Atlas of Ethnic Conflicts, Border Disputes & Ideological Clashes

By Andrew Andersen

Armenia

Medival Armenia and Cilicia. Part I: 830 - 1095

In the year 656, Armenia was overrun by the expanding Arabs and became part of the Arab Caliphate that by that time included all of the Middle East, North Africa and parts of Europe. 

However, the wars between Byzantine Empire and partial disintegration of the Caliphate, created pre-conditions for the restoration of Armenian statehood, and in 884 grand Prince Ashot Bagratouni was crowned as the new King of Armenia.

Death of Ashot in 890, led to partial disintegration of the restored kingdom. Ashot’s son Sembat and his heirs in fact controlled only small territory in North-Western Armenia while the rest of the kingdom was a conglomerate of princely states (Vaspurakan, Sasun, syuniq, Khachen, etc.) only nominally dependent of the Crown.

Armenia ca. 830 - 1020

	Caliphate of Baghdad & other Arab States
	Byzantine Empire
	Kdm of Armenian Bagratides & its dependencies
	Georgian Bagratide possessions & other Georg. states
	Modern Armenia and Karabakh

The beginning of the 11th century was marked by the disastrous invasion of the Seljuk Turks. In 1071 Seljuk army defeated Armenians and their Byzantine (East Roman) allies in the battle of Mantsikert, and by 1081, all of Armenia, Anatolia and other countries of the area were conquered and devastated by the Seljuks.

Thousands of Armenians among them many aristocratic families fled their devastated country and found refuge in mountainous Cilicia partially Armenian-inhabited since the period of Tighran empire (187-70 B.C.).

In the year 1081 new Armenian state sometimes mistakenly called “Lesser Armenia” was proclaimed in Cilicia by Prince Ruben related to the Bagratide Royal family.

Armenia and East Roman Empire ca 1000-1095. Seljuk Expansion and Formation of Cilician Armenian Kingdom

	Abbasid Caliphate & other arab states
	Conquered by seljuk turks by 1081
	Territory of East Roman Empire after 1081
	Armenian lands under seljukides sinse 1071
	New Armenian Kingdom in Cilicia Sinse 1081
	Modern Armenia