Everything about The Arab Conquest Of Armenia totally explained
The
Arab conquest of Armenia was a part of the
Muslim conquests which began after the death of
Muhammad.
Islamic expansion
After Muhammad's death in
632, his successors started a military campaign in order to spread
Islam. During the Muslim conquests, the
Arabs conquered most of the
Middle East.
Towards the year 639, under the leadership of Abd‑er‑Rahman, 18,000 Arabs penetrated the district of
Taron and the region of the Lake of Van and put the country to fire and sword. The Arab warriors were poor, ill-called, ill-armed, but recklessly brave and inflamed with an intense fanaticism until then unknown among ancient peoples.
On January 6, 642 the Arabs stormed and took the city of
Dvin, slaughtered 12,000 of its inhabitants and carried 35,000 into
slavery.
Bishop
Sebeos recorded the history of the Arab conquest. In his
History of Heraclius, he wrote of the sad fate of his country. He said,
"Who can tell the horrors of the invasion of the Ishmaelite (Arab), who set both the land and the sea ablaze? [...] The blessed Daniel foresaw and foretold like misfortunes. [...] In the following year (643), the Ishmaelite army crossed to Atrpatakan (Azerbaijan) and was divided into three corps. One moved towards
Ararat; another into the territory of Sephakan Gound, the third into the land of Alans. Those who invaded the domain of the Sephakan Gound spread over it, destroying, plundering and taking prisoners. Thence they marched together to Erevan, where they attacked the fortress, but were unable to capture it." The Caliph assigned
Ostikans as governors and representatives, who sometimes were of Armenian origin. The first ostikan, for example, was Theodorus Rshtuni. However, the commander of the 15,000-strong army was always of Armenian origin, often from the
Mamikonian,
Bagratuni or
Artsruni families. He would either defend the country from foreigners, or assist the Caliph in his military expeditions.
For example, the Armenians helped the Caliphate against
Khazar invaders.
Arab rule was interrupted by many revolts, whenever Arabs attempted to enforce Islam, or higher taxes, to the people of Armenia. However, these revolts were sporadic and intermittent. They never had a pan-Armenian character. Arabs used rivalries between the different Armenian
nakharars in order to curb the rebellions. Thus, the Mamikonian, Rshtuni,
Kamsarakan and
Gnuni families were gradually weakened in favor of the Bagratuni and Artsruni families.
The rebellions led to the creation of the legendary character,
David of Sassoun.
During Islamic rule, Arabs from other parts of the Caliphate settled in Armenia. By the 9th century, there was a well-established class of Arab emirs, more or less equivalent to the Armenian nakharars.
At the end of this period, in
885, the Bagratid Kingdom of Armenia was established.
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