ԱԶՆՈՒԱԿԱՆ -Noble

[Arpa]

ԱԶՆՈՒԱԿԱՆ

Nobility, Noble Dynasties, Nakharars.

ԱԶՆԻՒ ՏՈՒՆ

Noble House

 

This whole thing was prompted by this;

http://hyeforum.com/index.php?showtopic=37137&st=0&p=285965&hl=erzurum&fromsearch=1entry285965

Followed by this Khorenatsi;

http://hyeforum.com/index.php?showtopic=37226&pid=286014&st=0entry286014

This Port-Navel;

http://hyeforum.com/index.php?showtopic=37247

And this Aznavor;

http://hyeforum.com/index.php?showtopic=37250

 

How many of the below Dynastic Names do we have now? Note that many and most of them don’t have the obligatory IAN/YAN ending.

According to some, of late there is a movement in Armenia to go back and re-adopt historical dynastic family names. If that happens 90% of the population with family names like Sargsian , Dav-T-ians, Khachatrian , will have to change?

BTW. Who are Sarg-S Dav-T and Khachat-R? You mean St Sargis, David and Khachatur (Abovian)?

Let’s see how many of the below dynastic names we have today in whatever form.

Armenian Nobility;

http://hyeforum.com/index.php?showtopic=9534&st=0&p=105707&hl=nobility&fromsearch=1entry105707

Nakharar;

 

http://hyeforum.com/index.php?showtopic=22621&st=0&p=261771&hl=nakharar&fromsearch=1entry261771

Among many interjections Ajarian says that the word “nakharar/ՆԱԽԱՐԱՐ” can be found in the Persian/Pahlavi as “naf-arar” to mean “navel/ՊՈՐՏ(շարաւիղ)”.

Ըստ երեւոյթի մենք պիտի ենթադրենք դա նշանակի «նախ-pre-first», նոյնիսկ «նահապետ» բառը կապեալ է «նահ-պորտ» բառին:

Look at the similarity of the Persian “naf” and the English “navel”. Even now in the Persian language ناف /naf means “navel” umbilical cord/ belly button/պորտ:

 

See the Armenian version here;

 

http://www.bvahan.com/armenianway/aw/nobility/Armenian_Princes_Arm.html

 

Nobility;

http://www.bvahan.com/armenianway/aw/nobility/Armenian_Nobility_arm.htm

 

 

http://www.bvahan.com/armenianway/aw/nobility/Gahnamak_Eng.html

 

ԳԱՀՆԱՄԱԿ In the Persian it is written as GAHNAMEH

 

GAHNAMAK - literally: "throne registrar/register" - Official state document, list of places and thrones (bardzes) that the Armenian princes and naharars were occupying at the royal court of Armenia. The throne of the prince or naharar was defined by his economic or military strength (according to the Zoranamak), as well as according to the ancient tradition. Gahnamak was composed and sealed by the king of Armenia,because the naharars (lords) were considered to be his vassals. Naharar thrones (gahs, i.e. the positions at the royal court) were changing rarely and were inherited from father to son. Only in special circumstances - such as high treason, cessation of the family etc. - the king had the right to make some changes in the Gahnamak. The sequence and classification of Armenian lords' thrones had been defined and observed from the ancient times. According to Khorenatsi, the first actual listing of lords in the shape of Gahnamak was Armenian king Vagharshak. According to the recorded sources, the classification of Armenian lords' thrones in the form of Gahnamak existed throughout the reign of Arshakuni (Arsacide) dynasty (the 1st - 5th centuries). The same system was continued during the Marzpanian period in the history of Armenia (the 5th - 7th centuries), i.e. during the supremacy of the Sasanian kings of Iran. There are significant discrepancies and inaccuracies in the data of Gahnamaks of different centuries regarding the number of princely houses and degrees of their thrones. According to the Gahnamak of the 4th century preserved in "The Deeds of Nerses", during the reign of king Arshak II (350-368) the number of the Armenian aristocratic houses reached 400. However the author of "The Deeds" mentions the family names of only 167 lords, 13 of whom did not have a throne. The author himself explains that he is incapable of listing all of them. Armenian historian of the 13th century Stepanos Orbelian also mentions 400 naharar thrones, who had "throne and respect" at the royal court of king Trdat III (287-332). Pavstos Buzand mentions 900 princely lords, who carried honorary services at the royal court and who sat on a special throne (gah) or cushion (bardz). The Gahnamak that is believed to be written by Armenian catholikos Sahak Parthev (387-439), and which the latter made available to the Iranian Sasanian court, there are 70 naharars mentioned. In another source of the 4th century 86 naharars were listed. According to the Arab chronologist Yacoubi (the 9th century) there were 113 lords in the administrative province of Arminiya, whereas another Arab historian, Yacout al-Hamavi (the 12-13th centuries) the number of Armenian principalities was 118. Armenian historians Agathangelos, Pavstos Buzand, Yeghishe, Lazar Parbetsi, Movses Khorenatsi, Sebeos and others also provided numerous data and information about Armenian princely houses and lords. However, the Gahnamaks and lists of naharars (princely houses), based on these data and information, remain incomplete.

L.Shahinian

 

----

 

A partial list of Vardananq. There is a longer list, 70 total of those Nakharars’that signed the Gahnamak sent to the King of Persia.

===

Of course, the commander was none other than Vardan Mamikon-IAN himself. And the rest were…;

Nershapuh Artsruni,

Khoren Khorkhoruni,

Artak Paluni, Vahan Aamatuni, the

Vahevuni-s,

Tatul Timaksian,

Arshavir Arsharuni,

Shemavon Atzevatsi,

Tajat Gntuni,

Atom Gnuni,

Khosrov Gapeghian,

Garen Saharuni,

Hmayak and

Kazrik Timaksian,

Nerseh Kachberuni,

Barsam Mandakuni,

Arsen Untzayetsi,

Ayrouk Sughuni,

Vren Dashratsi,

Barsam Artsruni,

Khours Srvantstiants,

The Akean-s,

Turpatuni-s

Rushduni-s.

 

We also know that the opposition was led by Vasak Syuni.

Above we see that at that time many forms of toponyms and patrynims were in use, i.e Armenians did have surnames. We can go even further back and see Remember that the

-UNI ending comes to us from the Urartuan as in EREBUNI.. Also "etsi/atsi/ents/onts/ounts"

----

 

By Movses Khorenatsi:

 

1. Bagratuni

2. Vanandatsi

3. Gnthuni

4. Xorxoruni*

5. Varajnuni

6. Gabelean

7. Abelean

8. Artzruni

9. Gnuni

10. Spanduni

11. Havnuni

12. Dzyunakan

13. Muratsan - Maratswots

14. Sisakean

15. Kadmean

16. Uteatsi

17. Gardmanats - Gardmanits

18. Tzavdeatsi

19. Gargaratsi

20. Gushar

21. Ashots

22. Gugarats bdeshx

23. Vorduni

24. Angegh tun

25. Tzophats

26. Apahuni

27. Manavazean

28. Bznuni

29. Slkuni

30. Mandakuni

31. Vahuni

32. Aravenean

33. Zarehavanean

34. Shavarshean - Sanasarean

35. Mokats

36. Kordwats

37. Andzevatsi

38. Akeats

39. Rshtuni

40. Goghthan - Golthan

41. Hashtenits - Hashtuni

42. Artashamean - Mihrdatean

43. Aliovitean - Arshakuni

44. Arberanean - Arshakuni

45. Aldzneats bdeshx

46. Dimaqsean

47. Truni

48. Amatuni

49. Aravelean

50. Ropsean

51. Vchenits tun

52. Mamikonean

53. Kamsarakan

54. Mardpetuni

55. Andzit

56. Xaduni

57. Xordzenits

58. Tchitchraketsi

59. Geghamean

60. Sharaean

61. Kananatsi

62. Tashiroy - Tashrats

 

---

 

According to "The Life of Nerses":

 

1. Haykazuni - Haykazean

2. Parthevean

3. Ayraratean - Araratuni

4. Bagratuni

5. Trpatuni - Trdatuni

6. Aspetuni

7. Malxazuni

8. Xorxoruni

9. Artzruni

10. Mamikonean

11. Syunetsi - Syuni

12. Amatuni

13. Angelean - Angegh tun

14. Vratsi - Virats

15. Tzopats

16. Varajnuni

17. Mardpetuni - Marzpetuni

18. Vahevuni

19. Paluni - Pahlavuni

20. Kazb - Kasp

21. Sisanean - Sisean

22. Kadmean

23. Manavazean

24. Yedesean

25. Gamrean

26. Bznuni

27. Sasanean

28. Gison - Gisanean

29. Yekelean

30. Kavpetuni - Kamuni - Kaypetuni

31. Andzteatsi

32. Sebastean

33. Ashtishatean

34. Srvandztean

35. Andzevatsi

36. Aspakuni

37. Rshtuni

38. Vahanuni

39. Aldznuni

40. Qolean - Goshean

41. Kazbuni - Kazmuni

42. Kamsarakan

43. Mokats

44. Slkuni

45. Gnthuni

46. Atrpatuni - Apatuni

47. Golthnatsi - Goghthnatsi

48. Gazrikean

49. Dzoghkert

50. Malxazean - Mahean

51. Mruni

52. Razmuni

53. Gabelean

54. Sparuni - Asparuni

55. Vahuni

56. Vrnjuni

57. Surean - Sirean

58. Dimaqsean

59. Sruni - Mruni

60. Darbandean

61. Aragatsean

62. Kogovtean

63. Apahuni

64. Yntsaetsi

65. Arkean

66. Kordvatsi

67. Aravelean

68. Hashtean - Hashtuni

69. Vrean

70. Vanandean

71. Parachuni - Rachuni

72. Tashratsi - Tashiroy

73. Urtzetsi

74. Mandakuni

75. Taetsi

76. Melitean

77. Dashtkaruni - Dashtkarin

78. Basenean - Basenoy

79. TSaghkuni - Tzalkuni

80. Mamikonean (the second)

81. Perejuni

82. Tlkean - Mlkean

83. Bagavanean

84. Ashtotsean - Ashtorsean

85. Abeluni

86. Xaltean - Xaghtean

87. Saharuni

88. Ashxagorean

89. Gnuni

90. Hamazguni

91. Akeatsi - Akeats - Aknuni

92. Vijuni

93. Aropsuni - Ropsean

94. Shahorapet

95. Tzaytiuni

96. Zanachirapet - Vahanchirapet

97. Varazatakean - Varazean

98. Yntzaeni - Yntzay

99. Mlruni - Mghruni

100. Arshuni

101. Karean

102. Mardaxean

103. Lekandrean

104. Xordzean - Xoreni

105. Dzyunakan

106. Hambujean - Amutsean

107. Kortean - Kartean

108. Klundi - Kghundi

109. Zarehavanean

110. Turberanean

111. Bjuni - Bjnuni

112. Tpghuni

113. Mehruni

114. Qaghaqapetn

115. Kayushean

116. Spanduni

117. Artashatean - Artashamean

118. Vorsapetn

119. Arkatsots ter - Artzvots ter (Eaglemasters)

120. Ropsean

121. Bagraspuni - Bagratuni

122. Parspuni - Parsparuni

123. Agheghnadroshn

124. Grchuni

125. Netoghn

126. Namakuni

127. Qalean

128. Asparaxazn

129. Abrahamean

130. Hiusnakan

131. Balasakan

132. Tchighb - Tchlb

133. Lernakan

134. Saprasmean

135. Yechmatakn

136. Goroghvayn

137. Vardeshean - Vardanean

138. Dramandn - Dramatn

139. Xachean

140. Xaxbean

141. Droshakirn

142. Mahaluni - Mashxaluni

143. Voskemani

144. Arutchean

145. Kalarjean - Klarchean

146. Tathevean

147. Datavtchirean

148. Dzorabnakean

149. Chakatamugh

150. Derjain - Derjani, Derdzani

151. Shahapuni

152. Barmean

153. Kamxean

154. Gavarapetn (Governor)

----

Other houses who are not included in the list of gahs (thrones)

 

1. Uripean - Hovsepean

2. Pokayuni

3. Muatsean - Msatsean

4. Apekuni

5. Xnuni

6. Baznuni - Bznuni - Bazauni

7. Alnevuni - Alesuni

8. Hiuranean - Isanean

9. Kznuni - Kghzuni

10. Tushuni - Tushkuni

11. Kruni

12. Maznuni - Mazkeni

13. Malxazuni

 

 

 

----

By Sahak Parthev:

First princes and malxaz:

 

1. Syuni

2. Aspet

3. Artzruni

4. Mamikonean

5. Shahap Tzophats

6. Mokats

7. Rshtuni

8. Vahuni

9. Kaspeits

10. Andzevatsi

11. Apahuni

12. Kamsarakan

13. Apahuni (other)

14. Vanandatsi

15. Amatuni

16. Goltan - Goghthan

17. Gnuni

18. Andzevatsi (other)

19. Tayots

20. Baseni datavor (judge of Basen, Basenoy)

21. Gnthuni

22. Vardzavuni

23. Gardmanay

24. Malxaz

25. Saharuni

26. Gabelean

27. Abelean

28. Syuni - Syuneats (the second)

29. Artzruni - Artzruneats (the second)

30. Artzruni - Artzruneats (the third)

31. Mamikonean - Mamikoneats (the second)

32. Ropsean

33. Ashotsean

34. Dimaqsean

35. Buxa Dmaqsean

36. Abelean (the second)

37. Dimaqsean (the second)

38. Puleni

39. Aravelean

40 Ashamarean

41. Ambujean

42. Varaspakean

43. Dzyunakan

44. Akeatsi - Ake - Aknuni

45. Zarehavanean

46. Yntzaetsi

47. Mandakuni

48. Slkuni

49. Taygrean

50. Yermanthuni

51. Spanduni

52. Aravenean

53. Truni

54. Mamberatsi - Tamberatsi

55. Havnuni

56. Bjnuni

57. Qajberuni

58. Mehnuni

59. Naxtcheri

60. Qalaqapetn arquni (Mayor of the court)

61. Vorsapetn arquni (Huntmaster)

62. Artashesean

63. Vanandatsi (the second)

64. Tsul

65. Vijani

66. Akatsi

67. Dimaqsean of Shirak

68. Gazrikean

69. Maratsean

70. Vagraspuni

 

 

 

----

By Yeghishe:

The Vardanides:

 

1. Artzruni

2. Xorxoruni

3. Mamikonean

4. Paluni

5. Amatuni

6. Vahevuni

7. Dimaqsean

8. Arsharuni / Kamsarakan

9. Andzevatsi

10. Gnthuni

11. Gnuni

12. Gabelean

13. Saharuni

14. Dimaqsean (the second)

15. Dimaqsean (the third)

16. Qajberuni

17. Mandakuni

18. Yntsaetsi

19. Slkuni

20. Tashrats

21. Artzruni (the second)

22. Arquni Shahaxorapet

23. Srvandztean

24. Qolean

25. Akeatsi - Aknuni

26. Trpatuni

27. Rshtuni

28. Mokats

29. Vanandatsi

30. Ropsonean

31. Rmbosean

32. Aravelean

---

The Vasakides:

 

1. Syuni - Syuneats

2. Rshtuni (the second)

3. Xorxoruni (the second)

4. Vahevuni (the second)

5. Bagratuni

6. Apahuni

7. Gabelean

8. Akei - Akeatsi - Aknuni

9. Urtzi

10. Paluni (the second)

11. Amatuni

 

 

----

 

By Lazar Parbetsi:

The Vardanides:

 

1. Artzruni

2. Xorxoruni

3. Malxaz

4. Mamikonean

5. Mokats

6. Andzevatsi

7. Vanandatsi

8. Arsharuni / Kamsarakan

9. Amatuni

10. Gnuni

11. Ashots

12. Dimaqsean

13. Abelean

14. Aravelean

15. Dzyunakan

16. Paluni

17. Gnthuni

18. Qajberuni

19. Gnuni (the second)

20. Yntzaetsi

21. Srvandztean

22. Vanandatsi (the second)

23. Artzruni (the second)

24. Mandakuni

25. Tashrats

26. Ropsean

27. Amatuni (the second)

28. Ashots

29. Gnthuni (the second)

30. Vanandi

31. Vahevuni

---

The Vasakides:

 

1. Syuni

2. Rshtuni

3. Xorxoruni (the second)

4. Bagratuni

5. Apahuni

6. Vahevuni (the second)

7. Paluni

8. Abelean (the second)

9. Urtzi

10. Galebean - Gabelenits

 

Other Armenian princely houses who were mentioned in the Vardanide war:

 

Aldzneats bdeshx

Angex-tun - Angel-tun

Tzopats

Hashuni

Yekeleats

Arshakuni

Arshamuni

Artakuni

Mardpetuni

Hovsepean

Yervanduni

Saharuni

Aravenean

Aghberkatsi - Alberkatsi

Karkain

[Arpa]

ՄԱԼԽԱՍ

Malkhas

ՄԱԼԽԱԶ-Malkhaz ՄԱԼԽԱԶՈՒՆԻ

Have you ever wondered where the name/surname Malkhas/Malkhasian comes from?

I did not know, neither did I give it a thought, until I saw it in the Noble Houses .

Let’s reread what Johannes had written here;

http://hyeforum.com/index.php?showtopic=16568&st=20

Let’s play a game. Pick one of the names that you deem exotic, interesting , even funny and see if we can trace their origin and nomenclature.

I have no idea who the Malkhazuni-s are. I cannot find any reference to them except here. My interest was piqued when I saw this;

http://hyeforum.com/index.php?showtopic=37340&pid=286179&st=0entry286179

1. Haykazuni - Haykazean

2. Parthevean

3. Ayraratean - Araratuni

4. Bagratuni

5. Trpatuni - Trdatuni

6. Aspetuni

7. Malxazuni

Search and see how many Malkhasians you find. Not to forget the many different spellings. My search yielded About 98,800 results .

My first instinct was that “mal“ meant property and “khass” meant “perfect, choice/genuine”. I may have been right.

I had known those words from the Arabic -“mal=property” and “khass=private/choice.

http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/%D8%AE%D8%A7%D8%B5

Etymology

From Arabic خاص (xaṣṣ/khass).

Iranian Persian خاص‍

particular

http://armenian.name/index.php?a=list&d=5&t=dict&w1=%D5%84

http://armenian.name/index.php?a=list&d=1&t=dict&w1=M

MALKHAS -From Persian mal "goods", "property" and khas- "perfect" i.e. "perfect goods". It is still in use especially the surname Malkhasyan.

---

ՄԱԼԽԱՍ -պարս. mal /ապրանք, ունեցվածք/ և khas ընտիր, պատվա- կան/ բառերից՝ “ընտիր ապրանք” նշանակությամբ: Մինչև օրս էլ գործածական է, մանավանդ Մալխասյան ազգանունը:

----

Princely houses. Here we can see an expanded list and the extent their of their realm, all the way from Kilikia to Artsakh.

http://www.bvahan.com/armenianway/aw/nobility/Armenian_Princes_Eng.html

And a partial explanation of the names.

General notes:

1. Family names of some houses (clans) could vary. Sometimes the same document a single noble house could be mentioned under different family names. For example, Aknuni, Akeatsi, Ake, and Akeoy are just variations of the same noble house.

2. Some Armenian aristocratic houses had several different family names, which could either refer to the name of the clan, or a title/position at the royal court of Armenia, or reflect the name of the hereditary territory owned by the family. For example, the house of Bagratuni is also known from the chronicles as Aspetn or Aspetuni, a name that reflects their hereditary position of crowners of the Armenian kings.

3. In some cases instead of the original family name of the noble houses, only their hereditary titles or positions are mentioned. In some of these cases, the information about the name of the house that occupied the particular position is lost. Examples: Qaghaqapetn arquni (literally: "Royal mayor"), Vorsapetn ("Huntmaster"), Gavarapetn ("Governor") etc.

4. Some noble families would be repeated in the listings of aristocratic houses. This could be a result of growth of the houses, separation of kin branches, or even similarities of the family names of unrelated aristocratic houses. Regardless the causes, the Armenian authors normally would mention that they refer to another aristocratic house. Example: Artzruni, Artzruni the second, Artzruni the third etc.

5. The names of some noble houses reached our times in their misspelled versions. Sometimes the handwritten manuscript tests were not clearly readable, which would result in alternative pronunciations of names. For example, the Armenian capital letters "S" and "M" are quite similar in their handwritten forms; because of unclear manuscript texts and discrepancies in its reading, it is not clear whether one of the family names should be read as Sruni or Mruni. Another example of discrepancies in reading a family name is Tamberatsi or Mamberatsi or cause by similarities between the handwritten Armenian capital letters "T" and "M".

Notes on pronunciation:

* These Armenian aristocratic families are spelled in their Grabar (Classical Armenian) form. Particularly, the ending of Armenian last names "-ean" has transformed in modern times into "-ian". For example: Artashesean (classical spelling) - Artashesian (modern spelling).

** Letters 'gh' in the names of Armenian naharars must be pronounced as French 'r'. Historically, this letter was the hard Armenian 'l' which gradually changed its pronunciation. Sometimes in historical accounts and chronicles the same family name could be spelled with 'l' or with 'gh': e.g. Abelean-Abeghean. Both spellings are congruent.

*** Letter 'x' in the names of Armenian naharars must be pronounced as 'kh', similar to 'ch' in German 'ich' or in Celtic 'loch'.

.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stepan_Malkhasyants

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/hy/3/3a/Stepan_Malkhasyants_1.jpg

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/18/Stepan_Malkhasyants_2.jpg

 

The most prominent of them all, Stepan Malkhasiants, academician, linguist, grammarian and dictionarian;

His best known work is the Armenian Explanatory Dictionary/ Հայերէն Բացատրական Բառարան/Hayeren Batsatrakan Barraran .

Stepanos Sargsi Malkhasyants (Armenian: Ստեփան Սարգսի Մալխասյանց; November 7 [O.S. October 25] 1857 – July 21, 1947) was a notable Armenian academician, philologist, linguist, and lexicographer. As an expert in classical Armenian literature, Malkhasyants wrote the critical editions and translated the works of many classical Armenian historians into modern Armenian and contributed 70 years of his life to the advancement of the study of the Armenian language. Malkhasyants was born in Akhaltskha, Javakhk (then Russuan Empire) in 1857.

http://hy.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D5%8D%D5%BF%D5%A5%D6%83%D5%A1%D5%B6_%D5%84%D5%A1%D5%AC%D5%AD%D5%A1%D5%BD%D5%B5%D5%A1%D5%B6%D6%81

 

Ստեփան Սարգսի Մալխասյանցը ծնվել է 1857-ի նոյեմբերի 7-ին (հոկտեմբերի 25-ին) Ռուսական Կայսրության,(ներկայումս` Վրաստանի Հանրապետություն) Ախալցխա քաղաքում : Ավարտելով տեղի ծխական դպրոցը, ուսումը շարունակել է Ախալցխայի ռուսական գավառական դպրոցում:…..:

Edited November 13, 2011 by Arpa

[Arpa]

MELIKDOMS of KHAMSA

 

Another interesting tidbit I saw was in under the Noble houses of Artsakh. Consider the Arabic “malek=king/melik” i.e “property owner/landlord”. Not to forget the “meliks” of Artsakh.

We will skip over the westernmost Noble Houses of Klikia. We may get back to them.

Princely families of the Armenian Kingdon of Kilikia (Cilicia)

Hetumian

Lusinian (Lusignan)

Rubinian

To the Easternmost..

Remember that Raffi’ s given name was - Hakob Melik Hakobian (Armenian: Յակոբ Մելիք-Յակոբեան), better known by his pen name Raffi (Armenian: Րաֆֆի),

Also remember that “khamsa” is an Arabic word to mean “five”. As we see many of the dynastic names sound Arabo-Persian-turkic , even Judaic, as in respectively- Jalal Hasanian, Shakhnazarian/Mirzakhanian ,,, israelian, etc.

 

Խամսայի մելիքությունները

"Khamsayi Melikoutiunerâ" The Five Melikdoms (1888)

As in “Thy kingdom come, li ye‘ti malekutek/melekutek/melikutek لِيَأْتِ مَلَكُوتُكَ، -Եկեսցէ Արքայութթիւն քո/Մելիքութիւն քո”

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http://www.bvahan.com/armenianway/aw/nobility/Armenian_Princes_Eng.html

Princely families of Gandzak

Meliks of Barsum

Meliks of Getashen

Meliks of Khachakap

Meliks of Voskanapat

Princely families of Syuniq

11 melik houses

Armenian Princely families of Artsakh (Karabakh)

Arran tun

Aranshahik (9th century - )

Dopian (11th - 16th centuries) (meliks of Tzar or Upper Khachen)

Vakhtangian (meliks of Haterk or Central Khachen)

Meliks of Khamsa

(15th - 19th century)

Melik Hasan-Jalalian (meliks of Khachen before 1755)

Melik-Mirzakhanian (meliks of Khachen-Khndzristan after 1755)

Melik-Shakhnazarian (meliks of Varanda)

Melik-Avanian (meliks of Dizak)

Melik-Beglarian (meliks of Gulistan)

Melik-Mejlumian (meliks of Jraberd)

Melik-Israelian (meliks of Jraberd before 1783)

Melik-Alahverdian (meliks of Jraberd in 1783 - 1814)

Melik Atabekian (meliks of Jraberd since 1814 - beginning of the 1850s)

 

http://hy.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D4%BD%D5%A1%D5%B4%D5%BD%D5%A1%D5%B5%D5%AB_%D5%B4%D5%A5%D5%AC%D5%AB%D6%84%D5%B8%D6%82%D5%A9%D5%B5%D5%B8%D6%82%D5%B6%D5%B6%D5%A5%D6%80

 

http://hy.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D5%8A%D5%A1%D5%BF%D5%AF%D5%A5%D6%80:Armenia_in_XVII_c.jpg

 

http://hy.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D5%8A%D5%A1%D5%BF%D5%AF%D5%A5%D6%80:Armenia_in_XVII_c.jpg

 

Խամսայի մելիքությունները («Խամսայի երկիր», արաբ.՝ «խամսա» նշանակում է «հնգյակ»). Արցախ-Խաչենի իշխանատոհմերի ստեղծած զինական դաշնակցության անդամ հինգ հայկական իշխանությունների ընդհանուր անվանումն է, որոնց տիրույթները մոտավորապես համընկնում են ներկայիս Լեռնային Ղարաբաղի Հանրապետության տարածքի (ներառյալ Արցախի և Սյունիքի ազատագրված տարածքները) հետ: Արցախի մելիքական տոհմերը անմիջական ժառանգներն ու հետնորդներն էին ուշ-միջնադարի Արցախի ֆեոդալ արքաների և իշխանների, որոնց օտար տիրապետողները 15-րդ դարամիջում ճանաչել էին որպես մելիքներ, նրանց տիրույթները՝ մելիքություններ:[1] Խամսայի մելիքները հատկապես հզոր էին XVII դ. վերջին և XVIII դ. սկզբին, պատմական այդ շրջանում նրանք գլխավորել են հայ ազգային ազատագրական շարժումը՝ ընդդեմ պարսկական և թուրքական բռնակալությունների:

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Nagorno-Karabakh

Armenian Melikdoms

Giulistan or Talish Melikdom included the territory from Ganja to the bed of the River Tartar.

Dzraberd or Charaberd Melikdom was situated in the territory stretching from the River Tartar to the River Khachenaget.

Khachen Melikdom existed in the territory from the River Khachenaget to the River Karkar.

Varanda Melikdom included the territory from Karkar to the southern side of Big Kirs mountain.

Dizak Melikdom stretched from the southern slope of Big Kirs mountain to the River Arax

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Those melikdoms were referred to as Khamsa, which means "five" in Arabic.[20] While initially subordinate to Persia's Ganja khanate (ruled by Ziyad-oglu Qajars), the Armenian meliks were granted a wide degree of autonomy by the Safavid Persia over Upper Karabakh, maintaining control over the region for four centuries,.[21] In the early 18th century, Persia's Nadir shah took Karabakh out of control of Ganja khans in punishment for their support of Safavids, and placed the region directly under his own control. At the same time, the Armenian meliks were granted supreme command over neighboring Armenian principalities and Muslim khans in Caucasus, in return for the meliks' victories over the invading Ottoman Turks in 1720s.[22][23][24][25]

According to some historiographers of the 18th century, of those five meliks, only Melik-Hasan-Jalalyans – the rulers of Khachen – were local residents of Karabakh, while the other four had settled from neighboring provinces. Thus, Melik-Beglaryans of Gulistan were native Utis from the village of Nij in Shirvan; Melik-Israelyans of Jraberd were descendants of the melik of Siunik to south-east and hailed from the village of Magavuz in Zangezur; Melik Shahnazars of Varanda hailed from the region of Armenian Gegharkunik to the east and received the title of meliks from shah Abbas I in reward for their services; Melik-Avanyans of Dizak – were descendants of meliks of Lori, an Armenian princedom to north-west.[20][24][25] These allegation is however discounted by modern scholarship. Modern western scholars Robert Hewsen and Cyril Toumanoff have demonstrated that all of these meliks were the descendants of the House of Khachen.[26...

[Arpa]

NOBLE HOUSES of KILIKIA

 

And now we go back to our westernmost. Not really. Not that far west. We cannot . It will be beyond the borders of Armenia. Be it Major, Minor or Between. It will be a stretch to call them “Armenian”.

We had “princely houses” (?) further west all the way to stanbol, known as Ամիրայութիւն/Amiralty/Amira-dom.

http://hyeforum.com/index.php?showtopic=22392&st=0&p=261267&hl=amira&fromsearch=1entry261267

====

Princely families of the Armenian Kingdon of Kilikia (Cilicia)

Hetumian

Rubinian

Lusinian (Lusignan)

=====

I don’t know any families named Rubenian/Rubinian, Hethumian or Lusinian . Do you? O yes, I do. They are called Մահիկեան/Mahikian/Crescent/Halfmoon/Կիսալուսին.

===

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Armenian_Kingdom_of_Cilicia#The_Rubenid_dynasty

 

The Rubenid dynasty Emergence of Cilician Armenia One of the princes who came after Philaretos' invitation was Ruben, who had close ties with the last Bagratid Armenian king, Gagik II. Ruben was alongside the Armenian ruler Gagik when he went to Constantinople upon the Byzantine emperor's request. Instead of negotiating peace, however, the king was forced to cede his Armenian lands and live in exile. Gagik was later assassinated by Greeks.[13] In 1080, soon after this assassination, Ruben organized a band of Armenian troops and revolted against the Byzantine Empire.[14] He was joined by many other Armenian lords and nobles. Thus, in 1080, the foundations of the independent Armenian princedom of Cilicia, and the future kingdom, were laid under Ruben's leadership. His descendants were called Rubenids.[10] After Ruben's death in 1095, the Rubenid principality, centered around the fortresses of Bardzrberd and Vahka, was led by Ruben's son, Constantine I of Armenia; however, there were several other Armenian principalities both inside and beyond Cilicia, such as that of the Het'umids. This important Armenian dynasty was founded by the former Byzantine general Oshin, and was centered in Lampron and Babaron at the southern end of the Cilician Gates.[12] The Het'umids have always contended with the Rubenids for power and influence over Cilicia. Various Armenian lords and former generals of Philaretos were also present in Marash, Malatia (Melitene), and Edessa, the latter two being located outside of Cilicia.[12]

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Armenian_Kingdom_of_Cilicia#The_Het.27umid_dynasty

 

The Het'umid dynasty The apparent unification in marriage of the two main dynasties of Cilicia, Rubenid and Het'umid, ended a century of dynastic and territorial rivalry, while bringing the Het'umids to the forefront of political dominance in Cilician Armenia.[5] Although the accession of Het'um I in 1226 marked the beginning of Cilician Armenia's united dynastic kingdom, the Armenians were confronted by many challenges from abroad. In order to enact revenge for his son's death, Bohemond sought an alliance with Seljuk sultan Kayqubad I, who captured regions west of Seleucia. Het'um also struck coins with his figure on one side, and with the name of the sultan on the other.[5]

Lusignan dynasty ; pronounced -Lusinian/Լուսինեան

For the French city, see Lusignan (Vienne).

 

Plate of the House of Lusignan-Cyprus, with coat of arms at the center. Late 14th century, Egypt or Syria. Louvre Museum.

 

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d7/LusignanPlateEarly14thCentury.JPG

The Lusignan family originated in Poitou near Lusignan in western France in the early 10th century. By the end of the 11th century, they had risen to become the most prominent petty lords in the region from their castle at Lusignan. In the late 12th century, through marriage and inheritance, a cadet branch of the family came to control the Kingdoms of Jerusalem and of Cyprus, while in the early 13th century, the main branch succeeded in the Counties of La Marche and Angoulême. As Crusader princes in the Latin East, they soon had connections with the Hethumid rulers of the Kingdom of Cilicia, which they inherited through marriage in the mid-14th century. The Armenian and Cypriot branches of the family eventually merged and the dynasty died out after the Ottoman conquest of their Asian kingdoms.

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Origins

Les Très Riches Heures du duc de Berry, March: the Château de Lusignan

The Château de Lusignan, near Poitiers, was the principal seat of the Lusignans; it was destroyed during the Wars of Religion, and only its foundations remain in Lusignan. According to legend the earliest castle was built by the folklore water-spirit Melusine. The lords of the castle at Lusignan were counts of La Marche, over which they frequently fought with the counts of Angoulême. Count Hugh le Brun ("Hugh the Swarthy"), like most of the lords of Poitou, backed Arthur of Brittany as the better heir to Richard Lionheart when John Lackland acceded to the throne of England in 1199. Eleanor of Aquitaine traded English claims for their support of John. To secure his position in La Marche, the widowed Hugh arranged a betrothal with the daughter of his next rival of Angoulême, no more than a child; John however married her himself, in August 1200, and deprived Hugh of La Marche and his brother of Eu in Normandy. The aggrieved Lusignans turned to their liege lord, Philip Augustus, King of France. Philip demanded John's presence— a tactical impossibility— and declared John a contumacious vassal. As the Lusignan allies managed to detain both Arthur and Eleanor, John surprised their unprepared forces at the castle of Mirabeau, in July 1202, and took Hugh prisoner with 200 more of Poitou's fighting men. King John's savage treatment of the captives turned the tide against himself, and his French barons began to desert him in droves. Thus the Lusignans' diplomatic rebellion led directly to the loss of half of England's French territory, which was soon incorporated into France by Philip Augustus (The other "half", Aquitaine, was the possession of Eleanor, who was still alive).