Kingdom of Vaspurakan

Vaspurakan (also transliterated as Vasbouragan in Western Armenian; Armenian: Վասպուրական, (Vaspowrakan) meaning the "noble land" or "land of princes"[1]) was the first and biggest province of Greater Armenia, which later became an independent kingdom during the Middle Ages, centered on Lake Van. Located in what is now called eastern Turkey and northwestern Iran, the region is considered to be the cradle of Armenian civilization.[1]

This article is about the kingdom. For the geographic area, see Vaspurakan.

Kingdom of Vaspurakan Վասպուրական
908–1021
The Kingdom of Vaspurakan from 908 to 1021
Status	Kingdom
Capital	Van
Common languages	Armenian
Religion	Armenian Apostolic Church
Government	Monarchy
King
• 908–937/943	Gagik I Artsruni
• 937/943—958/959	Derenik-Ashot
• 958/959–968/969	Abusahl-Hamazasp
• 968/969–1003	Ashot-Sahak
• 991–1003	Gurgen-Khachik
• 1003–1021	Seneqerim-Hovhannes
Historical era	Middle Ages
• Gagik I recognized as King of Armenia by Arab Caliph	908
• Seneqerim-Hovhannes gave Vaspurakan to the Byzantine Empire	1021
Area
11th century	40,870 km^2 (15,780 sq mi)
Population
• 11th century	1,000,000
Currency	Solidus (coin), Hyperpyron
Preceded by Succeeded by Bagratid Armenia Byzantine Empire
Today part of	Turkey  Iran  Iraq  Azerbaijan

History

During most of its history it was ruled by the Artsruni dynasty, which first managed to create a principality in the area. At its greatest extent Vaspurakan comprised the lands between Lake Van and Lake Urmia (also known as Kaputan) in 908. During this time they were under the sovereignty of the Bagratuni Kingdom of Ani.

Vaspurakan was elevated to the status of a kingdom in 908, when Gagik I of Vaspurakan was recognized King of Armenia by the Abbasids and at first was on their side, but soon he regretted and together with Ashot II defeated the Arabs. Soon he was recognized as the King of Vaspurakan by the Bagratuni Ashot II. In 1021 Seneqerim Artsruni gave Vaspurakan to the Byzantine Empire, receiving Sebasteia and its surroundings. Vaspurakan became the Byzantine province (thema) of Vasprakania or Media.[2] In about 1050 Vasprakania was merged with that of Taron, but was conquered by the Saljuq Turks between 1054-1056. In the 13th century part of Vaspurakan was liberated by Zakarids. But soon was conquered by Mongols, then by Ottoman Turks. Turks several times tried to kill Armenians in Vaspurakan, especially in Van. But Van's Armenian population always resisted, especially is notable Siege of Van of 1915, when the Ottoman forces attacked Van during 1915's Armenian Genocide.

After the Byzantine annexation the dynasty continued with Derenik, son of Gurgen Khatchik, who became lord of Antzivaziq by 1004 and had two brothers: Gugik and Ashot. King Hovhannes-Seneqerim also had several children among them David, Atom, Abushal and Constantine. There is a legend that one of Seneqerim's daughter is thought to have married Mendo Alao, an Alan who lived in Lusitania. David had a daughter that married King Gagik II of Ani.

Another branch of the family appeared on the person of Khatchik the Great in 1040, who had three children: Hasan, Djendjluk and Ishkhanik. Hasan had a son called Abelgharib who had a daughter that married King David of Ani.[3]

The kingdom of Vaspurakan had no specific capital, the court moving as the king transferred his residence from place to place – Van, Ostan/Vostan (modern Gevaş), and so on.[4]

Rulers

Princes

• Hamazasp II, Prince (800–836). Married to a daughter of Ashot Msaker of the Bagratuni family.
• Ashot I Abulabus Artsruni, Prince (836–852). Son of Hamazasp II. First time.
• Gurgen I Artsruni, Prince (852–853). Brother of Ashot I.
• Abu Djafar Artsruni, Prince (853–854). Probably brother of Ashot I.
• Gurgen II Artsruni of Mardastan, Prince. (854–857). Distant relative.
• Grigor-Derenik Artsruni, Prince (857–868). Married Sofia, daughter of Ashot I Bagratuni the Great, Prince of Armenia. Son of Ashot I Artsruni. First time.
• Ashot I Abulabus Artsruni, Prince (868–874). Second time.
• Grigor-Derenik Artsruni, Prince (874–887). Second time.
• Gagik Abu Morvan Artsruni, regent for Grigor-Derenik's sons (887–896), then usurper prince (896–898).
• Ashot-Sargis Artsruni (Ashot II), Prince (898–900). Son of Grigor-Derenik.
• (Vaspurakan occupied by the Sajid emir Afshin (900).)
• Safi, as governor of Van (900–901).
• Ashot-Sargis Artsruni (Ashot II) (901–904). Reinstated. After his death Vaspurakan was divided:
• Gagik III (I) Artsruni, Prince (later king) in northwest Vaspurakan (904–908).Brother of Ashot-Sargis.
• Gurgen III Artsruni, Prince in southeast Vaspurakan (904–925). Brother of Ashot-Sargis.

Kings

• Gagik I (III) Artsruni, crowned king (908-925 northwestern part, 925-943 all Vaspurakan)
• Derenik-Ashot (Ashot III), King (943–953). Son of Gagik I.
• Abusahl-Hamazasp, King (953–972). Brother of Derenik-Ashot I.
• Ashot-Sahak (Ashot IV), King (972–983). Son of Abusahl-Hamazasp.
• Gurgen-Khachik (Gurgen IV), King (983–1003) and Lord of Antzevasiq. Brother of Ashot-Sahak.
• Seneqerim-Hovhannes, Brother of Ashot-Sahak, King (1003–1021) and lord of Rechtuniq. Brother of Gurgen Khatchik.

References

1. Hovannisian, Richard G. (1999). Armenian Van/Vaspurakan. Costa Mesa, California: Mazda Publishers. Archived from the original on 2011-06-08.
2. Hewsen, Robert H. (2001). Armenia: a historical atlas. The University of Chicago Press. p. 126. ISBN 0-226-33228-4.
3. http://medbib.com/Vaspurakan
4. Hewsen, Robert H. (2001). Armenia: a historical atlas. The University of Chicago Press. p. 116. ISBN 0-226-33228-4.

«Վասպուրական» Հայրենակցական միություն http://vaspurakan.blogspot.com/

Bibliography

• Hovannisian, Richard G., ed. (2000),  Armenian Van/Vaspurakan , Historic Armenian Cities and Provinces , Costa Mesa, California: Mazda Publishers , OCLC 44774992CS1 maint: extra punctuation (link)
• Der Nersessian, Sirarpie. Armenia and the Byzantine Empire: a Brief Study of Armenian Art and Civilization. Cambridge: Harvard University Press. 1947.