Byzantine Armenia, sometimes known asWestern Armenia,^[1][2][3] is the name given to the parts ofKingdom of Armenia that became part of theByzantine Empire. The size of the territory varied over time, depending on the degree of control the Byzantines had over Armenia.

Byzantine Armenia Բյուզանդական Հայաստան
387–536
Byzantine Armenia, 387-536
Capital	Sebastia Melitene Arsamosata Theodosiopolis (Garin) 39°10′N40°39′E / 39.17°N 40.65°E /39.17; 40.65
Common languages	Armenian (native language) Medieval Greek
Religion	Armenian Apostolic Chalcedonian Christianity
Historical era	Late Antiquity,Early Middle Ages
• Established	387
• Disestablished	536
Preceded by Succeeded by Kingdom of Armenia (Antiquity) Armeniac Theme

The Byzantine andSassanid Empires divided Armenia in 387 and in 428. Western Armenia fell under Byzantine rule, andEastern Armenia fell under Sassanid control. Even after the establishment of the Bagratid Armenian Kingdom, parts of historic Armenia and Armenian-inhabited areas were still under Byzantine rule.

TheArmenians had no representation in the EcumenicalCouncil of Chalcedon in 451 because of their struggle against the Sassanids in an armed rebellion. That reason caused a theological drift to appear between Armenian and Byzantine Christianity.^[4]

Regardless, many Armenians became successful in the Byzantine Empire. Numerous Byzantine emperors were either ethnically Armenian, half-Armenian, part-Armenian or possibly Armenian; although culturally Eastern Roman (Byzantine). The best example is EmperorHeraclius, whose father was Armenian and mother wasCappadocian. EmperorHeraclius began the Heraclian Dynasty (610–717).Basil I is another example of an Armenian beginning a dynasty; theMacedonian dynasty. His father was Armenian and his mother wasGreek. Other emperors of full, or partial Armenian origin includeRomanos I,John I Tzimiskes,Artabasdos,Philippikos Bardanes andLeo V.

Armenia made great contributions toByzantium through its troops of soldiers. The empire was in need of a good army as it was constantly being threatened. The army was relatively small, never exceeding 150,000 men. The military was sent to different parts of the empire, and took part in the most fierce battles and never exceeded 20,000 or 30,000 men. From the 5th century forwards the Armenians were regarded as the main constituent of the Byzantine army.Procopius recounts that thescholarii, the palace guards of the emperor, "were selected from amongst the bravest Armenians".^{[citation needed]}

Armenian soldiers in the Byzantine army are cited during the following centuries, especially during the 9th and the 10th centuries, which might have been the period of greatest participation of the Armenians in the Byzantine army. Byzantine and Arab historians are unanimous in recognizing significance of the Armenians soldiers.Charles Diehl, for instance, writes: “The Armenian units, particularly during this period, were numerous and well trained.”^[5] Another Byzantine historian praises the decisive role which the Armenian infantry played in the victories of the Byzantine emperorsNicephorus Phocas and John Tzimiskes.^[6]

At that time the Armenians served side by side with theNorsemen who were in the Byzantine army. This first encounter between the Armenian mountain-dwellers and the Norse has been discussed by Nansen, who brings these two elements closer to each other and records: “It was the Armenians who together with our Scandinavian forefathers made up the assault units of Byzantine.”^[7] Moreover, Bussel underlines the similarities in the way of thinking and the spirit of the Armenian feudal lords and the northern warriors. He claims that, in both groups, there was a strange absence and ignorance of government and public interest and at the same time an equally large interest in achieving personal distinctions and a loyalty towards their masters and leaders.^[8]

The partition of the Roman Empire between the two sons of the emperorTheodosius was soon followed by a predominance of foreign elements in the court of Byzantium, the eastern half of the divided world. The proximity of the capital to Armenia attracted to the shores of the Bosporus a great number of Armenians, and for three centuries, they played a distinguished part in the history of the Eastern Empire.^[9]

After the conclusion of longByzantine-Persian War (572-591), direct Byzantine rule was extended to all western regions of Armenia. To strengthen political control over newly annexed regions, EmperorMaurice (582-602) decided to support the pro-Chalcedonian faction of the local Armenian Church. In 593, a regional council of western Armenian bishops was convened inTheodosiopolis and proclaimed full allegiance to theChalcedonian Definition. The council also elected John (Yovhannes, or Hovhannes) ofBagaran as newCatholicos of Chalcedonian Armenians.^[10]

This poem by Kasia reflects the prevailing tensions and biases within the Byzantine Roman Empire against citizens of non-Roman origins, particularly towards Armenians, who were often viewed unfavorably by segments of Byzantine Roman society.

"The terrible race of the Armenians is deceitful and extremely vile, fanatical, deranged, and malignant, puffed up with hot air and full of slyness. A wise man said correctly about them that Armenians are vile when they live in obscurity, even more vile when they become famous, and most vile in all ways when they become rich. When they become filthy rich and honored, then to all they seem as vileness heaped upon vileness."^[11]

• Armenia–Greece relations
• Battle of Ani
• Muslim conquest of Armenia

• Meyendorff, John (1989).Imperial Unity and Christian Divisions: The Church 450–680 A.D. The Church in History. Vol. 2. Crestwood, NY: St. Vladimir's Seminary Press.ISBN 9780881410563.
• Ostrogorsky, George (1956).History of the Byzantine State. Oxford: Basil Blackwell.
• Kaegi, Walter E. (1992).Byzantium and the Early Islamic Conquests.Cambridge University Press.ISBN 0-521-41172-6.