Soviet Armenia" (in Armenian). Yerevan: Armenian Academy of Sciences. p. 98.
  2. ↑ "Նժդեհ Գարեգին". encyclopedia.am (in Armenian). Armenian Encyclopedia. Դեկտեմբերի 25-ին հռչակվել է Սյունիքի ինքնավարությունը, Նժդեհն ընտրվել է Սյունյաց սպարապետ:
  3. ↑ "Որ զանգը զուր չհնչի". Aravot (in Armenian). 27 April 2011. 1920 թվականի դեկտեմբերին Տաթեւում գումարված համազանգեզուրյան առաջին համագումարում Սյունիքը հռչակվեց ինքնավար: Նժդեհն ընտրվեց Սյունյաց սպարապետ՝ դիկտատորի իրավունքներով:
  4. ↑ "Alex Manoogyan". persons.am. Retrieved 15 November 2014.
  5. ↑ "Vazgen Sargsyan". Government of the Republic of Armenia. Retrieved 30 March 2013.
  6. ↑ "50th Anniversary of Birth of Sparapet". Yerevan State University. 20 March 2009. Retrieved 3 July 2014.
  7. ↑ "Armenians commemorate Sparapet Vazgen Sargsyan". A1plus. 5 March 2014. Retrieved 3 July 2014.

See also