| Abas I of Armenia Աբաս Ա | |
|---|---|
| King of Armenia King of Ani | |
| King of Armenia | |
| Reign | 928 – 953 |
| Predecessor | Ashot II |
| Successor | Ashot III |
| Issue | Ashot III Mushegh I |
| Dynasty | Bagratuni |
| Father | Smbat I |
Abas (Armenian:Աբաս Ա,romanized: Abas A) was king ofBagratid Armenia from 928 to 953. He was a member of theBagratid (Bagratuni) royal dynasty. He was the son ofSmbat I and the brother ofAshot 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 atKars.
Prior to becoming king, Abas served as the kingdom'ssparapet (chief general), although he is not to be confused with his uncle, who was also named Abas and also served assparapet.[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 CatholicosHovhannes Draskhanakerttsi ends in 923–924.[2]
After ascending the throne, Abas moved the capital of the kingdom fromShirakavan to his fortress-city ofKars. Abas apparently never attempted to reconquer Dvin or expand his kingdom, instead focusing on developing and protecting his capital of Kars.[2] Conflict with the Arabs was minimal too, with the exception of a military defeat Abas suffered near the holy city ofVagharshapat. He was far less conciliatory towards the Byzantines, who had repeatedly demonstrated their unreliability as allies by attacking and annexing Armenian territories. The Byzantines also refused to bestow the title of prince of princes to Abas.[3] However, the Byzantine emperorRomanos I Lekapenos was more focused on fighting the ArabHamdanids, leaving Abas's kingdom in peace.[3]
TheCathedral of Kars, which remains intact to this day, was constructed sometime during Abas's reign.[2] After its construction, Abas confronted an invasion by a certain Prince Ber ofAbkhazia (whose identity remains unknown), who sought to consecrate the church under theChalcedonian rite.[2] Ber appeared with an army along the river of theAraxes, but Abas refused to make any concessions and ambushed Ber's forces in an assault at dawn. Several moreskirmishes took place and Ber was finally captured by Abas's men. Abas took the king to his new church and told him that he would never see it again,blinding him and sending him back to Abkhazia.
The great monasteries ofHoromos (934) andNarek (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 CatholicosAnanias I moved fromAghtamar in theKingdom 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 atAni, while Mushegh becameKing of Kars.
{{cite encyclopedia}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)| Preceded by | King of Armenia (Bagratid Kingdom of Armenia) 928–953 | Succeeded by |
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