Baghaberd Fortress
Բաղաբերդ
Syunik Province,Armenia
Fortification walls of Baghaberd.
Site information
Type	Fortress
Open to the public	Yes
Condition	Ramparts and several towers are still mostly intact.
Location
Baghaberd Fortress Shown within Armenia Show map of Armenia Baghaberd Fortress Baghaberd Fortress (Syunik Province) Show map of Syunik Province
Coordinates	39°12′53″N46°16′39″E / 39.214849°N 46.277611°E /39.214849; 46.277611
Site history
Built	4th century
Built by	Baghak of Sisak Nahapet
Materials	Stone
Demolished	Partially
Battles/wars	PrinceAndovk of Syunik's victory over the Persian KingShapur II in the 4th century. Captured in 1170 by theSeljuq Turks
Events	Became the last capital of the Syunik kingdom in the 12th century.

Baghaberd (Armenian:Բաղաբերդ; alsoDavid Bek's Castle) is a 4th to 12th century Armenian fortress located along aridge overlooking theVoghji River, 14 kilometres (9 mi) northwest of the city ofKapan in theSyunik Province ofArmenia. Baghaberd is at an elevation of 1,438 metres (4,718 ft).^[1]

Baghaberd is thought to have been built in the 4th century by Baghak of Sisak Nahapet. According toStepanos Orbelian'sHistory of the Province of Syunik (Patmutyun Nahangin Sisakan), in the mid-4th century PrinceAndovk, the hereditary lord of Syunik, attacked and plundered one of the cities of thePersianSassanid KingShapur II (309-379) while the king was at war with theHuns. King Shapur II was furious about the incident and took his armies to Syunik to defeat the prince. Andovk and his troops went to Baghaberd with a large supply of provisions and waited. Once the king's forces arrived at the fortress, Andovk and his men defeated three of Shapur's military units by rolling rocks down the cliffside upon them.

Prince Andovk soon fled toConstantinople and his subjects scattered. When he arrived, he was given honors by the EmperorTheodosius I showered him with great honors.

Baghaberd became the last capital of the Armenian Syunik kingdom after the destruction of the nearby city ofKapan by the Turks in the year 1103. In 1170, the fortress was captured by theSeljuk Turks.

• Kiesling, Brady (2005),Rediscovering Armenia: Guide,Yerevan, Armenia: Matit Graphic Design Studio
• Kiesling, Brady (June 2000).Rediscovering Armenia: An Archaeological/Touristic Gazetteer and Map Set for the Historical Monuments of Armenia(PDF).Archived(PDF) from the original on 6 November 2021.

Wikimedia Commons has media related toBaghaberd Fortress.

• Armeniapedia.org: Baghaberd Fortress
• Kapan.am: Baghaberd and other fortresses(in Armenian)
• About BaghaberdArchived 2021-03-04 at theWayback Machine

• Archaeological sites in Armenia
• Castles in Armenia
• Forts in Armenia
• Tourist attractions in Syunik Province
• Buildings and structures in Syunik Province
• Buildings and structures completed in the 4th century

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