Hovhannes-Smbat was King of Ani (1020-1040). He was preceded by his father Gagik I of Ani (989-1020) but was eventually dethroned by Ashot IV Qadj

Ashot IV Qadj

In the history of Armenia, Achot IV Qadj was the last king of the Bagratuni Dynasty. He ursurped Hovhannes I of Ani in 1021 AD and ruled until 1039/1040. He was later ursurped by Gargas of Ani....

 (1021-1039).

Reign of Hovhannes-Smbat

During the reign of Smbat III, an Armenian

Armenians

Armenian people or Armenians are a nation and ethnic group native to the Armenian Highland.The largest concentration is in Armenia having a nearly-homogeneous population with 97.9% or 3,145,354 being ethnic Armenian....

 great feudal lord, David, who owned Taik (Tao) (Ispir and Olti) had, during his battles against the Muslims, gained a large area which stretched all the way to Manazkert. David was a subject of the Byzantine Empire

Byzantine Empire

The Byzantine Empire was the Eastern Roman Empire during the periods of Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages, centred on the capital of Constantinople. Known simply as the Roman Empire or Romania to its inhabitants and neighbours, the Empire was the direct continuation of the Ancient Roman State...

 and when he died his entire territory was occupied by Basil II

Basil II

Basil II , known in his time as Basil the Porphyrogenitus and Basil the Young to distinguish him from his ancestor Basil I the Macedonian, was a Byzantine emperor from the Macedonian dynasty who reigned from 10 January 976 to 15 December 1025.The first part of his long reign was dominated...

.