Sahak Sevada () was ruler of

Gardman Gardman (), also known as Gardmank' or Gardmanadzor, was one of the eight cantons of the ancient province of Utik' in the Kingdom of Armenia and simultaneously, together with the canton of Tuch'katak, an Armenian principality. It roughly corres ...

between 895940 and father-in-law of King

Ashot II of Armenia 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 of Armenia, Smbat I. His reign was filled with rebellions by vassals and pretenders to the throne, as well as foreign invasi ...

. He was the son of Grigol Hamam and brother of

Atrnerseh Atrnerseh () (d. 870's) was an Armenian ruler of the Principality of Khachen. He was the son and successor of Sahl Smbatean. According to the 10th century Armenian historian Movses Kaghankatvatsi, Atrnerseh's family was descended from the Arra ...

, ruler of

Hereti The Kingdom of Hereti ( ka, ჰერეთის სამეფო, tr) was a medieval Albanian monarchy which emerged in Caucasus on the Iberian- Albanian frontier. Nowadays it roughly corresponds to the southeastern corner of Georgia's Kakh ...

. His possessions covered Parisos, a district of Artsakh, as well as part of

Utik Utik (), also known as Uti, was a historical province and principality within the Kingdom of Armenia. It was ceded to Caucasian Albania following the partition of Armenia between Sassanid Persia and the Eastern Roman Empire in 387 AD. Most o ...

-Gardman and Dzoroget. In Book III of the medieval Armenian text ''

The History of the Country of Albania ''The History of the Caucasian Albanians'' (or ''The History of the World of Aghvank''; ) by Movses Kaghankatvatsi is a history of eastern territories of Armenia (Nagorno-Karabakh and Utik), as well as other territories in Southeastern Caucasus us ...

'', Sahak Sevada is described as a "brave and capable man" who was a "lover of letters and appointed writers to his household." The author adds that " Smbat, king of Armenia, fought against him ahak Sevadawith zeal and skill, but could not bring him to submission." Sahak's contemporary, Catholicos

Hovhannes Draskhanakerttsi Hovhannes Draskhanakerttsi (, John of Drasxanakert, various spellings exist), also called John V the Historian, was Catholicos of Armenia from 897 to 925, and a noted chronicler and historian. He is known for his ''History of Armenia.'' He is also ...

, describes him as a man of "great wisdom." The author of ''The History of the Country of Albania'' writes that Sahak Sevada had two sons, Grigor and Davit, and several grandsons and great-grandsons through Grigor, one of whom, John Senekerim, later became ruler of

. Historian

Bagrat Ulubabyan Bagrat Arshaki Ulubabyan (; December 9, 1925 – November 19, 2001) was an Armenian writer and historian, known most prominently for his work on the histories of Nagorno-Karabakh and Artsakh. Biography Early life and education Ulubabyan wa ...

considers it more likely that John Senekerim was Sahak Sevada's own son. Sahak Sevada married one of his daughters to Ashot II, ruler of the

Bagratid Kingdom of Armenia Bagratid Armenia was an independent Armenian state established by Ashot I of the Bagratuni dynasty in the early 880s following nearly two centuries of foreign domination of Greater Armenia under Arab Umayyad and Abbasid rule. With each of t ...

. His other daughter Shahandukht was married to Smbat, ''ishkhan'' (later king) of Syunik. Sahak aided King Ashot II in an unsuccessful assault against the king's cousin and pretender to the throne, also named Ashot, and in crushing a revolt by Prince Movses of

. However, as a result of political changes, Sahak sided with Smbat and revolted against Ashot II and declared independence. During the battle, Sahak and his eldest son Grigor were captured and blinded by Ashot, after which Gardman was likely made a royal domain of the Bagratuni kings.

References

Notes

Citations

House of Aranshahik 940 deaths Year of birth unknown Princes of Gardman {{Armenia-royal-stub