The Battle of Sevan (

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 ...

: ) was a turning point in the history of a seven-year war. After the battle, Armenian troops under the command of Ashot cleared the central and northern region of the country from foreign invaders.

Background

In the year 921, the armies of Yusuf Beshir entered

Armenia Armenia, officially the Republic of Armenia, is a landlocked country in the Armenian Highlands of West Asia. It is a part of the Caucasus region and is bordered by Turkey to the west, Georgia (country), Georgia to the north and Azerbaijan to ...

, hoping to take advantage of the temporary conflicts of the Armenian king and his subjects, near

Lake Sevan Lake Sevan () is the largest body of water in both Armenia and the Caucasus region. It is one of the largest freshwater Alpine lake, high-altitude (alpine) lakes in Eurasia. The lake is situated in Gegharkunik Province, at an altitude of abov ...

. He then besieged

Ashot II Ashot II the Iron (; died 929) was king of Bagratid Armenia from 914 to 929. He was the son and successor of King Smbat I. His reign was filled with rebellions by vassals and pretenders to the throne, as well as foreign invasions, which Ashot fo ...

. Hoping to overwhelm them by the superiority of their forces, Beshir had started arrangements for the surrender of the

Armenians Armenians (, ) are an ethnic group indigenous to the Armenian highlands of West Asia.Robert Hewsen, Hewsen, Robert H. "The Geography of Armenia" in ''The Armenian People From Ancient to Modern Times Volume I: The Dynastic Periods: From Antiq ...

. The Armenians made a formal agreement, but by the next day in the morning, Ashot II had formed 70 of their best archers and headed towards Beshir's camps, with seven archers for each boat. Enemy soldiers, assuming a quick victory, had gathered around on the shore and the Armenian archers released a heavy barrage into the enemy forces. The Arab army took to flight, and were defeated.

Siege

Yusuf, who had received information that Ashot had retired on the island of Sevan, then sent Nusir, a chief to capture Ashot the king. Nusir made it to Duin, where he captured several people. Later Nusir was succeeded by Beshir, a chief who took his place. Beshir then sent 1,000 of his men to attack the island and capture the king.Armenia and the Armenians: being a sketch of its geography, history and church, by James Issaverdens, page 245 Beshir was met by George the Marzbedunian. With his small army, they attacked Beshir's army, and killed the enemy in great numbers, which had caused them to flee. Beshir did not expect this defeat. He then gathered more troops and went after George the Marzbedunian. He failed to capture him. Beshir approached Lake Sevan. Ashot prepared ten boats, where he placed archers with great skills with the bow. It was said for each arrow was shot with such precision that it never missed killing or wounding its target. Beshir's army ultimately fled in defeat.

References

{{coord missing, Armenia Sevan Sevan 10th century in Armenia Sevan 921