Marzpanate Period
Encyclopedia
Marzpanate period refers to the period in Armenian history
after the fall of the Arshakuni Dynasty of Armenia
in 428, when Marzpans (governors-general of the boundaries), nominated by the Sassanid Persian King, governed the eastern part of Armenia. Meanwhile, Byzantine Armenia
was at that time ruled by several princes under Byzantine control and was finally organized into four provinces under the emperor Justinian in 536 (Governors). The Marzpanate period ended with the Arab conquest of Armenia
in the 7th century when the Principality of Armenia was established. An estimated three million Armenians fell under the sway of the Persian marzpans during this period.
The Marzpan was invested with supreme power, even to the imposing of death sentences; but he could not interfere with the age-long privileges of the Armenian nakharar
s. The country as a whole enjoyed a considerable autonomy. The office of Hazarapet, corresponding to that of a Minister of the Interior, public works and finance, was entrusted to an Armenian, as was also the post of Sparapet
, commander-in-chief. Each nakharar had his own army, according to the extent of his domain. The "National Cavalry" or "Royal force" was under the Commander-in-chief. The tax collectors were all Armenians. The courts of justice and the schools were directed by the Armenian clergy. Several times, an Armenian nakharar became Marzpan, as Vahan Mamikonian 485 after a period of rebellion against the Persians.
Three times during the Marzpanic period, Persian kings launched persecutions against Christianity in Armenia. The Persians had tolerated the invention of the Armenian alphabet
and the founding of schools, thinking these would encourage the spiritual separation of Armenia from the Byzantines, but, on the contrary, the new cultural movement among the Armenians actually proved to be conducive to closer relations with Byzantium.
History of Armenia
Armenia lies in the highlands surrounding the Biblical mountains of Ararat. The original Armenian name for the country was Hayk, later Hayastan , translated as the land of Haik, and consisting of the name Haik and the suffix '-stan' ....
after the fall of the Arshakuni Dynasty of Armenia
Armenia
Armenia , officially the Republic of Armenia , is a landlocked mountainous country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia...
in 428, when Marzpans (governors-general of the boundaries), nominated by the Sassanid Persian King, governed the eastern part of Armenia. Meanwhile, Byzantine Armenia
Byzantine Armenia
Byzantine Armenia is the name given to the Armenian part of the Byzantine Empire. The size of the territory varied over time, depending on the degree of control the Byzantines had over Armenia....
was at that time ruled by several princes under Byzantine control and was finally organized into four provinces under the emperor Justinian in 536 (Governors). The Marzpanate period ended with the Arab conquest of Armenia
Arab conquest of Armenia
The Arab conquest of Armenia was a part of the Muslim conquests after the death of Muhammad in AD 632.Persian Armenia had fallen to the Byzantine Empire shortly before, in AD 629, and was conquered in the Rashidun Caliphate by AD 645.-Islamic expansion:...
in the 7th century when the Principality of Armenia was established. An estimated three million Armenians fell under the sway of the Persian marzpans during this period.
The Marzpan was invested with supreme power, even to the imposing of death sentences; but he could not interfere with the age-long privileges of the Armenian nakharar
Nakharar
Nakharar 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 large estates, which were the property of an enlarged noble family and were ruled by a member of it, to whom the title of Nahapet...
s. The country as a whole enjoyed a considerable autonomy. The office of Hazarapet, corresponding to that of a Minister of the Interior, public works and finance, was entrusted to an Armenian, as was also the post of Sparapet
Sparapet
Sparapet was a hereditary military rank that originated in the 2nd century BC, under the reign of King Artashes I, and was used in the Kingdom of Armenia and the Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia , was supreme commander of the armed forces. It was the equivalent of the Parthian Spahbod Sparapet was a...
, commander-in-chief. Each nakharar had his own army, according to the extent of his domain. The "National Cavalry" or "Royal force" was under the Commander-in-chief. The tax collectors were all Armenians. The courts of justice and the schools were directed by the Armenian clergy. Several times, an Armenian nakharar became Marzpan, as Vahan Mamikonian 485 after a period of rebellion against the Persians.
Three times during the Marzpanic period, Persian kings launched persecutions against Christianity in Armenia. The Persians had tolerated the invention of the Armenian alphabet
Armenian alphabet
The Armenian alphabet is an alphabet that has been used to write the Armenian language since the year 405 or 406. It was devised by Saint Mesrop Mashtots, an Armenian linguist and ecclesiastical leader, and contained originally 36 letters. Two more letters, օ and ֆ, were added in the Middle Ages...
and the founding of schools, thinking these would encourage the spiritual separation of Armenia from the Byzantines, but, on the contrary, the new cultural movement among the Armenians actually proved to be conducive to closer relations with Byzantium.
Marzpans of Armenia
- Vasak of SyunikVasak of SyunikVasak of Syunik was King of Syunik, Armenia, from 409-452 and also served for a time as Marzpan of Armenia....
, 442-451 - Sahak II Bagratuni, 482-483
- Vahan Mamikonian, 485-505/510
- Vard Mamikonian, 505/10-509/514
- Mjej I Gnuni, 518-548
- Phillip Syuni, 574-576
- Mushegh II Mamikonian, 591
- Varaz-Tirots II BagratuniVaraz-Tirots II BagratuniVaraz-Tirots II Bagratuni was an Armenian nakharar from the Bagratuni family, aspet until 616, marzpan of Armenia from 628 to 634 and presiding prince of Armenia in 645....
, 628