Nvarsak

[Arpa]

As we indicated before the Battle of Avarayr, Avarayri Chakatamart@ was just that, a battle and chakatamart, not the whole war. It may not have even been the first battle of that war, but we know it was not the last.

After the fall of the vatsoun hazar and their commander, Vardan Sparapet the survivors dispersed in panic and utter disarray. But some of them, instead of hiding under their womens' skirts took to the mountains and the wilderness to continue their struggle and waged guerilla warfare for 33 years. Vahan Mamikonian was one of them.

 

First a word about Nvarsak.

A village in the Greater Hayk, in the Persarmenian region at the convergence of the regions of Her and Zaravand. Her is now better known as Khoy. It is believed the modern village Nissak Poqr (Lesser Nissak) is where Nvarsak used to be.

 

Nvarsaki Paymanagir, the Treaty of Nvarsak was signed between Sassanian Persia and the Marzpanakn Armenia in the year 484 AD at the village of Nvarsak. It brought to end the Armenin struggle (481-484)under the leadership of Sparapet Vahan Mamikonian against Persia. The reason for the treaty was the decisive defeat of the Persian forces at the hand of the Armenian forces and the assassination of King Peroz of Persia which caused chaos and anarchism in that country. Because of these conditions King Vagharsh of Persia gave up on subjugating his subject peoples and abandonned the greater plan of bringing them under his rule by war or forced religious conversion, he recalled his forces out of Armenia and sent a delegation to meet and sign an armistice. Vahan Mamikonian, after receiving guarantees and freedom of hostages proceeded to Nvarsak and imposed his conditions for a ceasefire. These conditions were;

1. That the Persia would abandon their plan of forced conversion. Destroy all temples fire worship. Not hamper or interfere in the activities of the Armenian Church.

2. Recognize and respect state and government officials as equal. Leave the assigmnet of state officials to the Armenian rulers rather than favor converts and those loyal to the Persian throne.

3. To not meddle in the relations of the nakharars among themselves.

 

After all that Vahan Mamikonian sent a battalion to Persia to assist them in the their struggle against King Zareh and was instrumental in his assassination. One year after the ceasefire of Nvarsak Vahan went to Tizbon to ratify the Treaty where he was recognized as the Sparapet of Armenia. The Treaty of Nvarsak in no way granted Armenia full independence but it was an important document guaranteeing freedom of conscience and the abandonment of forced conversion by the Persians.

 

As Avarayr was only a battle in the overall struggle the war did not formally end until the Treaty of Nvarsak.

 

Is that what is meant by baroyakan haghtahak?

 

Vahan Mamikonian(born ca. 440AD) is the son of Hmayak Mamikinian, brother of Vardan who was also martyred at Avarayr. After the Battle Vahan and his bothers Vasak and Artashes were taken to Persia as hostages. In the year 455 they were freed through the intervention of Ashsousha the governor of Gugark. Vazken, the son of Ashousha was married to Vardanoush-Shushanik, the daughter of Vardan.....

There is more about Vahan, but that can be another subject.

 

Quiz.

When, what month and what day is the anniversary of Nvarsaki Paymanagir celebrated?