The siege of Zovk took place in 1111, in the fortress of Zovk, between

Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia The Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia, also known as Cilician Armenia, Lesser Armenia, Little Armenia or New Armenia, and formerly known as the Armenian Principality of Cilicia, was an Armenian state formed during the High Middle Ages by Armenian ...

and

Sultanate of Rum The Sultanate of Rum was a culturally Turco-Persian Sunni Muslim state, established over conquered Byzantine territories and peoples (Rum) of Anatolia by the Seljuk Turks following their entry into Anatolia after the Battle of Manzikert in 1071. ...

Background

For several years Thoros I enjoyed the bounty of his successes in the security of his strongholds. But his tranquillity was again disturbed in 1111 by yet another intrusion by

Malik Shah Malik-Shah (), also transliterated as ''Malek-Shah'', ''Malikshah'' or ''Melikshah'', may refer to: * Malik-Shah I (1055–1092), sultan of Great Seljuq * Malik-Shah II (), grandson of Malik Shah I, sultan of Great Seljuq * Malik-Shah III (1152– ...

of Iconium (Konya). On this occasion Toros's two commanders, Tigran and Abul-Asad were killed in battle. Baron Leo, the brother of Thoros, who at that time was near them, was so much affected by their death, that losing all command of himself, rushed furiously upon the enemy, spreading every where destruction and terror.

Siege

In retaliation, the Turkish hordes in their flight laid siege to the fortress of Zovk but were badly beaten by the Armenian garrison there commanded by the great Armenian chief Apirat Pahlavuni, grandson of

Grigor Magistros Grigor Magistros (; "Gregory the ''magistros''"; ca. 990–1058) was an Armenians, Armenian prince, Linguistics, linguist, scholar and public functionary. A layman of the princely Pahlavuni family that claimed descent from the dynasty establis ...

, and father to the brothers Grigor and Nerses the Gracious (Shnorhali). They, however, were unable to capture the fortress, and at length were obliged to raise the siege, and set forward to other expeditions. But Abirad exposing himself on the walls, was wounded by an arrow, and died. His son Basilius succeeded him in his possessions. A year after this, Basilius the Crafty died, and as he had not children, his government was exercised by the

Kamsarakan The House of Kamsarakan () was an Armenian noble family that was an offshoot of the House of Karen, also known as the Karen-Pahlav. The Karens were one of the Seven Great Houses of Iran and were of Parthian origin. In the Byzantine-Sasanian era ...

chief, Degha Basilius.

References

Bibliography

* * {{coord missing, Turkey Conflicts in 1111 1111 in Asia Battles involving the Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia Sieges involving the Sultanate of Rum Military history of Armenia