Ostikans

[Arpa]

Perhaps one of the least discussed and the most ignored eras of Armenian history that lasted close to three centuries amd may have left a lsting legacy.

Some Armenians were islamized even then, just as some Arabs adopted Christianity, even if secretly.

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http://www.hayastan.com/armenia/history/armenia/index04.html

 

RESTORATION (FROM 590 TO 884)

 

The Bagradouni Princes and the Arab expansion

 

Around 590, a new partition of Armenia between Persia and Byzantine Empire took place. Western provinces of the Greater Armenia were ruled by the kuropalats - governors of the Greek Emperor. The Mamikonean Princes gradually conceded their leading role to the other noble Armenian families. The Bagradouni Princes became especially powerful and influential.

 

> Meanwhile, the Persian Empire fell into decay. In the early seventh

> century, a new power emerged in the Middle East. The Arabian

> Caliphate began first great expansions. Egypt and Syria became

> Islamic countries. The Persian troops were routed several times. By

> 680, Arabs destroyed the last remains of the Persian resistance and

> invaded all Persian territories. Zoroastrianism was replaced with

> Islam.

 

Arab invasions and Armenian revolts

 

The Arabs first invaded Armenia in 640. Prince Theodoros Rshtuni led the Armenian defense. In 652, a piece agreement was made, allowing Armenians freedom of religion. Prince Theidoros traveled to Damask, where he was recognized by the Arabs as the ruler of Armenia, Georgia and Albania.

By the end of the seventh century, the Caliphate's policy toward Armenia and the Christian faith hardened. Special representatives of Caliph called ostigans were sent to govern Armenia. The ostigans made the city of Dvin their residence. Before Dvin was the residence of Armenian Catholicos.

 

Although declared domain of Caliph, Armenia remained faithful to the Christian religion. The Arabs failed in several attempts to convert the Armenians to Islam. The Armenian obstinacy exasperated caliph Abd al-Malik. In 705, he gave to one of the ostigans an unprecedented order to murder all Armenian Nakharars. More than 400 Armenian noblemen were entrapped to one of Nakhichevan churches, then the doors were closed and the church was set in fire. Later, the Arab historians termed that time as The Year of Great Burning. Quoting John VI, "...ocean of tears flooded Armenia". A number of unsuccessful insurrections followed that tragic event during the 8th century.

By 850, the Bagradouni Princes strengthened their position among the other noble Armenian families. The Prince Bagarat Bagradouni was the one who enjoyed the confidence of the high-ranking Arab officials. The Caliph granted him the title of Grand Prince. But soon thereafter, other Armenian Nakharars rebelled against him.

In 851 Yussouf, a Caliph's commander, arrived to Armenia to put down the mutiny. To his surprise, he found nobody submissive. Enraged, Yussouf arrested the Grand Prince and sent him to the Caliph. A few later, the two sons of Bagarat revenged his father, raising the highlanders of Sassun province against Arabs. At nighttime, the armed multitude suddenly attacked the castle of Yussouf and killed him.

 

Furious, the Caliph sent a huge army, headed by Bugha. This commander, former slave, was known for his particular cruelty. Bugha's campaign was truly devastating. Many Armenian cities and fortresses were destroyed and set ablaze. Historians termed Bugha as "butcher" and "brutal urderer". The panic prevailed throughout the country. Only some few of the Armenian Nakharars put a stout resistance. Isaiah, the valiant Prince of Artsakh was Bugha's most uncompromising opponent, but in the end Bugha seized him and sent to Baghdad together with other captive Nakharars.

Many of these noble prisoners met their death in the Baghdad dungeons. Being aware of the particular authority of Bagradouni Princes, the Caliph tried to convert them to Islam. Sembat Bagradouni, Sparabet of Armenia, refused to apostatize and was murdered after many cruel tortures.

 

Restoration of Kingdom

 

Ten years later Ashot Bagradouni, son of Sembat was proclaimed Prince of Princes. Wise and astute politician, Ashot resourcefully balanced between the Arabs and the Greeks. Under his ruling, Armenia enjoyed relative peace and prosperity. In 884, Ashot I was solemnly crowned King of Armenia. Both the Caliph and the Byzantine Emperor sent him a crown with many splendid presents, recognizing him as King. Thus, the Armenian Kingdom was de jure restored.

 

In the time of Ashot's ruling, Basil I, the first Emperor of the Macedonian dynasty, came to throne in the Byzantine Empire. Basil I and a number of his successors were of Armenian descent. The new Emperor declared himself a descendent of the Armenian Arshakids kings. Traditionally, during the coronation ceremonies of the Armenian kings, it was a representative of Bagradouni family who solemnly laid the crown on the new king's head. That's why Basil I delegated a certain Nikita, his court eunuch, to Armenia asking Ashot Bagradouni to symbolically send him a crown.

 

 

After Ashot's death in 890 his son, Sembat I became King of Armenia. Bellicose and energetic, he

waged non-stop warfare during 22 years of his ruling. He was very successful in the beginning, putting down a number of revolts in northern Armenia and subjecting the Moslem rulers of Dvin. The major Armenian Nakharars supported Sembat at that time, and his army was very efficient. But later, some of the most ambitious vassals sought independence. As a result the Kingdom was split into several rebellious principalities. Perhaps the King Sembat had only himself to blame. He began the destructive process in 899, when he granted the title of King to his friend and loyal vassal Adrnerseh, the Prince of the vast Vyrk province. The accession of Adrnerseh in Vyrk originated the future Georgian Kingdom.

The jealousy of other influential Princes caused unrest and trouble in Armenia. The ostigan Afshin, sworn enemy of King Sembat, was now able to turn the situation to his profit. He repeatedly attacked the Armenian cities and captured the important fortress of Kars, making Armenian Queen and other members of the royal family his hostages. The truce was established after Sembat I agreed to pay a huge ransom and give one of his nieces in marriage to Afshin.

Shortly after, Afshin died, but his brother Yussouf was even worse. He concluded an alliance with Gagik Ardsrouni, ruler of Vaspurakan province. A few later, Gagik was declared King of Armenia. Also the Sparapet Ashot seceded and declared himself King of Armenia. A number of fratricidal wars devastated the country. Then Yussouf, in alliance with the apostate Armenian princes, besieged and destroyed many of key cities and fortresses. At the end of his tether, the King Sembat locked him-self in an impregnable fortress of Kapuit.

The siege of Kapuit lasted over two years. Finally, Sembat surrendered to Yussouf making it a condition to spare his loyal soldiers. Yussouf hypocritically swore eternal friendship, but after a while he perfidiously captured the Armenian King again. Sembat I was accused of preparing a new war, tortured in a barbarous fashion, and finally put to death.

 

Ashot Erkat

 

The internecine strife continued to destroy Armenia during the next decade. Ashot II, son of Sembat, came to throne of his father. He forthwith began the war against another King Ashot, his cousin and namesake who had for residence the city of Bagharan. The third Armenian king, Gagik Ardsrouni, ruled in relative peace the Vaspurakan province. An unprecedented renaissance in architecture marked his ruling. A number of splendid churches and a beautiful palace were built on the Akhtamar Island. Later, the Church of Holy Cross became the residence of the Catholicosate of Aghtamar.

In 914, Ashot II visited Constantinople. The Emperor Constantine VII Porphyrogenitus treated him with affection and sent him back to Armenia with a huge army. Now Ashot II was able to rout Yussouf and put an end to the Arab dominance. Historians called Ashot, Erkat i.e. Iron.

[Arpa]

The above article is pretty good but very concise.

There are a few facts that need to be added.

 

It does allude to the fact that one of the ostikans was married to an Armenian woman. In fact there were two such. The lord of Arzni Musa Ibn Zurara was married to the sister of Bagarat Bagratuni and his son Abul Maghran was married to an Arzruni princess and he had secretly converted to Christianity.

 

That slave turned to commander Bugha was of Turkish origin.

 

The region occupied by the Arabs was comprised of Armenia, Albania(Aghwank), which the Arabs called Arran and Georgia (Virk) which they called Jurzan. All these regions were collectively named Armaniya.

 

The most memorable chapter of the era was the Battle of Vardanakert :

In the year 703 AD, anticipating a big invasion and massacre the nakharars, with the leadership of Marzpan Smbat Bagratian Bagratuni had gathered a force of 2000 cavalry in preparation for the invading Arabs of 8000 horse men who were moving out of Nakhjavan. The Armenians hunkered down in Vardanakert and fortified themselves. The attack came and the Arabs were on the verge of victory when the Armenians mounted a sneak attack at night. The Arabs panicked and began retreating. Nature proved to be on the Armenian side as well as it was cold and icy. The retreating Arabs, in a panic proceeded to cross the frozen Arax River, under their heavy weight the ice broke and many of them drowned. Subsequent to this heroic battle and victory the Byzantian emperor rewarded Smbat with the title of kuropalat.

 

Note; There were two Vardanakerts at one time, one was to the east of Tigranakert, but the one in question was located what is now the Village of Margara in the now Armavir region.

 

Both Vardanakerts can be seen in the following maps.

 

Click on the lowermost left segment to see Margara and to see the other Vardnakert click on the middle segment of the Ashkharatsuyts map.

 

http://www.armsite.com/maps/

 

 

There may be more important tidbits that the above article lacks, we may add as we go along.

[Jovhannes Chimishk]

A lot armenians converted to islam...... and I seriosly doubt that any arab converted from islam to christian..... At that time (and during the turco-tartar invasions) the muslim had it a lot easier than christian..... thats why many "weaker" armenians converted to islam. Like it or not those are the turks and kurds of today (mixed with arabs, persians, and tartars). In that time (and during the genocide) it was "easier" to become a muslim and to adopt the turkish language

[Arpa]

Above are two instances of intermarriage.

How many more mingling of blood, reproductive unions happened?

[Dave]

Don't be surprised if some of the Caliphs or Sultans had some Armenian blood in them. They used to mistreat the Christians (Assyrians, Armenians, Greeks, etc.) by ''stealing'' their finest women and putting them in harems. A site about the Assyrian Genocide says that since the 13th century, the Christians had to pay special taxes, were periodically massacred (even during Arab rule)... Because of these pressures, some Christians converted to Islam.

I guess because of Armenia's landscape or because of the ''rebellious instincts'' of the Armenians in certain regions, such as Sassoun, Artsakh, Zeitun, we resisted.

[gamavor]

Above are two instances of intermarriage.

How many more mingling of blood, reproductive unions happened?

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Contrary to popular belief I don't think that they were many!!! Look around you and see how many Armenians look like Arabs (10-15%). Look around among Arabs and see how many of them look like Armenians (2-5%).

[Jovhannes Chimishk]

Arabs didnt like Armenia because of it climate conditions...... so they basically went in and out of the country (that was like "the heaven" for the naxarars)..... the problem were the turks and kurds.....