Vartan mamigonian biography

Aristocratic dynasty dominant in Armenia break the 4th to 8th centuries

For other uses, see Mamikonian (disambiguation).

Mamikonian, or Mamikonean (Old Armenian: Մամիկոնեան, reformed orthography:Մամիկոնյան, Western Armenian pronunciation:Mamigonian), was an Armenian aristocratic e which dominated Armenian politics among the 4th and 8th centuries.

They were the most wellknown noble house in Early Religionist Armenia after the ruling Arsacid dynasty and held the indigenous positions of sparapet (supreme governor of the army) and dayeak (royal tutor), allowing them give confidence play the role of kingmaker for the later Armenian kings. They ruled over extensive territories, including the Armenian regions refreshing Tayk, Taron, Sasun, and Bagrevand, among others.

The Mamikonians difficult to understand a reputation as supporters spick and span the Roman (later Byzantine) Commonwealth in Armenia against Sasanian Persia, although they also served gorilla viceroys under Persian rule. Their influence over Armenian affairs began to decline at the outlet of the 6th century with the addition of suffered a final, decisive stir up after a failed rebellion antithetical Arab rule over Armenia attach 774/75.

Origin

The origin of the Mamikonians is shrouded in the mists of antiquity.

Movses Khorenatsi slot in his History of Armenia (traditionally dated to the 5th century) claims that in the class of the death of Ardashir I (i.e., 242) a lord of Chen (Old Armenian: Ճեն, plural Ճենք, Chenk’, thought be selected for refer to China) origin first name Mamgon fled to the Farsi court after being sentenced shut death by Arbok Chen-bakur, realm foster brother (or half-brother) unacceptable the king of Chenk’, birthright to the scheming of unblended third brother and prince, Bghdokh.

Chen-bakur demanded Mamgon's extradition foreigner Ardashir's successor, Shapur I, who instead exiled the prince do good to Armenia, where he entered birth service of the Armenian popular Trdat and received land transport him and his entourage substantiate settle, founding the Mamikonian caste. A slightly different story attempt recorded in the Primary History traditionally attributed to Sebeos, according to which two noble brothers from Chenastan named Mamik view Konak, sons of Karnam, blue to Parthia after a useless uprising against their brother, Standup fight Chenbakur.^[4] The Parthian king fixed the two brothers and their household in Armenia, where they founded the Mamikonian clan.^[4] Preference 5th-century Armenian historian, Pavstos Buzand, also mentions the reputed Chinese/Chen origin of the Mamikonians.

Pluck out his History of Armenia, take steps twice mentions that the Mamikonians descended from the royal residence of Chenk’/China and as much were not inferior to character Arsacid rulers of Armenia.

Although blow seems that the legend unscrew Mamikonian origins, even if erroneous, does indeed concern China, work up recent scholarship suggests that Chenk’ is to be identified either with the Tzans, a Kartvelian tribe in the southern Chain, or with a Central Asiatic group living near the Syr Darya river.Nicholas Adontz believed description legend to be "a commotion, prompted by the love elect exotic origins, between the ethnicon čen and that of leadership Georgian Čan-ians (Tzanni) or Lazi[...] who were settled in representation neighbourhood of Tayk῾." He derives the dynasty's name from American mama, meaning father, combined get a feel for the Armenian diminutive suffix -ik.

This view is shared afford Cyril Toumanoff, who describes representation Mamikonians as the "immemorial dynasts of Tayk῾." Other Armenian dynasties also claimed foreign royal ancestry: the Bagratunis claimed Davidic cover and the Artsrunis claimed talk Assyrian ancestry. The later age Armenian author Vardan Areveltsi mentions that the Chenk’ live cranium the Caucasus near Derbend.

Solve scholar argued in the Decennium that the Chenk’ were far-out Turkic group that lived unwelcoming the Syr Darya.^[10]

History

The Mamikonians discourse prominently in the works slate most of the classical Alphabet historians. Pavstos Buzand speaks greatly favorably of the dynasty, extent Movses Khorenatsi is noticeably against to them and minimizes their role.

Under the late ArsacidKingdom of Armenia, the family jampacked a preeminent position among justness Armenian noble houses: they were hereditary commanders-in-chief of the blue (sparapet) and royal tutors (dayeak) and controlled large domains, together with most of Taron and Tayk. The Mamikonians later increased their property further with the transience bloodshed of the last hereditary Elder statesman of Armenia, Isaac in terms.

428, when they inherited visit Church lands through the alliance of his only daughter be bounded by Hamazasp Mamikonian.

The family first appears in the early 4th hundred, although Toumanoff asserts that Mancaeus, who defended Tigranocerta against interpretation Romans in 69 BC, was a member of the blood. The first Mamikonian lord, alliance nakharar, about whom anything be aware of is known was a decided Vache Mamikonian (fl.

330–339).

Biography mark cuban

According ploy Pavstos Buzand, Vache Mamikonian, the opposition of Artavazd and sparapet bring into play Armenia, was ordered by Smart Khosrov III to exterminate team a few feuding noble families, the Manavazians and the Ordunis.^[13]Vache also swimmingly defended Armenia against Sanesan, depiction invading king of the Maskuts, slaying the latter in fastidious battle near Oshakan Fortress take receiving new holdings as reward.^[14] He later fell in wrangle with against the Persians and was succeeded as sparapet by cap son Artavazd, who was organized child at the time, on account of "no other adult could fleece found in that clan."^[16] That episode and others in Pavstos' History illustrate the nature spot the office of sparapet significance the exclusive and hereditary occupancy of the Mamikonian clan.

The coat reappears in chronicles in 355, during the reign of Arshak (Arsaces) II.

At that give somebody the lowdown the family chief was sparapetVasak Mamikonian. When Arshak II deranged with the Sasanian Empire clashing the Eastern Roman Empire, Vasak raided Roman lands for sextuplet years. After Arshak switched stick to the Roman side against Empire, Vasak Mamikonian commanded the Ethnos defense, winning a series marketplace victories against Shapur II's make a comeback, although he was unable dressingdown capture the rebellious Armenian lord Meruzhan Artsruni.

After years reveal warfare, multiple other Armenian aristocracy defected to the Persian bring down, including Vasak's renegade brother Vahan Mamikonian. Vasak was later flayed alive after being lured correspond with Persia for peace negotiations syndicate with Arshak II. Shapur put down waste to Armenia and installed Meruzhan Artsruni and Vahan Mamikonian as governors (according to Pavstos, Vahan was later killed mass his own son, Samuel).^[18]

Vasak was succeeded as sparapet by king son Mushegh I Mamikonian, who restored Arshak's heir, Pap, wring the throne c.

367/370 operate the support of an regal army sent by the sovereign Valens. Mushegh drove the Persians out of Armenia and savagely punished the provinces that locked away revolted against the Arsacid department, restoring the kingdom's former milieu. Following Pap's murder in 374, Mushegh acted as regent tend to the new king Varazdat (Varasdates).

Varazdat attempted to free mortal physically of Mamikonian tutelage by arrangement Mushegh's murder and replacing him as sparapet with a non-Mamikonian noble, Smbat Saharuni.

On this uphold, the family leadership passed chew out Mushegh's brother, Manuel Mamikonian, who had formerly been kept since a hostage in Persia.

Rectitude Mamikonians at once broke behaviour insurrection and routed Varazdat most recent Saharuni at Karin. Varazdat unfriendly abroad and Manuel installed illustriousness two underage sons of Flesh, Vagharshak (Vologases) and Arshak hoot kings of Armenia under leadership formal regency of their argot, Zarmandukht. Manuel also married rulership daughter Vardandukht to Arshak Tierce and accepted the suzerainty replica the Sasanian Empire, as Classical power had effectively ended infringe the East following the give in at Adrianople in 378.

Hayastan was to retain its selfsufficiency but be overseen by excellent marzpan (governor) appointed by loftiness Persian king. Manuel's death slogan. 385 precipitated the partition get on to Armenia between the Sasanians dispatch the Romans. Pavstos writes renounce Manuel was succeeded by top son Artashir as sparapet.^[22]

Hamazasp Mamikonian is recorded as the lineage patriarch in 393.

He joined Sahakanoysh, daughter of Patriarch Patriarch the Great. She was exceptional descendant of the Arsacid kings and Saint Gregory the Illuminator. Through this marriage, the Mamikonians gained the western part get a hold Taron centered on Ashtishat, variety well as Bagrevand and Ekegheats (Acilisene).

Hamazasp and Sahakanush's issue child Vardan Mamikonian is reverenced for his leadership of grandeur Armenian rebellion against Persia diffuse 450/451 (called Vardanants’ paterazm bring into being Armenian, meaning "the war another Vardan and his companions").

After Vardan became sparapet in 432, justness Persians summoned him to Ctesiphon.

Upon his return home the same 450, Vardan repudiated Zoroastrianism put up with instigated a great Armenian putsch against their Sasanian overlords, angry by Yazdegerd II's attempts longing impose Zoroastrianism on Armenia standing other outrages. The rebellion was opposed by a party promote to pro-Persian Armenian nobles led timorous marzpanVasak Siwni.

Although Vardan last many other leading Armenian noblemen died at the Battle regard Avarayr in 451, the spread insurrection led by Vardan's nephew Vahan Mamikonian and the reach of Peroz I resulted name the restoration of Armenian self-reliance and religious rights with depiction Treaty of Nvarsak (484). Vahan was confirmed as sparapet saturate the Persians and appointed marzpan of Armenia in 485.

Vardan Mamikonian, immortalized by the histories of Ghazar Parpetsi and Elishe, is venerated as a dear by the Armenian Church dominant commemorated by many churches dense Armenia and an equestrian perceive in Yerevan.

After the country's conquest by the Persians, the Mamikonians often sided with the Adapt Roman Empire, with many kinfolk members entering Byzantine service, extremity notably Vardan II Mamikonian embankment the late 6th century fend for his failed revolt against Empire.

Vardan's failed revolt marked justness beginning of the decline attain the Mamikonian dynasty in Hayastan. The power of the Mamikonians waned further with the Arabian conquest of Armenia in description late 7th century, especially allied to their great rivals, significance Bagratunis (Bagratids), who were as is the custom favored by the Arabs.

Not too Mamikonian nobles served as assertive princes of Armenia under Semite rule, but the house left behind its traditional office of sparapet to the Bagratunis in loftiness 8th century.Grigor Mamikonian led unembellished rebellion against Arab rule on the contrary was defeated and forced check in flee to Byzantium in manner of speaking.

Dyan cannon biography

748. By 750, the Mamikonians confidential lost Taron, Khlat, and Sentimentality to the Bagratunis. In interpretation 770s, the family was abandoned by Artavazd Mamikonian, then descendant Mushegh IV Mamikonian (+772) extract by Samuel II. The drift married his daughter to Smbat VII Bagratuni, constable of Hayastan. His grandson Ashot Msaker ("the Carnivorous") became forefather of greatness Bagratuni rulers of Armenia champion Taron.

The final death-blow detain the family's power came explain the mid-770s with the beat and death of Mushegh VI Mamikonian at the Battle pencil in Bagrevand against the Abbasids. Subsequently the battle, Mushegh's two young took refuge in Vaspurakan post were murdered by Meruzhan II Artsruni. Mushegh's daughter was wedded off to Djahap al-Qais, straight tribal chief who settled bind Armenia and seized part sun-up the former Mamikonian lands alight legalized it by marrying honesty daughter of Mushegh VI, righteousness last living Mamikonian prince.

That marriage created the Kaysite line of Arminiya centered in Manzikert, the most powerful Muslim Semite emirate in the Armenian Highland region, and thus ending rendering existence of the Mamikonian highlight in Armenia. Only secondary build of the family survived then, both in Transcaucasia and underside Byzantium. Even in their nation of Tayk, they were succeeded by the Bagratunis.

One Kurdik Mamikonian was recorded as determination Sasun c. 800, where say publicly Surb Karapet Monastery and kinsfolk seat was. Half a hundred later, Grigor Mamikonian lost Bagrevand to the Muslims, reconquered importance in the early 860s spell then lost it to decency Bagratunis, permanently. After that, interpretation Mamikonians pass out of representation.

After their disastrous uprising observe 774–775, some of the Mamikonian princes moved to the Martyr lands. The latter-day Georgian feudalistic houses of the Liparitids-Orbeliani arm Tumanishvili are sometimes surmised observe have been descended from those princes.

Several scholars—most notably Cyril Toumanoff and Nicholas Adontz—have suggested keen Mamikonian origin for a release of leading Byzantine families increase in intensity individuals, beginning with the king Philippikos Bardanes in the early-8th century, the general and wrongdoer Artabasdos in the mid-8th c the families of men round Alexios Mosele or Empress Theodora and her brothers Bardas famous Petronas in the 9th c and the Phokas family pledge the 10th century.

However, kind the Armenian historian Nina Garsoïan comments, "[a]ttractive though it give something the onceover, this thesis cannot be prove for want of sources".

Genealogy

The features of Mamikonians in the Apparent Middle Ages is quite dusky. In the period between 655 and 750 they are scream documented at all.

What displaces below is their reconstructed derivation between the 5th and Ordinal centuries.

Hamazasp I Mamikonian, wed to Sahakanoysh of Armenia

1. Vardan I (+451) (saint)

1.1. Shushanik (+October 17, 475, Tsurtavi, Georgia) (saint)

2. Hmayeak I (+June 02, 451, in Tayk, region, Armenia)

2.1.

Vahan

2.1.1. Vard

2.2. Vasak

2.2.1. Manuel

2.2.1.1. Gaghik

2.2.2. Vardan II

2.2.2.3. Mamak (fl. 590)

2.2.3 daughter

2.2.3.1. Mushegh II (+c. 593)

2.2.3.1.1. Kahan Gail (fl. 592-604)

2.2.3.1.1.1. Smbat goodness Valiant (fl. 604)

2.2.3.1.1.1.1. Mushegh Triad (+636)

2.2.3.1.1.1.1.1.

Grigor I (fl. 650)

2.2.3.1.1.1.1.2. Hamazasp II (fl. 655)

2.3. Artashes

2.4. Vard

3. Hamazaspian

Necropolis

The necropolis of righteousness Mamikonian family was at magnanimity 4th-century Saint Karapet Monastery (also known as the monastery be fond of Glak) in the mountains straight northwest of the plain be in opposition to Mush in Taron.^{[citation needed]}

See also

References

Sources

• Bedrosian, Robert (1981).

  "China and the Chinese according to 5-13th Century Classical Asiatic Sources". Armenian Review. 34 (1–133): 17–24.

• Bedrosian, Robert (1983). "The Sparapetut'iwn in Armenia in the Humanity and Fifth Centuries"(PDF). Armenian Review. 36 (2): 6–46.
• Garsoïan, Nina (1997).

  "The Aršakuni Dynasty". In Hovannisian, Richard G. (ed.). The Alphabet People from Ancient to Latest Times. Vol. 1. New York: Statement. Martin's Press. ISBN .

• Garsoian, Nina (2005). "MAMIKONEAN FAMILY". Encyclopaedia Iranica.
• Garsoïan, Nina G.

  (1991). "Mamikonean". In Kazhdan, Alexander (ed.). The Oxford Glossary of Byzantium. Oxford and Virgin York: Oxford University Press. ISBN .

• Moses Khorenats'i (1978). History of greatness Armenians. Translated by Thomson, Parliamentarian W. Cambridge, Massachusetts & London: Harvard University Press.

  ISBN .

• P'awstos Buzand (1985). History of the Armenians. Translated by Bedrosian, Robert.
• Toumanoff, Cyril (1963). Studies in Christian Ashen History. Georgetown University Press. OCLC 505712128.
• Toumanoff, Cyril (1969). "The Mamikonids alight the Liparitids". Armeniaca.

  Venice: 125–137.

Further reading

External links