Armenian nobility
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The Armenian nobility (
Terminology
Members of the upper class of medieval Armenian society were known as nakharars (Armenian: նախարար) and azats (Armenian: ազատ), (also aznvakans (Armenian: ազնվական)).
The roots of Armenian nobility trace back to ancient tribal society, when the proto-Armenian tribes separated from the primordial Indo-European community and selected chieftain leaders for governing the community, defending territory and leading military campaigns against their enemies. These chieftains and leaders were usually the strongest members of the clans and tribes, who had become renowned for their strength, intelligence, and deeds. Thus, gradually the upper class of the Armenian society came into existence, namely that of the azats, also known as aznvakans or aznavurs. Translated from contemporary Armenian the word azat literally means "one who is free", a "freeman." However, this term is likely derived from the older Indo-European word "yazata", meaning "the divine one", "offspring of gods", "the one who deserves to be worshipped".
Armenian noble clans traced their origins either back to the gods of the old Armenian religion or to the heroes and patriarchs of the Armenian people or the origins of non-Armenian families. For example, the noble houses of
Historical origins
The early Armenian historians mention various Armenian noble houses during different periods of Armenian history. Sometimes their number is mentioned to be ninety, yet at other times it reaches up to three hundred. Certainly, the number of the Armenian noble houses did change in the course of time as the aristocratic class was itself subject to flux.
The first attested Armenian royal dynasty was the
The noble houses of
Some Armenian Christian historians tend to derive certain Armenian noble houses from Mesopotamian or other roots. For example, in his History of Armenia, Movses Khorenatsi traces the family origins of his sponsor prince Sahak Bagratuni to non-Armenian roots. However, the historical sources prove the existence of the Bagratuni family in the oldest period of Armenian history and speak of them as aboriginal Armenians. The linguistic analysis also maintains that the name Bagarat probably is of Indo-European origin. It is remarkable that Prince Bagratuni himself rejected Khorenatsi's version of the origins of his family. Exotic descents were in vogue among the early medieval Armenian aristocratic families. However, there is no evidence supporting any of these claims of descent.
Institutions and structure
The
The meaning of term
Two other notions of the Armenian nobility related to Gahnamak and Zoranamak are those of bardz and pativ. Bardz literally means "cushion". It was the seat that was occupied by the head of the noble house at the royal table, be it during council or during festivities. The word bardz derives from these cushions on which the lords of houses were seated on special occasions. Bardz – literally cushioned seats at the royal table but more broadly the actual status at the royal court – were distributed on the basis of pativ, i.e. literally the honor and esteem of the noble houses. The latter, most probably was fixed in Gahnamaks and Zoranamaks.
Gahnamak
Gahnamak (
According to Khorenatsi, the first actual listing of lords in the shape of Gahnamak was
The Gahnamak is believed to have been written by Armenian Catholic
Internal divisions
The Armenian nobility were internally divided. The social pyramid of the Armenian nobility was headed by the king, in Armenian arka. The term arka originates from the common Aryan root that has equivalents in the name for monarchs in other Indo-European languages: arxatos in Greek, raja in Indo-Aryan, rex or regnum in Latin, roi in French, and reis in Persian.
The sons of the king, i.e. princes, were called sepuh. The elder son, who was also the crown prince and was called avag sepuh, had a particular role. In the case of king's death the avag sepuh automatically would inherit the crown, unless there were other prior arrangements.
The second layer in the social division of the Armenian nobility was occupied by bdeshkhs. The four bdeshkhs were rulers of large borderland provinces of historical Greater Armenia. They were de facto viceroys and by their privileges were very close to the king. Bdeshkhs had their own armies, taxation and duties system, and could even produce their own coins.
The third layer of the Armenian aristocracy after the king and the bdeshkhs was composed by ishkhans, i.e. princes. The term ishkhan derives from ancient Aryan root xshatriya (warrior-ruler). An ishkhan normally would have a hereditary estate known as hayreniq and residence caste – dastakert. Armenian princely houses (or clans) were headed by tanuter. By its meaning the word tun (house) is very close to tohm (clan). Accordingly, tanuter meant "houselord" or "lord of the clan".
Organizationally, the Armenian nobility was headed by the metz ishkhan ("great ishkhan") or ishkhanats ishkhan ("ishkhan of ishkhans") in Armenian, who in some historical chronicles is also called metzametz. He was the marshal of Armenian nobility and had special privileges and duties. For example, in case of the king's death and if there was no inheriting sepuh (crown prince), it was the metz ishkhan who would temporarily take the responsibilities and perform the duties of the king until the issues of succession to the throne are resolved. In reality, however, the successions to the throne would be arranged in advance or would be resolved in the course of feuds and internal struggle.
Thus, the social pyramid of the nobility of Great Armenia includes the following layers:
- Arka or Tagavor (king)
- Bdeshkh (viceroy)
- Ishkhanats ishkhan (grand duke)
- Ishkhan (prince)
This division, however, reflects the specific tradition of Great Armenia in its early period in history. Naturally, in time the social structure of nobility underwent changes based on the specifics of Armenian territories, historical era, and social relations. For example, in medieval times the names and composition of the nobility of the Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia underwent certain changes:
Great Armenia
- Arka or Tagavor
- Bdeshkh
- Ishkhanats Ishkhan (or Metz Ishkhan)
- Ishkhan
Cilician Armenia
- Tagavor or Inqnakal
- Bdeshkh
- Paronats Paron (or Metz Paron)
- Paron
Cilician Armenia adopted many peculiarities of west European classification of the nobility, such as paron (deriving from "baron"), ter or sinyor (senior), berdater (castle lord) etc. Besides this, in Cilicia Armenian knighthood emerged which was also considered to be part of the nobility despite the fact that knights themselves – called dziavor i hetzelvor – did not always originate from parons.
Some other features also underwent changes. For example, whereas the salutation for the noblemen in Great Armenia was tiar or ter, in Cilician Armenia a new form of salutation was added to these, namely paron. The latter became the most popular form of greeting and gradually changed its meaning to the equivalent of "mister" in modern Armenian.
In late
With the annexation of eastern Armenia – i.e. Karabakh, Yerevan, Nakhichevan and Kars provinces – into the Russian Empire, the titles, traditions and social institutions of the Russian nobility become dominant among the Armenian aristocrats as they were integrated into the imperial nobility Russian style.
Hereditary titles
Princely families
Great Armenia
Family name (gavar-county, ashxarh-province)
- Abeluni – Abelean – Abeghean
- (Abeleanq / Abegheanq, Ayrarat)
- Abeluni – Abelean other – Abelean the second
- Adahuni (Mazaz, Ayrarat)
- Alberkatsi – Aghberkatsi
- Alelnadroshn – Agheghnadroshn
- Aknuni – Akeoy – Akeats – Akeatsi – Akean (Ake, Vaspurakan)
- Aldznuni – Aldznats tun – Aghdzn (Aldzn, Aldzniq)
- Alkuni – Aghkuni
- Alnevuni – Alesuni – Aghesuni – Alevan – Aghevan
- Amaskuni
- Amatuni (Artaz, Vaspurakan)
- Amatuni the second
- Andzevatsi (Andzevatsiq, Vaspurakan)
- Andzevatsi other
- Andzit – Andzit tun – Andzteatsi – Andzitoy (Andzit, Tzopq)
- Angel tun – Angegh tun – Angelay (Angelay, Aldzniq)
- Apahuni (Apahuniq, Tauruberan)
- Apahuni other
- Apekuni
- Aqatzi – Aqatzetsi – Aqatzu
- Aragatzean (Aragatzotn, Ayrarat)
- Aramean
- Aran – Arran tun (Great Arranq, Artsakh)
- Aravelean – Arravelean – Aravelian (Vanand-Zarishat, Ayrarat)
- Aravenean – Arravenean – Aravenian
- Arberani – Arberuni – Arberanean – Arshakuni (Arberani, Vaspurakan)
- Arnoy – Arnoy (Arnoyotn, Vaspurakan)
- Arshakuni – Arshakean – Aliovitean (Aliovit, Vaspurakan)
- Arshamuni – Arshmuni (Arshamuniq, Turuberan)
- Arshamuni (Arshamuniq, Tzopq)
- Arsharuni (Arsharuniq, Ayrarat)
- Arshuni
- Artakuni
- Artashatean – Artashamean (Ayrarat)
- Artashisean – Artashesean (Artashiseanq, Vaspurakan)
- Artzruni (Great Albak, Vaspurakan)
- Artzruni the second
- Artzruni the third
- Ashahmarean
- Ashots – Ashotsean (Ashotsq, Ayrarat)
- Ashtortsean – Hashtotsean
- Ashxadarean***
- Ashxagorean
- Aspakuni – Spakowni (Aspakuneats Dzor, Tauruberan)
- Asparaxazn
- Asparuni – Sparuni
- Atrpatuni – Apatuni (Atrpatuniq, Vaspurakan)
- Awatzatsi – Avatzatsi
- Arartuni – Ayraratean (Maseatsotn, Ayrarat)
- Aytruni
- Aytzenakan
- Balasakan
- Bardzruni
- Bagawanean (Bagrevand, Ayrarat)
- Bagraspuni?
- Bagratuni – Aspetuni – Aspetn – Bagraspuni - Bagrevand - Ayrarat
- Bagratuni – Aspetuni – Aspetn – Bagraspuni (Sper, Bardzr Hayq)
- Bagratuni – Aspetuni – Aspetn – Bagraspuni (Tayq)
- Basenoy – Basenean – Basenatsi (Basean, Ayrarat)
- Bjuni – Bjnuni
- Boguni (Boguniq, Vaspurakan)
- Bujuni (Bujuniq, Vaspurakan)
- Buxa Dimaqsean (Tayq)
- Bznuni – Baznuni – Bazauni (Bznuniq, Tauruberan)
- Chighb – Tchighb
- Dashtkaruni – Dashtkarin (Karin, Bardzr Hayq)
- Derjayin – Derjani – Derdzani (Derjan, Bardzr Hayq)
- Dedeyan
- Dimaqsean – Dimaksian – Dimaksyan (Tayq)
- Dimaqsean (Shirak, Ayrarat)
- Dimaqsean other
- Droshakirn
- Dziunakan – Dzyunakan – Dziwnakan – Paluni (Dziunakanq / Paluniq, Tauruberan)
- Dzolkert – Dzoghkertn
- Dzorabnakean
- Gabeluni – Gabelean – Gabeghean – Gabeuni (Gabeleanq / Gabegheanq, Ayrarat)
- Gabitean – Gabithian (Gabiteanq, Vaspurakan)
- Gamrean (Gamirq)
- Gardmanay – Gardmanats – Gardmanits (Utiq)
- Gargaratsi
- Gavarapetn – Gavarapetn
- Gazrikean – Gazrikian (Gazrikeanq, Vaspurakan)
- Gelamean (Gegharquniq, Siuniq)
- Gison – Gisanean – Gisanian
- Gnthuni (Nig, Ayrarat)
- Gnthuni the second
- Gnuni (Aliovit-Zarishat, Tauruberan)
- Gogarats – Gugaratsi (Gugarq)
- Goltan – Goghtan – Goghtnats – Golthnatsi (Goghtn, Vaspurakan)
- Gowkean – Gukan (Gukan, Vaspurakan)
- Grchuni – Grtzchuni
- Gushar
- Haduni
- Hamazguni
- Hambujean – Hamutsean – Hambujian
- Harqean – Harqian (Harq, Tauruberan)
- Hashtuni – Ashtishatean (Tauruberan)
- Hashtuni – Hashteits – Hashtean (Hashteanq, Tzophq)
- Havnuni (Havnuniq, Ayrarat)
- Haykazuni – Haykazean (Harq / Arq, Tauruberan)
- Herheruni – Heruni (Her, Parskahayq)
- Kadmean
- Kamsarakan (Shirak, Ayrarat)
- Karqayin
- Karthuni – Karthean – Korthean (Kartuniq, Kortchayq)
- Kaspuni – Kazb – Kaspetsi – Kaspats (Paytaqaran)
- Kazmuni – Kazbuni
- Kananatsi
- Klznuni – Kghznuni – Kghzuni
- Klundi – Kghundi
- Koghovtuni – Koghovtean – Kolovtean (Koghovit, Ayrarat)
- Korduats – Korduatsots – Kordvatsi (Kortchayq)
- Krtchuni (Krtchuniq, Vaspurakan)
- Kruni – Kruni
- Lekandrean
- Lernakan – Lernakan
- Mahkert tun (Kortchayq)
- Malxazuni – Malxazn – Malxazean – Maxean (Her, Parskahayq)
- Mamikonean – Mamikonian (Tayq)
- Mamikonean – Mamikonian (Taron, Tauruberan)
- Manavazean (Manavazeanq, Tauruberan)
- Mandakuni (Mandakuniq / Arshamuniq, Tauruberan)
- Mardaxean – Mardalean – Mardaghean
- Mardpetuni – Mardpetn – Mardpetakan – Hayruni (Mardastan, Vaspurakan)
- Maxaluni – Mashxaluni
- Maznuni – Mazkeni – Mazazatsi (Mazaz, Ayrarat)
- Mehnuni
- Mehruni – Mihruni
- Melik-Babakhanyan
- Melik-Barkhudar
- Metznuni (Artchishatovit-Metznuniq, Vaspurakan)
- Mlruni – Mghruni – Mxruni
- Mokats – Mokatsi (Mokq)
- Molean – Moloean (Karin, Bardzr Hayq)
- Mruni
- Muatsean – Msatsean
- Muratsan – Maratswots – Maratsean (Vaspurakan?)
- Namakuni
- Naxtcheri
- Netoghn
- Norberuni
- Paluni – Palnay tun (Paluniq, Tzopq)
- Paluni (Paluniq, Vaspurakan)
- Paluni the second
- Parspatuni – Parspuni – Parsparuni (Parspatuniq, Vaspurakan)
- Perejuni
- Pharatchuni – Ratchuni
- Pokayuni
- Qalaqapetn – Qaghaqapetn – Qalaqapetn arquni
- Qajberuni(Artchesh gavar, Turuberan)
- Qavpetuni – Qamuni – Qaypetuni
- Qolean – Qalean – Qaghean – Qaluni, Qalay tun – Goshean (Qal?, Aldzniq)
- Rapsonean – Ropsean – Aropsuni (Naxijevan, Vaspurakan)
- Razmuni – Razmuni
- Rmbosean – Rmbosean
- Rshtuni – Rshtuni – Arshtuni (Rshtuniq, Vaspurakan)
- Rshtuni the second
- Sagrasuni
- Saharuni
- Sahuni – Shahuni (Sahuniq, Tzopq)
- Saluni – Salnoy tun (Saluniq, Aldzniq)
- Sanasuni – Sasnay (Sasun, Aldzniq)
- Sasanean
- Shahapuni
- Shahorapetn – Shahakhorapet arquni
- Sharaean (Shirak, Ayrarat)
- Sisakean – Sisakan – Sisanean (Sisian, Siuniq)
- Siuni – Syuni– Syunetsi (Siuniq / Syuniq)
- Siuni the second – Syuneats the second
- Slkuni – Sikluni – Slakuni – Sulkuni (Taron, Tauruberan)
- Spanduni (Spanduniq, Paytakaran)
- Sruni – Suruni
- Srvandztean – Srwandztean
- Tamberatsi – Mamberatsi (Tamber, Parskahayq)
- Tashiroy – Tashratsi – Tashrats (Tashirq, Gugarq)
- Tashiroy – Tashratsi – Tashrats (Tashir / Tashirq, Lori, Ayrarat)
- Taygrean (Taygreanq, Vaspurakan)
- Tayots – Tayetsi (Tayq)
- Tharmuni
- Tchitchraketsi – Chichraketsi
- Thruni – Truni
- Tlquni – Tlqean – Mlqean?
- Torosean
- Tphxuni
- Trpatuni – Treypatuni – Tirpatuni – Trdatuni (Trpatuniq, Vaspurakan)
- Tsuln
- Turberanean (Tauruberan)
- Tushuni – Tushkuni
- Tzalkuni – Tzghkuni (Tzaghkotn, Ayrarat)
- Tzavdeatsi – Tzawdeatsi – Sawdetsi (Sotq, Siuniq)
- Tzaythiuni
- Tzopats – Tzophuni (Tzopq)
- Urtza – Urtzetsi – Urtzi (Urtz / Urtzadzor, Ayrarat)
- Uteats – Uteatsi (Utiq)
- Vagraspuni
- Vahevuni – Vahnuni – Vahuni – Vahuneats (Vahevuniq, Tauruberan)
- Vahevuni the second
- Vanandatsi – Vananday – Vanandoy – Vanandian (Vanand, Ayrarat)
- Vanandatsi the second
- Varajnuni (Varajnuniq, Ayrarat)
- Varajnuni – Varaznuni (Varajnuniq, Tauruberan)
- Varajnuni – Varaznuni (Varajnuniq, Vaspurakan)
- Varaspakean
- Varazatakean – Varazean
- Vardzavuni (Vardzavuniq, Gugarq)
- Vaykuni (Vaykuniq, Artsakh)
- Vijanuni – Vijuni – Vijani (Vijanuniq, Bardzr Hayq)
- Virats – Virakan
- Vorduni – Worduni (Vorduniq, Vaspurakan)
- Vorduni (Basean-Vorduniq, Ayrarat)
- Vorsapetn – Vorsapetn arquni
- Voskemani
- Vostanikyan (Vostanikean, Ostanikean, Vaspurakan)
- Vrnjuni – Vrnjnuni
- Vtchenits tun – Vtchenits
- Xordzean – Xortchean – Xordzenits – Xoreni (Xordzeanq, Tzopq)
- Xorxoruni – Khorkhoruni (Xorxoruniq / Khorkhoruniq, Tauruberan)
- Xorxoruni the second
- Yedesean – Edesian
- Yerevaray – Yerewaray (Yerevarq, Tauruberan)
- Yermanthuni
- Yervanduni (Yervanduniq – Hayots Dzor, Vaspurakan)
- Yntzay – Yntzayetsi – Yntzayeni – Andzakhi (Vaspurakan)
- Zarehavanean (Zarehavan, Parskahayq)
- Zarehuni (=Zarehavanean?)
Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia
Incomplete list:
- Hetumian
- Lusinian (Lusignan)
- Rubinian
Princely families of late medieval Armenia
Incomplete list:
- Amatuni
- Aran tun
- Aranshahik (founded 9th century)
- Artsruni
- Artzruni-Mahkanaberdci (princes of Mahkanaberd)
- Artzruni-Kogovit (princes of Kogovit)
- Bagratuni
- Dopian (11th–16th centuries) (meliks of Tzar or Upper Khachen)
- Dedeyan (princes of Armenia)
- Kiurikian
- Orbelian (princes of Siunik)
- Pahlavuni (princes of Aragatzotn)
- Tornikian
- Vachutian
- Vakhtangian (meliks of Haterk or Central Khachen)
- Xaghbakian-Proshian (princes of Bjni, Garni, Geghard, Noravank)
- Zakarian(princes of Armenia)
Melikdoms (Principalities) of Eastern Armenia
Incomplete list:
- Meliks of Barsum (Utik)
- Meliks of Getashen (Utik)
- Meliks of Khachakap (Utik)
- Meliks of Voskanapat (Utik)
- 11 melik houses (Syunik)
Including Melik-Vardavantsi (Tutundjian de Vartavan, Tutundjian) from Vardavan[K], Baghk. A branch of the Meliks of Syunik/Karabagh. Later beys under Fuad Ist and Faruk IInd of Egypt, also bey & consul of Nader Shah of Iran.
Incomplete list:
(15th–19th centuries)
- Melik Hasan-Jalalian(meliks of Khachen before 1755)
- Melik-Avanian
- Melik-Mirzakhanian (meliks of Khachen-Khndzristan after 1755)
- Melik-Shakhnazarian (meliks of Varanda)
- Melik-Beglarian (meliks of Gulistan)
- Melik-Israelian (meliks of Jraberd before 1783)
- Melik-Alaverdian (meliks of Jraberd in 1783 – 1814)
- Melik Atabekian (meliks of Jraberd since 1814)
18th century Armenia
Incomplete list:
- Argutian – Argutinskiy-Dolgorukiy
- Bagratuni – Bagration
- Dadian – Տատէան
- Dedeyan – Տէտէեան
- Lazarian – Lazarev
- Loris-Melikian – Loris-Melikov (meliks of Lori)
- Medadian – Madatov
- Melikian – Melikov
- Melik-Shahnazarian (meliks of Gegharquniq)
- Melik-Vrtanesian
- Smbatian – Sumbatian
Fate and the present state
Many Armenian aristocratic families perished during wars with foreign invaders, notably
The aristocratic tradition in Armenia suffered another blow during the
Steps toward revival
With the end of the Communist regime and independence of Armenia in 1991, important steps were made to revive the traditions of the Armenian nobility. In October 1992 the Union of the Armenian Noblemen (UAN) was created and registered in Armenia. On 27 July 2012, another nobility association – the Meliq Union[9] – was registered by the Ministry of Justice of Armenia. Both associations are registered as a public non-governmental organization.
Together, these nobility association have around 450 members representing aristocratic houses of Armenia. Membership in these unions is open to descendants of old and new Armenian noble families, as well as to the foreign titled nobility that reside in Armenia and abroad, regardless their political or religious views, and age and sex. They conduct their activities in accordance with their Charters, the Constitution and legislation of Armenia, and international law. The main goals of these nobility unions are:
- Restoration of the Armenian nobility and its past role and significance in the society and the state;
- Reinstatement of the best traditions of the Armenian nobility and reestablishment of criteria for the noblemen's honor, morals and ethics;
- Restoration of the heraldry of the noble dynasties and their genealogy;
- Gathering, storing and scientific systemization of archival materials, research in the history of the Armenian nobility and specific dynasties;
- Presentation of the history of Armenian nobility and dynasties, families and their ancestors to the general public through the mass media and public lectures.
Bibliography
- Abrahamian, Rafael; The Armenian Knighthood (4th–6th centuries). Armyanskiy Vestnik, #1–2, 1999.
- The Armenian Encyclopedia. Yerevan, Haykakan Hanragitaran, 1977–1979.
- Basmadjian, Krikor Jacob (1914). "Chronologie de l'histoire d'Arménie". Revue de l'Orient chrétien (in French). IX (XIX): 293–294.
- Bedrosian, Robert; The Turco-Mongol Invasions and the Lords of Armenia in the 13–14th Centuries. New York, Columbia University, 1979 thesis.
- Draskhanakerttsi, Hovhannes; The History of Armenia. Yerevan, Sovetakan Grogh, 1984.
- Khorenatsi, Movses; The History of Armenia. Yerevan, Hayastan, 1990, ISBN 5-540-01084-1.
- Matevosian, Rafael; On the Question of the Origins of the Bagratides. Armyanskiy Vestnik, 1–2, 2001.
- Petrosov, Aleksander; The Lions, the Crown and the Present Day. Noyev Kovcheg, #7 (65), August 2003.
- Pirumyan, Grand Duke Gevorg; The Union of the Armenian Nobility. An interview to Vasn Hayutyan, #2, 2003.
- Raffi. The Melikdoms of Khamsa. Yerevan, Nairi, 1991.
- Sukiasian, Aleksey G.; The History of the Cilician Armenian State and Law (11th–14th centuries). Yerevan, Mitq, 1969.
- Ter-Ghazarian, Romen; The Armenians on the Byzantine Throne. Electronic publication: www.armenia.ru, 2003.
References
- ^ Edward Gibbon, The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire:Chapter XIII, Part II, Reign of Diocletian and This Three Associates.
- ^ Toumanoff, Cyril (1963). Studies in Christian Caucasian history. Washington D.C.: Georgetown University Press. pp. 278ff.
- Armenian Academy of Sciences, 1977, p. 640.
- University of Texas. Jan. 22, 2009.
- ^ "նախարար" in H. Ačaṙean (1926–35), Hayerēn Armatakan Baṙaran (Yerevan: Yerevan State University), 2nd ed., 1971–79
- ^ Europäische Stammtafeln, vol III, Tables 564 and 815
- ^ (in Russian) Лорис-Меликовы (Loris-Melikov). Russian Biographic Lexicon. Retrieved on January 23, 2008.
- Bagrationi, Ioane (1768–1830). Bebutov. The Brief Description of the Georgian Noble Houses. Retrieved on January 5, 2008.
- ^ "The Armenian Meliq Union".