Hamdanid Campaigns in Armenia (935-966)
| Hamdanid Campaigns in Armenia | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of Hamdanid invasion of the Caucasus | |||||||||
Map of the Middle East at the beginning of the campaigns | |||||||||
| |||||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||||
| Hamdanid dynasty | Bagratid Armenia | ||||||||
| Units involved | |||||||||
|
Nasir al-Dawla Sayf al-Dawla |
Gagik I Abas I Ashot III Ašot son of Grigor Gagik son Derenik Ahmad bin Abd al-Rahman Abd al-Hamid | ||||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||||
| Slight | Heavy | ||||||||
The Hamdanid Campaigns in Armenia were a series of campaigns from 935 to 966 targeting Armenia.
Background
In the year 890, the Hamdanid Emirate was first established in Mardin, and it became one of the most aggressive powers conducting campaigns against the Byzantines, The Hamdanid state has expanded significantly and has become a powerful influence in Armenia, Azerbaijan, Baghdad, the Levant and the Upper Mesopotamia.
Expedition to Armenia (935)
In 935 al-Hasan ibn Abd Allah, later known as Nāṣir al-Dawla, entered into conflict with the Abbasid vizier Ibn Muqlā. Following Ibn Muqlā’s military campaign against him, al-Hasan was forced to flee Mosul and seek refuge in Anjewacik (Anjewacʿik), a region within Armenian territory. According to contemporary Arab historical sources, during this period of exile he was received by local Armenian rulers, who acknowledged his authority, submitted to him, and regarded him as their ruler.[1]
Sayf al-Dawla campaign (937)
In 937, he acted in coordination with his brother Nasir al-Dawla during a campaign against the Daylamite leader Ibn Jaʿfar. The campaign is described as strengthening Hamdanid influence in parts of Armenia, which he brought under control and compelled to submit to his authority.[2]
Hamdanid Raid And Campaign (939-940)
One of the most significant military operations of his early career took place in 939–940, when he led a major campaign into southwestern Armenia. During this expedition, he compelled several local rulers to acknowledge his authority and secured the surrender of a number of fortresses. Among those who submitted were the Muslim Kaysite rulers of Manzikert, as well as prominent Christian Armenian princes, including the Bagratids of Taron and Gagik Artsruni of Vaspurakan. These rulers had recently begun shifting their allegiance toward the Byzantine Empire. After consolidating his position in Armenia, he turned westward and launched raids into Byzantine territory, advancing as far as Koloneia.[3][4][5]
It is also mentioned that In 328 AH (940 CE), the Hamdanid ruler Sayf al-Dawla launched a major military expedition into Armenia. Departing from Mayyafariqin, he advanced to Datwan (Tayṭawana) on Lake Van, where he summoned several Armenian and regional rulers, including Ibn al-Dayrānī, Ahmad b. ʿAbd al-Raḥmān, Abū l-Muʿizz of Khilāṭ, ʿAbd al-Ḥamīd of Manazgird, Ašūt b. Griğür, and the patrician of patricians of Armenia.
During this campaign, Sayf al-Dawla seized the fortresses of Šahrān and al-Ḥamīd, captured Badlis, and conquered the region of Sasun. He also brought Qalʿat Qalb (Kulp) and the fortress of Sulaymān under his control. The Armenian kings were compelled to renew their submission and enter his service. Sayf al-Dawla further raided the lands of Ibn al-Marzubān and Chaldia, capturing numerous fortresses and taking a large number of prisoners. The entire campaign lasted approximately fifty days, after which he returned to his territories.[6]
Raids in southern Armenia (960)
An Arab emir referred to in historical sources as Hamdun, possibly identifiable with Sayf al-Dawla of the Hamdanid dynasty, a major adversary of the Byzantine emperors in Mesopotamia, launched several incursions into the southern provinces of Armenia. These campaigns posed a direct threat to the authority of King Ashot, in 960 CE.[7]
Campaign of 966 against the Armenian allies
In the mid-10th century, a series of uprisings broke out in several cities of the Armenian–Upper Mesopotamian frontier. In Manazkert, a popular revolt occurred, while at the same time a Sulamī emir, whose name is not recorded in the sources, was active in the city. The revolt in Xlatʿ (Ahlat) was triggered by the failure to pay the troops, reflecting broader problems of military discipline and administration in the region.
Sayf al-Dawla was directly involved in suppressing these disturbances. He eventually compelled Najā to return to Aljnikʿ and had him executed at Npʿrkert (Manazkert) during a banquet. Following these events, Sayf al-Dawla personally led a campaign into Armenia with the aim of seizing the cities controlled by the Qaysites. He concluded this campaign by returning to his domains in January 966 CE (Ṣafar 355 AH), bringing with him as captives the two brothers of Najā, thereby further consolidating Hamdanid authority in the region.[8]
See also
References
- ^ Ter-Ghewondyan, Aram (2016-09-03). "The Arab Emirates in Bagratid Armenia". p. 83.
- ^ Палеев, Игорь . "Новая хронология Древнего мира. Книга 1".
- ^ Ter-Ghewondyan, Aram (2016-09-03). "The Arab Emirates in Bagratid Armenia". pp. 84–87.
- ^ Warren T, Treadgold (1997). "A History of the Byzantine State and Society".
- ^ Mark, Whittow (1996). "The Making of Byzantium, 600-1025".
- ^ POGOSSIAN , VARDANYAN, ZAROUI , EDDA (2019). "The Church of the Holy Cross of Ałt'amar".
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ Blosse, Harry Finnis (1901). "Armenia: Travels and Studies".
- ^ Ter-Ghewondyan, Aram (2016). "The Arab Emirates in Bagratid Armenia". p. 87-88.