Abas I of Armenia

Abas (

Smbat I and the brother of Ashot II the Iron, whom he succeeded. In contrast to the reign of his predecessors, Abas's reign was mostly peaceful, and he occupied himself with the reconstruction of the war-torn kingdom and the development of his capital at Kars.

Prior to becoming king, Abas served as the kingdom's sparapet (chief general), although he is not to be confused with his uncle, who was also named Abas and also served as sparapet.^[1] Abas succeeded his brother King Ashot II after the latter died without an heir in 929. Less is known about Abas's reign than those of his predecessors, as the history of Catholicos Hovhannes Draskhanakerttsi ends in 923-924.^[2]

After ascending the throne, Abas moved the capital of the kingdom from

The great monasteries of Horomos (934) and Narek (935) were also constructed during Abas's reign.^[2] It was either during Abas's reign or that of his successor that the patriarchal seat of the Armenian church finally returned to Bagratid territory when Catholicos Ananias I moved from Aghtamar in the Kingdom of Vaspurakan to Argina.^[1][2]

Abas died in 953, leaving his kingdom to his two sons, Ashot III and Mushegh. Ashot became King of Armenia and eventually established his capital at Ani, while Mushegh became King of Kars.

References

Bibliography

• "Abas".
  Soviet Armenian Encyclopedia (in Armenian). Vol. 1. Yerevan. 1975. p. 15.{{cite encyclopedia}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link
  )
• ISBN 0-312-10169-4
  .
• Kurkjian, Vahan M. (1958). A History of Armenia. Armenian General Benevolent Union of America.