Part ofa series on the |
|---|
| History ofArmenia |
 |
| Timeline •Origins •Etymology |
Medieval Armenia refers to the history ofArmenia during theMiddle Ages. It followsAncient Armenia and covers a period of approximately eight centuries, beginning with theMuslim conquest of Armenia in the 7th century. Key events during this period includes the rebirth of anArmenian Kingdom under theBagratid dynasty, followed by the arrival of theSeljuk Turks. During this period, a portion of the Armenian people migrate toCilicia to seek refuge from invasions, while the remnants in Eastern Armenia see the establishment ofZakarid Armenia under theKingdom of Georgia. This period also marks the emergence of theroyal dynasty inArtsakh.
In Cilicia, Armenians establish acrusader state, theArmenian Kingdom of Cilicia, which would be the last fully independent Armenian state throughout the following centuries until the establishment of modern-day Armenia. The arrival of theMongol Empire in the area, followed by the rise and fall of several otherTurko-Mongol confederations, marks a turning point in the history of the Armenian people, defined by the large influx ofTurkic-speaking peoples into their homeland. By the end of the Middle Ages, the notion of an Armenian state is relegated to history, with thewestern portions of historic Armenia as part of theOttoman Empire, and theeastern portion as part ofSafavid Iran.
Western Armenia had been underByzantine control since thepartition of theKingdom of Armenia in 387, whileEastern Armenia had been under the rule of theSassanid Empire starting in 428. Regardless of religious disputes,[1] many Armenians became successful in the Byzantine Empire and occupied key positions. In Sassanid-occupied Armenia, the people struggled to preserve their Christian religion. This struggle reached its culmination in theBattle of Avarayr. Although the battle was a military defeat, Vartan Mamigonian's successor, Vahan, succeeded in forcing the Persians to grant religious freedom to theChristian Armenians in theNvarsak Treaty of 484.[2]
After the death of the Islamic prophetMuhammad in 632, the Arabs expanded their religion throughout theMiddle East. In 639, with a force of 18,000 warriors,Abd‑er‑Rahman tookTaron and sacked the country. In 642, the Muslims tookDvin, slaughtered 12,000 of its inhabitants and carried 35,000 into slavery.[3] PrinceTheodoros Rshtuni organized resistance and liberated the enslaved Armenians.[4] However, Theodoros eventually accepted Arab rule of Armenia. Thus, in 645, the entirety of Armenia fell under Islamic rule. This period of 200 years was interrupted by a few restricted revolts, which never had a pan-Armenian character. Most petty Armenian families were weakened in favor of the Bagratunis and Artsrunis.
As Islamic power was waning,Ashot I of the Bagratuni family got more influence in Armenia. He became prince of princes in 861, and after a war against nearby Arab emirs, in 885, he was recognized as King of Armenia by both the Caliph of Baghdad and the Emperor of Constantinople. After more than 450 years of foreign occupation, Armenians finally reasserted their sovereignty in their ancestral lands. Despite Bagratid efforts to control all Armenian noble families, the Artsrunis and Siunis eventually broke off from central rule.Ashot III transferred the capital fromKars toAni, which came to be known as the "city of 1001 churches". Ani became an important cultural and economic center in the whole region. Bagratid Armenia fell in 1045 to the Byzantines and then in 1064 toSeljuk Turks.
The Kingdom of Cilicia was founded by theRubenian dynasty, an offshoot of the largerBagratid family that at various times held the thrones of Armenia andGeorgia. Their capital was Sis.
Cilicia was a strong ally of the EuropeanCrusaders, and saw itself as a bastion of Christendom in the East. It also served as a focus for Armenian nationalism and culture, since Armenia was under foreign occupation at the time. In the mid-13th century, KingHethoum I of Armenia voluntarily submitted the country toMongol overlordship, and tried to encourage other countries to do the same, but was only able to persuade his son-in-law,Bohemond VI of Antioch, who submitted in 1259; however, Antioch was then wiped out in retaliation by the Muslims in 1268. Cilicia remained as a Mongol vassal until it too was destroyed in the mid-14th century by the EgyptianMamluks.
