Muslim Muslims () are people who adhere to Islam, a Monotheism, monotheistic religion belonging to the Abrahamic religions, Abrahamic tradition. They consider the Quran, the foundational religious text of Islam, to be the verbatim word of the God ...

Arabs Arabs (, , ; , , ) are an ethnic group mainly inhabiting the Arab world in West Asia and North Africa. A significant Arab diaspora is present in various parts of the world. Arabs have been in the Fertile Crescent for thousands of yea ...

Caucasian Iberia In Greco-Roman geography, Iberia (Ancient Greek: ''Iberia''; ; Parthian language, Parthian: ; Middle Persian: ) was an exonym for the Georgians, Georgian kingdom of Kartli or Iveria ( or ), known after its Kartli, core province. The kingdom exi ...

Caucasian Albania Caucasian Albania is a modern exonym for a former state located in ancient times in the Caucasus, mostly in what is now Azerbaijan (where both of its capitals were located). The modern endonyms for the area are ''Aghwank'' and ''Aluank'', among ...

caliphs A caliphate ( ) is an institution or public office under the leadership of an Islamic steward with the title of caliph (; , ), a person considered a political–religious successor to the Islamic prophet Muhammad and a leader of the enti ...

Armenian Armenian may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to Armenia, a country in the South Caucasus region of Eurasia * Armenians, the national people of Armenia, or people of Armenian descent ** Armenian diaspora, Armenian communities around the ...

Abd al-Malik ibn Marwan Abd al-Malik ibn Marwan ibn al-Hakam (; July/August 644 or June/July 647 – 9 October 705) was the fifth Umayyad caliph, ruling from April 685 until his death in October 705. A member of the first generation of born Muslims, his early life in ...

ostikan ''Ostikan'' () was the title used by Armenians for the governors of the early Caliphates. In modern historiography, it is chiefly used for the caliphal governors of the province of Arminiya, which included Greater Armenia. Arab governors of Arm ...

Encyclopaedia of Islam The ''Encyclopaedia of Islam'' (''EI'') is a reference work that facilitates the Islamic studies, academic study of Islam. It is published by Brill Publishers, Brill and provides information on various aspects of Islam and the Muslim world, Isl ...

Arabs Arabs (, , ; , , ) are an ethnic group mainly inhabiting the Arab world in West Asia and North Africa. A significant Arab diaspora is present in various parts of the world. Arabs have been in the Fertile Crescent for thousands of yea ...

Muslim conquest of Persia As part of the early Muslim conquests, which were initiated by Muhammad in 622, the Rashidun Caliphate conquered the Sasanian Empire between 632 and 654. This event led to the decline of Zoroastrianism, which had been the official religion of ...

Iyad ibn Ghanim Iyad ibn Ghanm ibn Zuhayr al-Fihri (; died 641) was an Arab commander who played a leading role in the Muslim conquests of al-Jazira (Upper Mesopotamia) and northern Syria. He was among the handful of Qurayshi tribesmen to embrace Islam before th ...

Bitlis Bitlis ( or ; ) is a city in southeastern Turkey. It is the seat of Bitlis District and Bitlis Province.Adharbayjan in 645, led by Salman ibn Rabi'a, but this only touched the Armenian borderlands. The Muslim sources place the actual conquest of the country in 645/646, under the command of

Habib ibn Maslama al-Fihri Ḥabīb ibn Maslama al-Fihrī (; –) was an Arab general during the Early Muslim conquests, under Mu'awiyah ibn Abi Sufyan. Habib fought in the Muslim conquest of the Levant and against the Byzantines in Upper Mesopotamia, where he later ser ...

. The Arabs first moved against the western, Byzantine portion of the country, captured Theodosiopolis and defeated a Byzantine army, before subduing the Armenian princes around

Lake Van Lake Van (; ; ) is the largest lake in Turkey. It lies in the Eastern Anatolia Region of Turkey in the provinces of Van Province, Van and Bitlis Province, Bitlis, in the Armenian highlands. It is a Salt lake, saline Soda lake, soda lake, receiv ...

and marching onto Dvin, the capital of the former Persian portion of Armenia. Dvin capitulated after a few days of siege, as did

Tiflis Tbilisi ( ; ka, თბილისი, ), in some languages still known by its pre-1936 name Tiflis ( ), ( ka, ტფილისი, tr ) is the Capital city, capital and List of cities and towns in Georgia (country), largest city of Georgia ( ...

further north in

Caucasian Iberia In Greco-Roman geography, Iberia (Ancient Greek: ''Iberia''; ; Parthian language, Parthian: ; Middle Persian: ) was an exonym for the Georgians, Georgian kingdom of Kartli or Iveria ( or ), known after its Kartli, core province. The kingdom exi ...

. During the same time, another Arab army from

Iraq Iraq, officially the Republic of Iraq, is a country in West Asia. It is bordered by Saudi Arabia to Iraq–Saudi Arabia border, the south, Turkey to Iraq–Turkey border, the north, Iran to Iran–Iraq border, the east, the Persian Gulf and ...

, under Salman ibn Rabi'a, conquered

Caucasian Albania Caucasian Albania is a modern exonym for a former state located in ancient times in the Caucasus, mostly in what is now Azerbaijan (where both of its capitals were located). The modern endonyms for the area are ''Aghwank'' and ''Aluank'', among ...

( Arran). Although Arab sources imply that the country was henceforth effectively under Arab rule, modern historians generally consider the contemporary account of the Armenian bishop

Sebeos Sebeos () was the reputed author of a 7th-century Armenian history. As this authorship attribution is widely accepted to be false (pseudepigraphical), the author is frequently referred to as Pseudo-Sebeos. Though his name is not known, he was likel ...

, partly corroborated by the Byzantine chronicler

Theophanes the Confessor Theophanes the Confessor (; 759 – 817 or 818) was a member of the Byzantine aristocracy who became a monk and chronicler. He served in the court of Emperor Leo IV the Khazar before taking up the religious life. Theophanes attended the Second C ...

more reliable, and have proposed different reconstructions of the early Arab raids between 640 and 650, based on a critical reading of the sources; it is clear, however, that the country did not submit to Arab rule at this time. Armenian histories report that the Arabs first arrived in 642, penetrating the central region of

Ayrarat Ayrarat () was the central province of the ancient kingdom of Armenia, located in the plain of the upper Aras River. Most of the historical capitals of Armenia were located in this province, including Armavir, Yervandashat, Artashat, Vagharsha ...

, and sacked Dvin, returning with over 35,000 captives. In 643, the Arabs invaded again from the direction of Arran, ravaged Ayrarat and reached Iberia, but were defeated in battle by the Armenian leader

Theodore Rshtuni Theodore or Theodoros Rshtuni (, ; AD 590–655 or 656), equated with Pasagnathes (), the "''patrikios'' of the Armenians" from the chronicle of Theophanes the Confessor,

and forced back. After this success, Rshtuni was recognized as ruler of Armenia by the

Byzantine emperor The foundation of Constantinople in 330 AD marks the conventional start of the Eastern Roman Empire, which Fall of Constantinople, fell to the Ottoman Empire in 1453 AD. Only the emperors who were recognized as legitimate rulers and exercised s ...

Constans II Constans II (; 7 November 630 – 15 July 668), also called "the Bearded" (), was the Byzantine emperor from 641 to 668. Constans was the last attested emperor to serve as Roman consul, consul, in 642, although the office continued to exist unti ...

, in exchange for accepting Byzantine suzerainty. When Constans' truce with the Arabs ended in 653, however, to avoid a new Arab invasion, Rshtuni voluntarily agreed to submit to Muslim overlordship. Emperor Constans then campaigned in person in Armenia, restoring Byzantine rule, but soon after his departure in early 654, the Arabs invaded the country. With their assistance, Rshtuni evicted the Byzantine garrisons from Armenia and secured Arab recognition as the presiding prince of Armenia, Iberia, and Albania. The Byzantines under general Maurianos tried to recover control of the region, but without success. In 655, even Byzantine Armenia was invaded, and the Arabs occupied Theodosiopolis (Arabic ''Qaliqala'') and cemented their control of the country by taking Rhstuni to

Damascus Damascus ( , ; ) is the capital and List of largest cities in the Levant region by population, largest city of Syria. It is the oldest capital in the world and, according to some, the fourth Holiest sites in Islam, holiest city in Islam. Kno ...

, where he died in 656, and appointing his rival

Hamazasp IV Mamikonian Hamazasp Mamikonian () was the presiding prince of Armenia in 655–661, when the country was under Arab domination. After the Byzantine invasion of 657/58, he switched sides and served the Byzantines. Hamazasp Mamikonian became presiding prince o ...

in his stead. However, with the outbreak of the

First Muslim Civil War The First Fitna () was the first civil war in the Islamic community. It led to the overthrow of the Rashidun and the establishment of the Umayyad Caliphate. The civil war involved three main battles between the fourth Rashidun caliph, Ali, and ...

in 657, effective Arab authority in the country ceased, and Mamikonian returned to Byzantine overlordship almost immediately. In 661, however, Mu'awiya, now the victor of the Muslim civil war, ordered the Armenian princes to re-submit to his authority and pay tribute. To avoid another war, the princes complied. The Arab policy of demanding that the tribute be paid in money affected the Armenian economy and society. Coins were struck in Dvin. The Armenians were forced to produce a surplus of food and manufactured goods for sale. A strong urban life was developed in Caucasia as the economy revived.

Establishment of direct Muslim control

For most of the second half of the 7th century, Arab presence and control in Armenia was minimal. Armenia was considered conquered land by the Arabs but enjoyed ''de facto'' autonomy, regulated by the treaty signed between Rhstuni and Mu'awiya. Indeed, as Aram Ter-Ghewondyan comments, under Arab suzerainty "the country enjoyed a degree of independence such as it had not known since the fall of the

Arsacids The Parthian Empire (), also known as the Arsacid Empire (), was a major Iranian political and cultural power centered in ancient Iran from 247 BC to 224 AD. Its latter name comes from its founder, Arsaces I, who led the Parni tribe in ...

" in the 5th century. According to the terms of the treaty, the Armenian princes were submitted to—relatively low—taxation and the obligation to provide soldiers when requested, for which the princes were to be paid an annual subsidy of 100,000 ''

dirham The dirham, dirhem or drahm is a unit of currency and of mass. It is the name of the currencies of Moroccan dirham, Morocco, the United Arab Emirates dirham, United Arab Emirates and Armenian dram, Armenia, and is the name of a currency subdivisi ...

s''. In exchange, no Arab garrison or official was installed in Armenian lands, and Arab assistance was even promised in the event of a Byzantine attack. The situation changed in the reign of the caliph

Abd al-Malik Abdul Malik () is an Arabic (Muslim or Christian) male given name and, in modern usage, surname. It is built from the Arabic words '' Abd'', ''al-'' and ''Malik''. The name means "servant of the King", in the Christian instance 'King' meaning 'King ...

(). Beginning in 700, the Caliph's brother and governor of Arran,

Muhammad ibn Marwan Abū ʿAbd al-Raḥmān Muḥammad ibn Marwān ibn al-Ḥakam () (died 719/720) was an Umayyad prince and one of the most important generals of the Umayyad Caliphate in the period 690–710, and the one who completed the Arab conquest of Armenia. ...

, subdued the country in a series of campaigns. Although the Armenians rebelled in 703 and received Byzantine aid, Muhammad ibn Marwan defeated them and sealed the failure of the revolt by executing the rebel princes in 705. Armenia, along with the principalities of

Caucasian Albania Caucasian Albania is a modern exonym for a former state located in ancient times in the Caucasus, mostly in what is now Azerbaijan (where both of its capitals were located). The modern endonyms for the area are ''Aghwank'' and ''Aluank'', among ...

and

Iberia The Iberian Peninsula ( ), also known as Iberia, is a peninsula in south-western Europe. Mostly separated from the rest of the European landmass by the Pyrenees, it includes the territories of peninsular Spain and Continental Portugal, compri ...

(modern

Georgia Georgia most commonly refers to: * Georgia (country), a country in the South Caucasus * Georgia (U.S. state), a state in the southeastern United States Georgia may also refer to: People and fictional characters * Georgia (name), a list of pe ...

) was grouped into one vast province called ''al-Arminiya'' (الارمينيا), with its capital at Dvin (Arabic ''Dabil''), which was rebuilt by the Arabs and served as the seat of the governor (''ostikan'') and of an Arab garrison. For much of the remaining Umayyad period, ''Arminiya'' was usually grouped with Arran and the

Jazira Jazira, al-Jazira, Jazeera, al-Jazeera, etc. are all transcriptions of Arabic language, Arabic meaning "the island" or "the peninsula". The term may refer to: Business *Jazeera Airways, an airlines company based in Kuwait Locations * Al-Jazir ...

(Upper Mesopotamia) under a single governor into an ''ad hoc'' super-province. Arminiya was governed by an emir or ''

wali The term ''wali'' is most commonly used by Muslims to refer to a saint, or literally a "friend of God".John Renard, ''Friends of God: Islamic Images of Piety, Commitment, and Servanthood'' (Berkeley: University of California Press, 2008); John ...

'' headquartered at Dvin, whose role however was limited to defence and the collection of taxes: the country was largely run by the local princes - the ''

nakharar ''Nakharar'' ( ''naxarar'', from Parthian ''naxvadār'' "holder of the primacy") was a hereditary title of the highest order given to houses of the ancient and medieval Armenian nobility. ''Nakharar'' system Medieval Armenia was divided into l ...

s''. The province was divided into four regions: Arminiya I (

Caucasian Albania Caucasian Albania is a modern exonym for a former state located in ancient times in the Caucasus, mostly in what is now Azerbaijan (where both of its capitals were located). The modern endonyms for the area are ''Aghwank'' and ''Aluank'', among ...

), Arminiya II (

Caucasian Iberia In Greco-Roman geography, Iberia (Ancient Greek: ''Iberia''; ; Parthian language, Parthian: ; Middle Persian: ) was an exonym for the Georgians, Georgian kingdom of Kartli or Iveria ( or ), known after its Kartli, core province. The kingdom exi ...

), Arminiya III (the area around

Aras River The Aras is a transboundary river in the Caucasus. It rises in eastern Turkey and flows along the borders between Turkey and Armenia, between Turkey and the Nakhchivan exclave of Azerbaijan, between Iran and both Azerbaijan and Armenia, and, fin ...

), Arminiya IV ( Taron). The local nobility was headed, as in

Sasanian The Sasanian Empire (), officially Eranshahr ( , "Empire of the Iranians"), was an Iranian empire that was founded and ruled by the House of Sasan from 224 to 651. Enduring for over four centuries, the length of the Sasanian dynasty's reign ...

times, by a presiding prince ('' իշխան, ishkhan''), a title which in the 9th century, beginning probably with

Bagrat II Bagratuni Bagrat II Bagratuni (, Arabic: ''Buqrāṭ ibn Ashūṭ''; died after 851) was an Armenian noble of the Bagratid (Bagratuni) family and the presiding prince ("prince of princes") of Arab-ruled Armenia between 830 and 851. He succeeded his father, ...

, evolved into the title of "prince of princes" (''իշխանաց իշխան, ishkhanac' ishkhan''). Acting as the head of the other princes, the ''ishkhanac' ishkhan'' was answerable to the Arab governor, being responsible for the collection of the taxes owed to the caliphal government and the raising of military forces when requested. A census and survey of ''Arminiya'' was undertaken , followed by a significant increase in taxation so as to finance the Caliphate's increasing military needs in various fronts. The Armenians participated with troops in the hard-fought campaigns of the

Second Arab–Khazar War The second (symbol: s) is a unit of time derived from the division of the day first into 24 hours, then to 60 minutes, and finally to 60 seconds each (24 × 60 × 60 = 86400). The current and formal definition in the International System of Un ...

in the 720s and 730s. As a result, in 732, governor Marwan ibn Muhammad (the future Caliph

Marwan II Marwan ibn Muhammad ibn Marwan (; – 6 August 750), commonly known as Marwan II, was the fourteenth and last caliph of the Umayyad Caliphate, ruling from 744 until his death. His reign was dominated by a Third Fitna, civil war, and he was the l ...

) named Ashot III Bagratuni as the presiding prince of Armenia, an act which essentially re-confirmed the country's autonomy within the Caliphate.

Abbasid period until 884

Silver dirham of Abbasids minted in Arminiyya

With the establishment of the

Abbasid Caliphate The Abbasid Caliphate or Abbasid Empire (; ) was the third caliphate to succeed the Islamic prophet Muhammad. It was founded by a dynasty descended from Muhammad's uncle, Abbas ibn Abd al-Muttalib (566–653 CE), from whom the dynasty takes ...

after the Abbasid Revolution, a period of repression was inaugurated. This was followed by Caliph

al-Mansur Abū Jaʿfar ʿAbd Allāh ibn Muḥammad al-Manṣūr (; ‎; 714 – 6 October 775) usually known simply as by his laqab al-Manṣūr () was the second Abbasid caliph, reigning from 754 to 775 succeeding his brother al-Saffah (). He is known ...

revoking the privileges and abolishing the subsidies paid to the various Armenian princes (the ''nakharars'') and imposing harsher taxation, leading to the outbreak of another major rebellion in 774. The revolt was suppressed in the Battle of Bagrevand in April 775. The failure of the rebellion saw the near-extinction, reduction to insignificance or exile to Byzantium of some of the most prominent ''nakharar'' families, most importantly the

Mamikonian Mamikonian or Mamikonean () was an Armenian aristocratic dynasty which dominated Armenia between the 4th and 8th centuries—through the late antique kingdom, Sasanian, Byzantine, and Arab dominations. They were the most notable noble house in ...

. In its aftermath, the Caliphate tightened its grip on the Transcaucasian provinces: the nobility of neighbouring

Iberia The Iberian Peninsula ( ), also known as Iberia, is a peninsula in south-western Europe. Mostly separated from the rest of the European landmass by the Pyrenees, it includes the territories of peninsular Spain and Continental Portugal, compri ...

was also decimated in the 780s, and a process of settlement with Arab tribes began which by the middle of the 9th century led to the Islamization of

Caucasian Albania Caucasian Albania is a modern exonym for a former state located in ancient times in the Caucasus, mostly in what is now Azerbaijan (where both of its capitals were located). The modern endonyms for the area are ''Aghwank'' and ''Aluank'', among ...

, while Iberia and much of lowland Armenia came under the control of a series of Arab emirates. At the same time, the power vacuum left by the destruction of so many ''nakharar'' clans was filled by two other great families, the

Artsruni The House of Artsruni (; also Ardzruni or Artsrunid) was an ancient princely and, later, royal dynasty of Armenia. Name The name ''Artsruni'' contains the ending , which is widespread in old Armenian family names. The early Armenian historian ...

in the south (

Vaspurakan Vaspurakan (, Western Armenian pronunciation: ''Vasbouragan'') was the eighth province of the ancient kingdom of Armenia, which later became an independent kingdom during the Middle Ages, centered on Lake Van. Located in what is now southeaster ...

) and the Bagratuni in the north. Despite several insurrections, the Emirate of Armenia lasted until 884, when the Bagratuni Ashot I, who had managed to win control over most of its area, declared himself "King of the Armenians". He received recognition by Caliph

Al-Mu'tamid Abu’l-ʿAbbās Aḥmad ibn Al-Mutawakkil, Jaʿfar ibn al-Mu'tasim, Muḥammad ibn Harun al-Rashid, Hārūn al-Muʿtamid ʿalā’Llāh (; – 14 October 892), better known by his regnal name al-Muʿtamid ʿalā 'llāh (, 'Dependent on God'), ...

of the Abbasid dynasty in 885 and Byzantine Emperor

Basil I Basil I, nicknamed "the Macedonian" (; 811 – 29 August 886), was List of Byzantine emperors, Byzantine emperor from 867 to 886. Born to a peasant family in Macedonia (theme), Macedonia, he rose to prominence in the imperial court after gainin ...

of the

Macedonian dynasty The Macedonian dynasty () Byzantine Empire under the Macedonian dynasty, ruled the Byzantine Empire from 867 to 1056, following the Byzantium under the Amorian dynasty, Amorian dynasty. During this period, the Byzantine state reached its greates ...

in 886. Ashot was swiftly able to expand his power. Through family links with the two next most important princely families, the Artsruni and the Siwnis, and through a cautious policy towards the Abbasids and the Arab emirates of Armenia, by the 860s he had succeeded in becoming in fact, if not yet in name, an autonomous king.

Arab governors of Armenia

Early governors

These are reported as governors under the Caliphs

Uthman Uthman ibn Affan (17 June 656) was the third caliph of the Rashidun Caliphate, ruling from 644 until his assassination in 656. Uthman, a second cousin, son-in-law, and notable companion of the Islamic Prophet Muhammad, played a major role ...

(r. 644–656) and

Ali Ali ibn Abi Talib (; ) was the fourth Rashidun caliph who ruled from until his assassination in 661, as well as the first Shia Imam. He was the cousin and son-in-law of the Islamic prophet Muhammad. Born to Abu Talib ibn Abd al-Muttalib an ...

(r. 656–661), as well as the early Umayyads: *

Hudhayfah ibn al-Yaman Hudhayfah ibn al-Yaman (), or pronounced Huthaifah or Huzaifah (died in 656), was one of the Sahabah (companion) of the Islamic prophet, Muhammad. Early years in Medina. At Medina, Hudhayfah became a trusted and great companion of Muhammad, part ...

* Mughira ibn Shu'ba *

Al-Qasim ibn Rabi'a ibn Umayya ibn Abi al-Salt al-Thaqafi The Qassim Province ( ' , Najdi Arabic: ), also known as the Qassim Region, is one of the 13 provinces of Saudi Arabia. Located at the heart of the country near the geographic center of the Arabian Peninsula, it has a population of 1,336,179 and ...

*

Habib ibn Maslama al-Fihri Ḥabīb ibn Maslama al-Fihrī (; –) was an Arab general during the Early Muslim conquests, under Mu'awiyah ibn Abi Sufyan. Habib fought in the Muslim conquest of the Levant and against the Byzantines in Upper Mesopotamia, where he later ser ...

* Al-Ash'ath ibn Qays al-Kindi (ca. 657) *

Al-Muhallab ibn Abi Sufra Abū Saʿīd al-Muhallab ibn Abī Ṣufra al-Azdī (; 702) was an Arab general from the Azd tribe who fought in the service of the Rashidun, Umayyad and Zubayrid caliphs between the mid-640s and his death. He served successive terms as the go ...

(ca. 686)

Emirs (Ostikans)

With the submission of Armenia to Muhammad ibn Marwan after 695, the province was formally incorporated into the Caliphate, and an Arab governor (''ostikan'') installed at Dvin:A. Ter-Ghevondyan's "Chronology of the Ostikans of Arminiya," Patma-banasirakan handes (1977) 1, pp. 117-128.
/ref> *

Muhammad ibn Marwan Abū ʿAbd al-Raḥmān Muḥammad ibn Marwān ibn al-Ḥakam () (died 719/720) was an Umayyad prince and one of the most important generals of the Umayyad Caliphate in the period 690–710, and the one who completed the Arab conquest of Armenia. ...

(c. 695–705), represented by the following deputies: ** Uthman ibn al-Walid ibn Uqba ** Abdallah ibn Hatim al-Bahili * Abd al-Aziz ibn Hatim al-Bahili (706–709) *

Maslama ibn Abd al-Malik Maslama ibn Abd al-Malik (, in Greek sources , ''Masalmas''; – 24 December 738) was an Umayyad prince and one of the most prominent Arab generals of the early decades of the 8th century, leading several campaigns against the Byzantine Empire ...

(709–721) *

Al-Jarrah ibn Abdallah Abu Uqba al-Jarrah ibn Abdallah al-Hakami () was an Arab nobleman and general of the Hakami tribe. During the course of the early 8th century, he was at various times governor of Basra, Sistan and Khurasan, Armenia and Adharbayjan. A legendary ...

(721–725) *

Maslama ibn Abd al-Malik Maslama ibn Abd al-Malik (, in Greek sources , ''Masalmas''; – 24 December 738) was an Umayyad prince and one of the most prominent Arab generals of the early decades of the 8th century, leading several campaigns against the Byzantine Empire ...

(725–729) *

Al-Jarrah ibn Abdallah Abu Uqba al-Jarrah ibn Abdallah al-Hakami () was an Arab nobleman and general of the Hakami tribe. During the course of the early 8th century, he was at various times governor of Basra, Sistan and Khurasan, Armenia and Adharbayjan. A legendary ...

(729–730) *

Maslama ibn Abd al-Malik Maslama ibn Abd al-Malik (, in Greek sources , ''Masalmas''; – 24 December 738) was an Umayyad prince and one of the most prominent Arab generals of the early decades of the 8th century, leading several campaigns against the Byzantine Empire ...

(730–732) *

Marwan ibn Muhammad Marwan ibn Muhammad ibn Marwan (; – 6 August 750), commonly known as Marwan II, was the fourteenth and last caliph of the Umayyad Caliphate, ruling from 744 until his death. His reign was dominated by a civil war, and he was the last Umayyad r ...

(732–733) *

Sa'id ibn Amr al-Harashi Sa'id ibn Amr al-Harashi (, ) was a prominent Arab general and governor of the Umayyad Caliphate, who played an important role in the Arab–Khazar wars. Biography Sa'id ibn Amr al-Harashi was a Qaysi from Qinnasrin, Syria.Crone (1980), p. 144 ...

(733–735) *

Marwan ibn Muhammad Marwan ibn Muhammad ibn Marwan (; – 6 August 750), commonly known as Marwan II, was the fourteenth and last caliph of the Umayyad Caliphate, ruling from 744 until his death. His reign was dominated by a civil war, and he was the last Umayyad r ...

(735–744) * Ishaq ibn Muslim al-Uqayli (744–750) * Abu Ja'far Abdallah ibn Muhammad (750–753) *

Yazid ibn Asid ibn Zafir al-Sulami Yazid ibn Asid ibn Zafir al-Sulami or Yazid ibn Usayd ibn Zafir al-Sulami () was an Arab general and governor in the service of the early Abbasid Caliphate. He was active mostly in the Caliphate's northwestern frontier region, serving as governor ...

(753–755) * Sulayman (755–?) * Salih ibn Subai al-Kindi (c. 767) * Bakkar ibn Muslim al-Uqayli (c. 769–770) *

al-Hasan ibn Qahtaba Al-Hasan ibn Qahtaba ibn Shabib al-Ta'i () was a senior military leader in the early Abbasid Caliphate. Biography He was the son of Qahtaba ibn Shabib al-Ta'i, who along with Abu Muslim led the Abbasid Revolution that toppled the Umayyad Cali ...

(770/771–773/774) *

Yazid ibn Asid ibn Zafir al-Sulami Yazid ibn Asid ibn Zafir al-Sulami or Yazid ibn Usayd ibn Zafir al-Sulami () was an Arab general and governor in the service of the early Abbasid Caliphate. He was active mostly in the Caliphate's northwestern frontier region, serving as governor ...

(773/774–778) * Uthman ibn 'Umara ibn Khuraym (778–785) *

Khuzayma ibn Khazim Khuzayma ibn Khazim ibn Khuzayma al-Tamimi () (died 818/9) was a powerful grandee in the early Abbasid Caliphate. The son of the distinguished military leader Khazim ibn Khuzayma, he inherited a position of privilege and power, and served early o ...

(785–786) * Yusuf ibn Rashid al-Sulami (786–787) *

Yazid ibn Mazyad al-Shaybani Yazid ibn Mazyad al-Shaybani (; died 801) was an Arab general and governor who served the Abbasid Caliphate. Biography Yazid was member of the Shayban tribe, dominant in the region of Diyar Bakr in the northern Jazira. The first member of his ...

(787–788) *

Ubaydallah ibn al-Mahdi Ubaydallah ibn Muhammad al-Mahdi () (771–810/11) was an Abbasid prince. He was the son of al-Mahdi, the third caliph of the Abbasid Caliphate, and Raytah, daughter of the first Abbasid caliph Abu al-Abbas al-Saffah. Life In 761, the future ca ...

(788–791) (?) * Abd al-Qadir (791) *

Al-Fadl ibn Yahya al-Barmaki Al-Fadl ibn Yahya al-Barmaki () (February 766 – October/November 808Zetterstéen (1987), p. 37) was a member of the distinguished Barmakid family, attaining high offices in the Abbasid Caliphate under Harun al-Rashid (r. 786–809). Fadl was t ...

(791–793) * Umar ibn Ayyub al-Kinani (793) * ? (793) * Khalid ibn Yazid al-Sulami (793–794) * Al-Abbas ibn Jarir ibn Yazid al-Bajali (794) *

Musa ibn Isa ibn Musa al-Hashimi Mūsā ibn ʿĪsā ibn Mūsā al-Hāshimī () was an 8th-century AD Abbasid prince. The son of Isa ibn Musa, he was posted to various governorships throughout his career, including Kufa, Egypt, Damascus, Mecca, Medina, and Arminiya, and was a le ...

(794–795) *

Yahya ibn Sa'id al-Harashi Yahya ibn Sa'id al-Harashi () was an eighth-century military commander and official for the Abbasid Caliphate. He served as the governor of several provinces during his career, including Egypt, Arminiyah and Mosul. Background The sources give diff ...

(795) * Ahmad ibn Yazid ibn Usayd al-Sulami (795–797) *

Sa'id ibn Salm al-Bahili Sa'id ibn Salm al-Bahili was an Arabs, Arab governor and military commander of the early Abbasid Caliphate. Life Sa'id was the scion of a prominent family of the Bahila tribe: his father, Salm ibn Qutayba, had served both the Umayyad Caliphate, U ...

(797–799) * Nasr ibn Habib al-Muhallabi (799) *

Ali ibn Isa ibn Mahan Ali ibn Isa ibn Mahan (; ) was an Iranian military leader of the Abbasid Caliphate in the late 8th and early 9th centuries. Origin and early career Ali's father, Isa ibn Mahan, was an early follower and ''da'i'' of the Hashimiyya; he mutinied af ...

(799) *

Yazid ibn Mazyad al-Shaybani Yazid ibn Mazyad al-Shaybani (; died 801) was an Arab general and governor who served the Abbasid Caliphate. Biography Yazid was member of the Shayban tribe, dominant in the region of Diyar Bakr in the northern Jazira. The first member of his ...

(799–801) * Asad ibn Yazid al-Shaybani (801–802) * Muhammad ibn Yazid al-Shaybani (802–803) *

Khuzayma ibn Khazim Khuzayma ibn Khazim ibn Khuzayma al-Tamimi () (died 818/9) was a powerful grandee in the early Abbasid Caliphate. The son of the distinguished military leader Khazim ibn Khuzayma, he inherited a position of privilege and power, and served early o ...

(803–?) * Sulayman ibn Yazid (807–808) * Asad ibn Yazid al-Shaybani (c. 810) *

Ishaq ibn Sulayman al-Hashimi Abū Yaʿqūb Isḥāq ibn Sulaymān ibn ʿAlī al-Hāshimī () was an 8th–9th-century AD Abbasid prince and historian. He held several official positions during his lifetime, including the governorships of Sind, Egypt, and Arminiyah. Caree ...

(c. 813) * Khalid ibn Yazid ibn Mazyad al-Shaybani (813–?) (828–832), (841), (c. 842–844) *

Muhammad ibn Khalid al-Shaybani Muhammad ibn Khalid ibn Yazid al-Shaybani () was an Arab general and governor for the Abbasid Caliphate, active in the Caliphate's Caucasian provinces in the 9th century. Muhammad was a member of the Shayban tribe, originally from the Diyar Bakr ...

(c. 842/844–?) * Abu Sa'id Muhammad al-Marwazi (849–851) * Yusuf ibn Abi Sa'id al-Marwazi (851–852) *

Bugha al-Kabir Bugha al-Kabir (), also known as Bugha al-Turki (), was a 9th-century Khazar general who served the Abbasid Caliphate. Biography He was of Khazar origin, and was acquired along with his sons as a military slave ('' ghulam'') by al-Mu'tasim i ...

(852–855) * Muhammad ibn Khalid al-Shaybani (857–862) *

Ali ibn Yahya al-Armani 'Alī ibn Yaḥyā al-Armanī () was a Muslim military commander of the mid-9th century, involved in the border warfare with the Byzantine Empire. He served as governor of Tarsus from ca. 852 until 862, leading several expeditions against the Byzan ...

(862–863) * al-Abbas ibn al-Musta'in (863–865) *

Abdallah ibn al-Mu'tazz Abdallah ibn al-Mu'tazz (; 861 – 29 December 908) was the son of the caliph al-Mu'tazz and a political figure, but is better known as a leading Arabic poet and the author of the ''Kitab al-Badi'', an early study of Arabic forms of poetry. ...

(866–867) *

Abi'l-Saj Devdad Abu'l-Sāj Dēvdād (, Abū al-Sāj Dīwdād; died 879) was a Sogdian prince, who was of the most prominent emirs, commanders and officials of the Abbasid Caliphate. He was the eponymous ancestor of the Sajid dynasty of Azerbaijan. His father wa ...

(867–870) *

Isa ibn al-Shaykh al-Shaybani Abū Mūsā ʿĪsā ibn al-Shaykh ibn al-Salīl al-Dhuhlī al-Shaybānī (; died 882/83) was an Arab leader of the Shayban tribe. Taking advantage of the domestic turmoil of the Abbasid Caliphate, he created a semi-independent Bedouin state in P ...

(870–875, nominally until 882/3) * Ja'far

Al-Mufawwid Ja'far ibn Ahmad al-Mu'tamid (Arabic: جعفر بن أحمد المعتمد), better known by his laqab al-Mufawwid ila-llah (), was a son of the Abbasid caliph al-Mu'tamid and heir-apparent of the Caliphate from 875 until his sidelining by his co ...

(875–878) * Muhammad ibn Khalid al-Shaybani (878)

Presiding princes of Armenia

*

Mjej II Gnuni Mzhezh or Mjej Gnuni (, ''Mžēž Gnuni''), was an Armenian sparapet of Byzantine Armenia. Initially serving under Heraclius, the contingent of Armenian troops under his command were instrumental in the Byzantine success against the Sassanids dur ...

Մժեժ Բ Գնունի, 628–635 *

David Saharuni David Saharuni (, ''Davit' Saharuni'') was ''sparapet'', ''curopalates'', '' ishkhan'', and presiding prince of Byzantine-controlled Armenia from 635 to 638. In an unprecedented move, his remit also included Byzantine-controlled Syria, which was li ...

Դավիթ Սահառունի, 635–638 *

Theodore Rshtuni Theodore or Theodoros Rshtuni (, ; AD 590–655 or 656), equated with Pasagnathes (), the "''patrikios'' of the Armenians" from the chronicle of Theophanes the Confessor,

Թէոդորոս Ռշտունի, 638–645 *

Varaztirots II Bagratuni Varaztirots II Bagratuni (; c. 590 – 645) was an Armenian ''nakharar'' from the Bagratuni family, the son of Smbat IV Bagratuni. He was ''marzpan'' of Armenia c. 628, fled to the Byzantine Empire soon thereafter and was exiled for several yea ...

Վարազ Տիրոց Բ Բագրատունի, 645 *

Theodore Rshtuni Theodore or Theodoros Rshtuni (, ; AD 590–655 or 656), equated with Pasagnathes (), the "''patrikios'' of the Armenians" from the chronicle of Theophanes the Confessor,

Թէոդորոս Ռշտունի, 654–655 * Mushegh IV Mamikonian Մուշէղ Բ Մամիկոնեան, 654 *

Theodore Rshtuni Theodore or Theodoros Rshtuni (, ; AD 590–655 or 656), equated with Pasagnathes (), the "''patrikios'' of the Armenians" from the chronicle of Theophanes the Confessor,

Թէոդորոս Ռշտունի, 654–655 *

Hamazasp IV Mamikonian Hamazasp Mamikonian () was the presiding prince of Armenia in 655–661, when the country was under Arab domination. After the Byzantine invasion of 657/58, he switched sides and served the Byzantines. Hamazasp Mamikonian became presiding prince o ...

Համազասպ Բ Մամիկոնեան, 655–658 * Gregory I Mamikonian Գրիգոր Ա Մամիկոնեան, 662–684/85 *

Ashot II Bagratuni Ashot II Bagratuni () was the presiding prince of medieval Armenia, Armenia in 685–690, when the country was contested between the Byzantine Empire and the Umayyad Caliphate. Ashot Bagratuni's father was named Biurat or Smbat. Ashot became presi ...

Աշոտ Բ Բագրատունի, 686–690 *

Nerses Kamsarakan Nerseh or Nerses Kamsarakan () was the presiding prince of Armenia in 689–691, backed by the Byzantine Empire. Armenia had been under the suzerainty of the Arab caliphate since the mid-650s, with the exception of a brief period of Byzantine rule ...

Ներսէս Կամսարական, 689–691 *

Smbat VI Bagratuni Smbat VI Bagratuni (ca. 670 – 726) was a member of the Bagratuni family who was presiding prince of Armenia with interruptions from 691 to the 710s. During his reign, he frequently shifted alliances between the Byzantines, who gave him the title ...

Սմբատ Զ Բագրատունի, 691–711 * Ashot III Bagratuni Աշոտ Գ Բագրատունի, 732–744 * Gregory II Mamikonian Գրիգոր Բ Մամիկոնեան, 745–746 * Ashot III Bagratuni Աշոտ Գ Բագրատունի, 746–748 * Gregory II Mamikonian Գրիգոր Բ Մամիկոնեան, 748 *

Mushegh VI Mamikonian Mushegh VI Mamikonian (; died 25 April 775) was an Armenian noble of the Mamikonian family. He served as presiding prince of Arab-ruled Armenia in 748–753, and later participated in the Armenian rebellion of 774–775 against the Abbasid Caliphat ...

Մուշէղ Բ Մամիկոնեան, 748–753 * Sahak VII Bagratuni Սահակ Է Բագրատունի, 755–761 *

Smbat VII Bagratuni Smbat VII Bagratuni (; died 25 April 775) was an Armenian noble of the Bagratuni (Bagratid) family. He and his brother Vasak were the sons of Ashot III Bagratuni. He served as presiding prince of Armenia in 761–775, playing a leading role i ...

Սմբատ Է Բագրատունի, 761–775 * Ashot IV Bagratuni Աշոտ Դ Բագրատունի, 806–826 *

Bagrat II Bagratuni Bagrat II Bagratuni (, Arabic: ''Buqrāṭ ibn Ashūṭ''; died after 851) was an Armenian noble of the Bagratid (Bagratuni) family and the presiding prince ("prince of princes") of Arab-ruled Armenia between 830 and 851. He succeeded his father, ...

Բագրատ Բ Բագրատունի, 830–851 * Ashot V Bagratuni Աշոտ Ա Հայոց Արքայ, Աշոտ Ե իշխան Հայոց, 862–884

Notes

Sources

* * * * * * * * Robert H. Hewsen. Armenia: A Historical Atlas. Univ. of Chicago Press, Chicago, 2001, Pp. 341. * Garbis Armen. Historical Atlas of Armenia. A. N. E. C., New York, 1987, Pp. 52. *

George Bournoutian George A. Bournoutian (; ‎; 25September 1943 – 22 August 2021) was an Iranian-American professor, historian, and author of Armenian descent. He was a professor of history and the author of over 30 books, particularly focusing on Armenian ...

. A History of the Armenian People, Volume I: Pre-History to 1500 AD, Mazda Publishers, Costa Mesa, 1993, Pp. 174. * John Douglas. The Armenians, J. J. Winthrop Corp., New York, 1992. {{DEFAULTSORT:Arminiya Former emirates 885 disestablishments States and territories established in the 7th century States and territories disestablished in the 880s States in medieval Anatolia Former principalities Subdivisions of the Abbasid Caliphate Subdivisions of the Umayyad Caliphate

History

Early period: the Arab conquest of Armenia

Establishment of direct Muslim control

Abbasid period until 884

Arab governors of Armenia

Early governors

Emirs (Ostikans)

Presiding princes of Armenia

See also

Notes

Sources