Ashot I of Armenia

Life

Early life

Ashot was born around 820 to Smbat VIII Bagratuni and his wife Hripsime. Smbat VIII was sparapet (supreme commander) and the son of Ashot Msaker, the Prince of Armenia (r. 806–826). Ashot also had a brother named Abas. The family, the Bagratunis, was one of the most powerful in the kingdom, along with the Artsruni. Both families struggled for power through warfare against Arab invaders. Following the devastating invasion of the Abbasid general Bugha al-Kabir (850–855), which resulted in the captivity and exile of many prominent Armenian nobles,The kingdom was later taken over by Armenians who overthrew the Arab government. Smbat VIII was exiled to Samarra, where he later died. Ashot skillfully rebuilt the ruined economy, consolidated the political authority of the Bagratuni house and continued to live in his father's quarters, located around the city of Bagaran. He was married to Katranide. Like Smbat before him, Ashot was named sparapet in 856 by the Abbasid Caliph al-Mutawakkil.

Prince of princes of Armenia

During the Arab-Byzantine Wars, much of Ashot's territory was located near the main site of conflict. In 862, following the Battle of Karasounk Ashot was recognized as the prince of princes of Armenia, of Georgia and of the lands of the Caucasus by Abbasid Caliph al-Musta'in, who saw this as a measure of protection against the local autonomous emirs. This title essentially granted Ashot the status of de facto king and placed him at a similar level of power as the emirs, but did not allow Ashot to have administrative rule over the kingdom. Ashot kept this status during the reigns of Abbasid Caliphs al-Mu'tazz (866–869), al-Muhtadi (869–870) and al-Mu'tamid (870–892).

Ashot annexed Bagrevand in 862, shortly after the death of the ruling Mamikonian dynasty's head, Grigor Mamikonian. Ashot mediated between Grigor-Derenik Artsruni and Gurgen Artsruni, cousins and members of the Artsruni family who controlled Vaspurakan. Ashot then captured Grigor-Derenik and reduced the size of the cantons around Van. Ashot released Grigor-Derenik to avoid further conflict with the Artsruni family. Ashot later arranged a marriage between his daughter, Sophie, and Grigor-Derenik, in order to reconcile. Ashot also strengthened relations with the Siunia dynasty by arranging another marriage between his second daughter, Mariam, with Prince Vasak Gabur IV. These familial ties helped strengthen relations between Ashot's sons and the surrounding dynasties.

In 862, the army of Gurgen Apupelch Artsruni (about 500) somewhere in Mardastan defeated the Artsruni regiment (about 800) led by Grigor-Derenik Artsruni. In the autumn of the same year, however, again somewhere in Mardastan, the Artsruni regiment (about 500) made a surprise attack on the army of Gurgen Apupelch Artsruni (about 300) and captured Gurgen. Gurgen, however, later managed to escape from captivity. After the previous events, the Armenian prince Ashot Bagratuni, who arrived in Vaspurakan with his army, in turn managed to capture Grigor-Derenik, who had come to him for negotiations, but this time Gurgen Apupelch Artsruni, rising above intra-family conflicts and guided by the interests of the Artsruni themselves, rather abruptly demanded that Ashot Bagratuni release the captive. However, in order to soften the abruptness, Gurgen also suggested that the Bagratuni prince give his daughter Sofi in marriage to the latter, after which the conflicts would be considered truly exhausted. Ashot Bagratuni, who was distinguished by his political foresight, also needed this marriage, judging by everything, as a guarantee of strengthening his positions in Southern Armenia, and as a result, the matter came to a head. The bad thing, however, was that this political calculation was not based on love, as the most important guarantee of the strength of marriage, which would make itself felt in the future and in turn would have far-reaching consequences. One way or another, but already at the end of the year, Sofi was married to Grigor-Derenik, and not only the positions of the Bagratunis in Vaspurakan were greatly strengthened, but also the degree of unity of the Armenians greatly increased. The problem with Gurgen-Apupelch was also resolved, when the latter, no longer claiming high power in the Artsruni dynasty, in fact, continued to rule in the Mardastan province and Andzevac. However, relations within the Artsruni dynasty were regulated only formally, and between the two sides of the conflict continued to remain quite cold.

In 869, through the efforts of the Catholicos of Armenia Zakaria Dzagetsi, a joint council was convened, in which representatives of prominent princely dynasties participated. At that council, a unanimous decision was made to proclaim Ashot Bagratuni the King of Armenia. Ashot foiled the conspiracy of the Armenian police, expelling him from Armenia. He skillfully took advantage of the Arab-Byzantine rivalry. Emperor Basil I asked Ashot to crown him as a representative of the old royal dynasty and conclude an alliance, and the Byzantine Patriarch Photius, proposing a church union, called Ashot "valiant in good lineage, most powerful, highest and most sublime", however, the 869 Shirakavan church council rejected the patriarch's proposal, but at the same time did not refuse the military-political alliance.

The administrative, military and economic power of the country was concentrated in the hands of Ashot, and Arab rule became formal. Ashot was granted the right to collect taxes throughout the country, which sharply reduced the financial resources flowing to the caliphate. Thanks to the centralization of tax revenues and economic revitalization, the state treasuries were filled with gold and silver. The lasting peace established in the country created favorable conditions for the uninterrupted development of agriculture. Cultivated land areas were restored and expanded. Pastures were expanded: in different regions of the country, a rapid growth in cattle breeding was noticeable. Pastures were filled with herds of horses, herds of cattle (cows) and flocks of sheep. In conditions of peace, internal trade expanded significantly, as well as foreign trade relations were revitalized. Crafts received a new impetus, which contributed to the revival of urban life. Cities and villages took on a new look and form. Settlements damaged by wars were restored, construction work intensified both in the royal domains and in the princely estates.Ashot I established new rules for the coexistence of the population. These legal and administrative regulations ensured the security and stability of the economic activities of different classes of society (peasants, artisans, merchants).

Ashot used this support to wage war against the emirs. In 863, Ashot's forces, led by his brother and sparapet Abas Bagratuni, achieved a decisive victory in the Battle of the Forty (Karasunk) near the Araxes River against the Kaysites of Manazkert and their allies, significantly weakening Arab military dominance in the region․ He began by defeating the Kaysites of Manazkert in 863, with the help of his brother and sparapet, Abas Bagratuni.

In 869, through the efforts of Catholicos of Armenia Zakaria Dzagetsi, a unified council was convened, attended by representatives of prominent princely families. At that council, a unanimous decision was made to proclaim Ashot Bagratuni king of Armenia. Ashot foiled the conspiracy of the ostikan of Arminiya by expelling him from Armenia. He skillfully made use of the Arab–Byzantine rivalry. Emperor Basil I asked Ashot to crown him as a representative of an ancient crown-bestowing family and to conclude an alliance, while Patriarch Photius of Byzantium, proposing church union, called Ashot "renowned for nobility, most powerful, highest, and most sublime"; however, the Church Council of Shirakavan of 869 rejected the patriarch's proposal, though without refusing a military-political alliance.

At the end of 877, Muhammad al-Yamani issued a special appeal to Ashot Bagratuni and, predicting that Isa ibn al-Shaykh would soon be removed from the post of ostikan, asked to be recognized as ostikan of Arminiya himself. The Prince of Armenia, while giving his consent, simultaneously requested official Samarra to recognize not Muhammad al-Yamani as ostikan of Arminiya, but Muhammad ibn Khalid al-Shaybani, of the Shaybanid dynasty, who had previously served as ostikan of Arminiya twice. The request of the Armenians was granted, and Muhammad ibn Khalid was declared ostikan of Arminiya for the third time. The latter, however, held office only briefly, and local complications persisted.

In the summer of 880, the Armenian army (approx. 40,000) led by Prince of Armenia Ashot Bagratuni besieged Manazkert from the army of the Kaysite Emirate (approx. 1,000); however, upon learning that Hasan—ruler of Sevan fortress in Vaspurakan (Arjishakovit canton of Vaspurakan) and cousin of Grigor-Derenik—had captured the Artsruni prince, he concluded a truce and marched to Vaspurakan[23]. As a result, Grigor-Derenik was released without a battle, while the Kaysite and Uthmanid emirates recognized the suzerainty of Prince of Armenia Ashot Bagratuni. In 877, he began to fight against the emir of Barda alongside his ostikan; however, failure of this ostikan led to his replacement. The new ostikan made a secret peace treaty with the emir and betrayed Ashot. Ashot learned of the conspiracy against him and sent Abas to disarm the ostikan in Dvin; Abas escorted him to the border under Ashot's orders in order to prevent the caliph's retaliation. Ashot defeated the emirs of Barda and Manazkert, laying siege to the latter city in 884; however, the siege was ceased prematurely. The siege caused Grigor-Derenik to worry about the borders of Taron, which was under Grigor-Derenik's control. Ashot gained control of the Gugark and Utik regions as early as 860.

Ashot's reach also extended to Caucasian Iberia, where some of his Bagratuni family had settled in the late 7th century. There, around 875, he formed an alliance with Bagrat I of Iberia, his stepbrother, against Bagrat's brother, Guaram Mampali. Together, Ashot and Bagrat defeated Guaram. In 881, Ashot formed an alliance with David I of Iberia and Adarnase IV of Iberia, Bagrat's son and grandson, respectively, to defeat Guaram's son, Nasra of Tao-Klarjeti.

King of Armenia

Ashot strengthened the unity of the country, intervened in disputes that arose between princely houses, and established marital ties between the Bagratuni, Artsruni, and Syuni princely houses.After his brother Abas, he appointed his son Shapuh as sparapet, while his other son, Smbat, became King of Armenia and continued his father's work. Of his three daughters, he gave two in marriage to the Artsrunis: Sophia married Grigor-Derenik and became the senior lady (gaherets tikin) of Vaspurakan, while his other daughter married Vahan Artsruni. His youngest daughter, Mariam, married Vasak Gabur, becoming the senior lady of Syunik. Friendly and allied ties were established not only with influential Armenian princes, but also with the Georgians and Caucasian Albanians. The nobility of the latter had come to be led by the Georgian and Caucasian Albanian branches of the Bagratunis.

Several contemporary prominent Armenians, including Grigor-Derenik Vaspurakan, insisted on Ashot's coronation. Ashot was crowned King of Armenia through the consent of Caliph al-Mu'tamid in 885 to prevent intrusion into Armenian territory by Basil I, a Byzantine emperor of Macedonian origin. Emperor Basil I, who had Armenian roots, also sent Ashot a royal crown along with rich gifts and a letter addressing him as a "beloved brother," acknowledging their shared perceived ancestry from the ancient Arsacid line.

In a grand ceremony in 885, Ashot was solemnly anointed and crowned King of Armenia by Catholicos Gevorg II Garnetsi in the cathedral of Shirakavan (Yerazgavors), in the presence of Armenian princes and representatives of foreign powers.

As a result of his coronation, Ashot restored the Armenian monarchy and became the founder of the medieval Kingdom of Armenia, also known as Bagratid Armenia, named after the contemporary rule of the Bagratunis. The Bagratid kingdom lasted until 1045, when it was annexed into the Byzantine Empire.

Despite his status, Ashot remained a subordinate to the Caliph and was put under the supervision of the emirs of Atropatene. Every Armenian prince fell under Ashot's authority (though in the effect of primus inter pares). Dvin and the emirates of Manazkert and Karin (and, according to Constantine VII, Khoy and Salmas) also fell under Ashot's control, despite the local governments' unwillingness to accept. The emir of Manazkert was in this way defeated and was forced to submit to Ashot's rule in 885.

Ashot's influence continued not only in Armenia but also in Iberia. After the death of Grigor-Derenik Artsruni in 887, Ashot placed his own grandson (and Grigor-Derenik's son), Ashot-Sargis Artsruni, under the rule of relative Gagik Aboumerwan Artsruni. In 887 and 888, Ashot supported his nephew Adarnase IV of Iberia in overthrowing Bagrat I of Abkhazia. Also in 888, Ashot sent his brother Abas to Kars to stop a rebellion led by Prince Sahak-Mleh of Vanand.

Ashot travelled to Gugark to stop another rebellion, fighting alongside his son and heir, Smbat I. He died in 890. Contemporary historian Hovhannes Draskhanakerttsi gives an account of his death:

Since he died on the road, in an inn at a rocky place called K'arsparn, they carried away his body in a coffin and brought it to the town (awan) of Bagaran, the royal residence, where they covered the coffin with robes and veils interwoven and adorned with gold; and carefully selected detachments of military forces clad in arms and ornaments stood guard. The great katholikos, accompanied by the rest of the clerics of the church, also came forth and solemnly chanted psalms and raised the voice of [their] praise. His three sons, the senior [gaherec'] princes of the royal house and other friends followed the coffin, and thus they arrived at the cemetery....Then, building a tomb [suitable] for royalty, they buried him in the cemetery of his ancestors.

Ashot I, who had reigned for 5 to 7 years, was in fact at the head of the country with essentially the powers of a monarch for a full 36 years, doing for his people everything that was truly possible under the given conditions. Indeed, through his governance, this king managed to reach a state where the leaders of both regional superpowers laying claim to Armenia not only did not oppose the royal ambitions of this Armenian ruler, but sent him crowns themselves. No less important was the fact that Ashot I succeeded in unifying the fragmented Christian region shaped by developed feudal social relations, while simultaneously centralizing and directing toward his interests the long-diverged branches of his own dynasty. Finally, as an achievement of this king, it can be recorded that through his domestic policy, he placed the internal life of the country on solid foundations, giving final shape to the state-legal and administrative system of the kingdom.

Ashot displayed great military-political and diplomatic enterprise, strengthening the state. His residence was the fortress of Bagaran.His suzerainty was also recognized by the Georgian and Caucasian Albanian princes and the Arab emirates of Armenia. The Byzantine Emperor Constantine Porphyrogenitus wrote that Ashot "ruled over all the countries of the East".

Ashot also carried out a series of reforms, restoring and modifying the court system that had existed during the time of the Arsacids. He granted lands to lesser nobles, binding them even closer to the royal court.

Smbat I succeeded him.