Gagik I Artsruni

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Gagik I Artsruni
Artsruni

Gagik I Artsruni (Armenian: Գագիկ Ա Արծրունի; 879/880 – 943) was an Armenian noble of the Artsruni dynasty who ruled over Vaspurakan in southern Armenia, first as prince of northwestern Vaspurakan (Gagik III, 904–908) and after that until his death as King of Vaspurakan, also claiming the title of King of Armenia.

Background

Since the end of the 7th century, Armenia was under Arab dominion and headed by an ostikan (governor) representing the Umayyad, and later Abbasid caliphates,[3] and was the scene of numerous battles against the Byzantine Empire since the 9th century.[4] To strengthen the Arab authority, these ostikans were implanted into various regions of Armenian emirs; the historical province of Vaspurakan was no exception to this.[5] In opposition, the Armenian nobility created ishkhans (princes) to gradually extend their authority in the region.[6][7]

Biography

Youth and regency

Second son of

marzpan (governor).[10]

Ishkhan

Gagik succeeded his elder brother Ashot-Sargis as ishkhan in 904[11] and allowed Gourgen to rule over the southeastern possessions of the Artsruni family; both worked well together until the death of Gurgen in 923.[12] After various rebel attacks,[13] Gagik developed a talent for creating military and political strategies and worked towards decreasing the number of Muslim enclaves of Vaspurakan.[14]

King

Gagik was an ally of the

Armenian Cathedral of the Holy Cross.[14]

References

  1. ^ Khach'atryan, Sekhpossian & Merguerian 2001, p. 110.
  2. ^ Adalian 2010, p. 110.
  3. ^ Martin-Hisard 1982, p. 223.
  4. ^ Martin-Hisard 1982, p. 231.
  5. ^ Martin-Hisard 1982, p. 232.
  6. ^ Martin-Hisard 1982, p. 233.
  7. ^ Martin-Hisard 1982, p. 234.
  8. ^ Toumanoff 1990, pp. 102–103.
  9. ^ Thierry 1982, p. 275.
  10. ^ Jones 2007, p. 23.
  11. ^ Thierry 1982, p. 276.
  12. ^ Grousset 1947, p. 422.
  13. ^ Grousset 1947, p. 423.
  14. ^ a b Jones, p. 115.
  15. ^ Grousset 1947, p. 433.

Bibliography

  • Adalian, Rouben Paul (2010). Historical Dictionary of Armenia.
  • Khach'atryan, Hayk; Sekhpossian, Nouné; Merguerian, Barbara J. (2001). Queens of the Armenians: 150 biographies based on history and legend.
  • Martin-Hisard, Bernadette (1982). Arab Domination and Armenian Freedoms (seventh-ninth century). Toulouse: Privat. .
  • Toumanoff, Cyrille (1990). The dynasties of Christian antiquity to the Caucasus of xixth century. Rome.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  • Thierry, Jean-Michel (1982). Northern Kingdom and Southern Kingdom. Privat. .
  • Jones, Lynn (2007). Between Islam and Byzantium: Aght'amar and the Visual Construction of Medieval Armenian Rulership. Ashgate Publishing. .
  • Grousset, René (1947). History of Armenia from its origins to 1071. Payot. .
  • .
  • Jones, Lynn. The Church of the Holy Cross and the Iconography of Kingship. Vol. 33. Gesta.
  • Garsoïan, Nina G. (1997). "The independent kingdoms of medieval Armenia". In Hovhannisian, Richard G. (ed.). The Armenian People from Ancient to Modern Times. Volume 1, The Dynastic Periods: From Antiquity to the Fourteenth Century. New York: St. Martin's Press. pp. 143–185. .
  • .

Further reading

Regnal titles
New title King of Vaspurakan
908–937/943
Succeeded by
Preceded by Prince of northwest Vaspurakan
904–908
Crowned as king