Smbat I
Encyclopedia
Smbat I (850–912), known as "the Martyr", was King of Armenia (890–912) of the Bagratuni dynasty, son of Ashot I and the father of Ashot II
Yerkat and Abas I
. His rule was a period of unending wars against the Arab
conquerors and the rebellious Armenian nobles. He fought with mixed success against Afshin, the Caliph
's representative in Atropatene
, but was defeated by Yusuf, Afshin's brother. Late in his rule he was betrayed by Gagik Artsruni and Sparapet Ashot who proclaimed themselves independent from Smbat's rule. Towards the end of Smbat's rule Yusuf made war on him again. Smbat's wife was captured and traded in exchange for Smbat's son Mushegh and nephew Smbat, who were then poisoned by Yusuf. Yusuf's army ravaged the rest of Armenia as it advanced towards Blue Fortress, where King Smbat had taken refuge, and besieged it for some time. Smbat finally decided to surrender himself to Yusuf in 914 in hopes of ending the Arab onslaught; Yusuf, however, showed no compassion towards his prisoner as he tortured the Armenian king to death and put his headless body on display on a cross in Dvin. He was succeeded by his son Ashot II
who was able to eventually expel the invaders and brought peace to Armenia.
and King Smbat replaced him with his son Ashot. Ashot built the church of Bagaran there on the banks of the Akhurian River
. This same Ashot would later be declared King by Yusuf in opposition to Ashot II
in an attempt to divide Armenia, a plan which failed after two years of civil war.
Smbat had at least two sisters, Mariam and Sophia. Mariam was regarded as a holy woman. She had sons Grigor, Sahak, and Vasak. Prince Grigor was poisoned by Yusuf while Sahak and Vasak took refuge at Sevanavank
. Yusuf pursued them and so with their mother, families, and as much property as they could carry they again took off to the east. They retreated to Artsakh
where their mother died. After a few years when the family had regained their lands her body was brought back and buried at a church she built at a place called Soghaka.
The sister Sophia was married to Krikor Artsruni and had children Ashot, Sophia, Gagik, and Gurgen. Gagik was an ambitious prince who ruled Vaspurakan
and challenged his uncle King Smbat's rule.
Ashot II
Ashot II the Iron was an Armenian King, the son of King Smbat I. His reign was filled with rebellions by pretenders to the throne, and foreign invasions, which Ashot fought off successfully. This is how he got the epithet the Iron. In 914, Ashot II visited Constantinople to get aid from Byzantine...
Yerkat and Abas I
Abas I of Armenia
Abas I of Armenia was king of Armenia from 928 to 953. Abas was of the royal Bagratuni Dynasty. He was the son of Smbat I and the brother of Ashot "Yerkat" II. In contrast to the way his predecessors' ruled, Abas' reign was marked by years of peace, stability, and prosperity that Armenia had not...
. His rule was a period of unending wars against the Arab
Arab
Arab people, also known as Arabs , are a panethnicity primarily living in the Arab world, which is located in Western Asia and North Africa. They are identified as such on one or more of genealogical, linguistic, or cultural grounds, with tribal affiliations, and intra-tribal relationships playing...
conquerors and the rebellious Armenian nobles. He fought with mixed success against Afshin, the Caliph
Caliph
The Caliph is the head of state in a Caliphate, and the title for the ruler of the Islamic Ummah, an Islamic community ruled by the Shari'ah. It is a transcribed version of the Arabic word which means "successor" or "representative"...
's representative in Atropatene
Atropatene
Atropatene was an ancient kingdom established and ruled under local ethnic Iranian dynasts first with "Darius" of Persia and later "Alexander" of Macedonia, starting in the 4th century BC and includes the territory of modern-day Iranian Azarbaijan and Iranian Kurdistan. Its capital was Gazaca...
, but was defeated by Yusuf, Afshin's brother. Late in his rule he was betrayed by Gagik Artsruni and Sparapet Ashot who proclaimed themselves independent from Smbat's rule. Towards the end of Smbat's rule Yusuf made war on him again. Smbat's wife was captured and traded in exchange for Smbat's son Mushegh and nephew Smbat, who were then poisoned by Yusuf. Yusuf's army ravaged the rest of Armenia as it advanced towards Blue Fortress, where King Smbat had taken refuge, and besieged it for some time. Smbat finally decided to surrender himself to Yusuf in 914 in hopes of ending the Arab onslaught; Yusuf, however, showed no compassion towards his prisoner as he tortured the Armenian king to death and put his headless body on display on a cross in Dvin. He was succeeded by his son Ashot II
Ashot II
Ashot II the Iron was an Armenian King, the son of King Smbat I. His reign was filled with rebellions by pretenders to the throne, and foreign invasions, which Ashot fought off successfully. This is how he got the epithet the Iron. In 914, Ashot II visited Constantinople to get aid from Byzantine...
who was able to eventually expel the invaders and brought peace to Armenia.
The Royal Family
King Smbat had brothers Shapuh, sparapet of Armenia, and David, presiding prince (ishkhan) of Armenia. Shapuh was buried in his family's cemetery at BagaranBagaran
Bagaran is a town and former fortress in the Armavir Province of Armenia, located 5 kilometers west of the right bank of the Akhurian River, and formerly a capital of Armenia....
and King Smbat replaced him with his son Ashot. Ashot built the church of Bagaran there on the banks of the Akhurian River
Akhurian River
The Akhurian, Akhuriyan, Akhuryan or Akhouryan is a river in the South Caucasus. It originates in Armenia and flows from Lake Tseli south, along the border with Turkey, forming part of the geographic border between the two states, until it flows into the Aras River as a left tributary near Bagaran...
. This same Ashot would later be declared King by Yusuf in opposition to Ashot II
Ashot II
Ashot II the Iron was an Armenian King, the son of King Smbat I. His reign was filled with rebellions by pretenders to the throne, and foreign invasions, which Ashot fought off successfully. This is how he got the epithet the Iron. In 914, Ashot II visited Constantinople to get aid from Byzantine...
in an attempt to divide Armenia, a plan which failed after two years of civil war.
Smbat had at least two sisters, Mariam and Sophia. Mariam was regarded as a holy woman. She had sons Grigor, Sahak, and Vasak. Prince Grigor was poisoned by Yusuf while Sahak and Vasak took refuge at Sevanavank
Sevanavank
Sevanavank is a monastic complex located on a peninsula at the northwestern shore of Lake Sevan in the Gegharkunik Province of Armenia, not far from the town of Sevan. Initially the monastery was built at the southern shore of a small island...
. Yusuf pursued them and so with their mother, families, and as much property as they could carry they again took off to the east. They retreated to Artsakh
Artsakh
Artsakh was the tenth province of the Kingdom of Armenia from 189 BC until 387 AD and afterwards a region of Caucasian Albania from 387 to the 7th century. From the 7th to 9th centuries, it fell under Arab control...
where their mother died. After a few years when the family had regained their lands her body was brought back and buried at a church she built at a place called Soghaka.
The sister Sophia was married to Krikor Artsruni and had children Ashot, Sophia, Gagik, and Gurgen. Gagik was an ambitious prince who ruled Vaspurakan
Vaspurakan
Vaspurakan was the first and biggest province of Greater Armenia, which later became an independent kingdom during the Middle Ages, centered around Lake Van...
and challenged his uncle King Smbat's rule.