Rebuilding Great Armenia - Bagratid AAR

[ekorovin]

Chapter 3
Eunuch of Karin – Murder of Grigor Torniki – War between Tornik and Vasak of Suenik – Death of Tornik – Smbat Bagratuni
​

The medieval works of “Book of Restoration” or “On the wars of Armenians” lose any interest in life of Ashot Bagratuni after his dethronement and castration. The only sources we have on his latter life is the folklore of Western Armenia, songs and tales centered around the figure of despicable and evil Eunuch of Karin, spending his time inventing a new ways to satisfy his unnatural vices. It’s ironic how these folklore materials seem to completely dissociate the great and brave Ashot, victor of Karasounk battle and liberator of Armenia from Ashot the Vile, poisoner and murderer of Karin.

However, there may be some connection between Ashot and death of Tornik’s son Grigor.

It’s plain to see that contradictions between the royal authority of ishkhan ishkhanats and independence of aristocracy had little to do with Ashot’s personality. New ishkhan Tornik agrreseivly expanded royal domain. The entry of the year 317 (869 AD) in “Chronicles of Seunik princes” tells us:
“And the king Tornik made war against our glorious prince Vasak and took Utik from the illustrious Suenik family.”

Needless to say, this policy didn’t win Tornik many allies among the aristocracy, and the conspiracy which resulted in Tornik’s death in 870 emerged. Whether or not Ashot was the mastermind behind that is unprovable, though the folklore has little doubt in the Eunuch of Karins’ guilt.

With Tornik’s death and the succession of his infant son Abirad the country was thrown in turmoil. The coalition of noble led by Smbat Arranshahik demanded the installation of Ashot Arcruni on the throne.
In the following war the death of Eunuch of Karin went relatively unnoticed.

However, the death of notorious Eunuch lifted the only obstacle to reconciliation between his branch of Bagratuni (now led by his son Smbat) and the princes of Armenia.

Smbat arranged marriage between his sister Sopi and Vahram Pahlavuni, the heir of house Pahlavuni (the most powerful landowners in Armenia). House Suenik, greatly weakened by loss of Utik accepted the betrothal between Smbat’s son, Grigor, and Arevig, their underage princess.

Under the pressure of noble coalition and ongoing civil war in the eastern Armenia, regents of young Abirad was forced to acknowledge Smbat’s right to the title of sparapet, hereditary supreme military commander of Armenia.

With nobles at his side and army under his command, there was little to prevent Smbat from murdering little Abirad and proclaiming himself “ishkhan ishkahnats”. However, he also inherited the war with Arranshahik and Arcruni. He would need to pacify Eastern Armenia and force the noble houses to acknowledge supreme power of “prince of princes”.

 

[Keinwyn]

Tornik didn't get Castrated . Maybe it could be done posthumously?

I'm not aware of any Armenian Zoroastrian kings, although I'm not good in Armenian history, so I may be missing someone.

I'm not sure about reality, but all the pre 300 ADish Armenians are described as Zoroastrian by the game. If you look at your dynastic history the first two Bagratids should be Zoroastrian. Bagratids are also descended from Ardeshir I of the Sassanids. That's in Vanilla at least, I don't know about HIP.

 

[ekorovin]

Tornik didn't get Castrated . Maybe it could be done posthumously?

Well, both his sons and him were murdered, and his branch of the family is extinct, so I call us even

To be honest I don't get an appeal of castration and than letting the victim go. I mean if anything he'll have more time to concentrate on plotting his revenge, like this guy , for example. If they just cut his head off too, they would probably lived happier and longer.
The same goes for blinding, it didn't really stop Vasily II of Moscow from getting his throne back. I suppose my cynicism outweighs my cruelty.

I'm not sure about reality, but all the pre 300 ADish Armenians are described as Zoroastrian by the game. If you look at your dynastic history the first two Bagratids should be Zoroastrian. Bagratids are also descended from Ardeshir I of the Sassanids. That's in Vanilla at least, I don't know about HIP.

I think its just Paradox way to avoid bothering with including Armenian paganism. By the way in HIP their history doesn't go that far, probably for optimisation purposes.
Bagratids are one of the very few Armenian houses who don't claim Parthian descent (Sassanids? Who cares about those upstarts!). They claim descent from ancient Armenian royal house Orontid (extinct 200 BC), solar god Angl-Thork or king David, depending on who you ask, but not Sassanids. This history is weird.

 

[Elm0__]

Nice story so far. I like when there are some ups and downs, not simple shining path to greatness and blobyness.

By the way, could you insert your list of rulers in first post, just like in Arabian Nights AAR?

 

[ekorovin]

Nice story so far. I like when there are some ups and downs, not simple shining path to greatness and blobyness.

By the way, could you insert your list of rulers in first post, just like in Arabian Nights AAR?

Will do, bu we have only two rulers so far, Nights started 250 years into gameplay, so I had enough to satisfy my love of kings' lists. By the way, should I include Tornik in the list, he was ruler of Armenia after all? And poor little Abirad?

 

[Mikkel Glahder]

How did the young child die, by pillow, balcony or a very dangerous hunt?

 

[ekorovin]

How did the young child die, by pillow, balcony or a very dangerous hunt?

I don't remember, forgot to take screenshot.
I murder so many children it's hard to pay attention to everyone.
Now that's a good one to take out of context.

 

[Elm0__]

Will do, bu we have only two rulers so far, Nights started 250 years into gameplay, so I had enough to satisfy my love of kings' lists. By the way, should I include Tornik in the list, he was ruler of Armenia after all? And poor little Abirad?

Why not, they were rulers of Armenia even if it wasn't you controlling them

 

[Mikkel Glahder]

I don't remember, forgot to take screenshot.
I murder so many children it's hard to pay attention to everyone.
Now that's a good one to take out of context.

:rofl:

 

[ekorovin]

Chapter 4
War with Arcruni and Arranshahik - Blinding of Aphanasia and Grigor - What befallen Arcruni and Arranshahik - Fate of Arran - War with Yazidids - War with Khazars - Succession
​

From the obituary of ishkhan Smbat Bagratuni written by an anonymous monk in Surb Echmeadzin monastery in Aghvan language and Aghvan script, one of the few remaining examples of Aghvan (Caucasian Albanian) writing system:


“In the year 337 (888 AD) rests in the arms of the Lord ishkhan ishkhanats Smbat. Three wars he fought and three cities, which Tigran made, he remade. In the first war he fought with the Arcruni and Arranshahik, who said in pride “Do not want we Bagratuni to be king, but among us we chose the king, just and fair, whose name is Ashot Arcruni.”

And when Smabt heard of that he came in great force to Loriberd, where they gathered, and crushed them and dispersed them. But a part of them came to the city of Dvin, where Smbat’s wife and son were, and took them and blinded them, and sent them to Loriberd, where Smbat was, and princess Aphanasia did not survived this ordeal.

So Smbat came in anger in Vaspurakan of Arcruni, and took it and put to the sword every Arcruni there, and only one girl survived, hidden by her milkmaids and disguised as a peasant.

And then he came to Arran, took its lands and castles and villages and all of the Arranshahik and Ashot Arcruni fell into his hands.

And that’s what he did in Arran:

Ashot Arcruni he castrated and said to him: “I destroyed your house and all your sons and daughters I put to the sword, and now I cut your manhood, so you will not spawn new ones, and so the house of Arcruni will go extinct. See how kings of Parthia of old begotten you, and I now I put an end to you, for am I not greater than them?”

And that’s what he did in Arran:

And he gathered all of Arranshahik and their serves and their slaves and those who was sworn to them, and he said:

“For hundreds of years were you, Arranshahik, kings in Arran, but now I name less than a peasants and serves and take all your lands, and your serves and those who were sworn to you are now sworn to me. And to ensure that you will be forgotten, and you’ll never be kings even in memory, I will take all those who dwell in Arran, and move them to the ruins of Tigranakert in Gokhn, and those who don’t want to move will be put to the sword. And I settle my serves here, so even the names of Aghvan and Arran will be forgotten. See how Khosrau Parviz made you kings in Arran, and I now unmade you.”

Thus he said and took all the people of Arran and moved them to Tigranakert in Gokhn, and they settle there, and forgotten the language of Aghvani and the letters, and so I write this in this language, but no one will be able to read it, once I die. And thus he restored the first city of Tigran.
And the second war he fought with Moslems of Yazidid dynasty, who called themselves Shirvanshahs, and held lands in Suenik. And he defeated them and chased them out of Suenik.

And to Moslems, and Jews and fire-worshippers who lived in Armenia he said: “Go now and live in Tigranokert of old in Artsah, there will you be safe, but in all other places I will hunt you and kill you.”
And those Jews and Moslems and fire-worshippers went and settled in Tigranokert in Artsah, and thus the second city of Tigran was restored.

And it so happen, that the queen of Kartvelians made war with Khazars in steppes, and he went and helped her, for she was of his blood. And they fought with Khazars and defeated them, and the tribes of Kasogs and other nomads, who paid tribute to Khazars, were forced to paid tribute to Kartvelians. And some among those tribes said to Smbat: “We don’t want to pay tribute to the woman, but rather to you.”
And he said to them: “Come with me than.” And settled them in the ruins of Tigranakert in Utik, and thus the third city of Tigran was restored.

After his first wife died blinded, he took the second, of renowned beauty, but she did not beget him a son.

So after his death, of all his issue there was only his blinded son and his infant daughter, and the daughter was called first among princes of Armenia, and many quarreled and said “It is not proper for infant girls and blinds to rule among princes of Armenia. Let us be done with Bagratuni and their madness.”

Here the fragment ends.

 

[streetlifeyo]

Wow, what a great post that was

I really dig the style. Really, great job.

 

[Mikkel Glahder]

That was a fantastic chapter you got your hands on. How old is she?

 

[Keinwyn]

Bagratids are one of the very few Armenian houses who don't claim Parthian descent (Sassanids? Who cares about those upstarts!). They claim descent from ancient Armenian royal house Orontid (extinct 200 BC), solar god Angl-Thork or king David, depending on who you ask, but not Sassanids. This history is weird.

It's not patrilineal descent, but through Ashot I's grandmother.

...Smabt ... crushed them and dispersed them.

...Smbat came in anger ... and put to the sword every Arcruni there, and only one girl survived...

Ashot Arcruni he castrated and said to him: “I destroyed your house and all your sons and daughters I put to the sword, and now I cut your manhood ... the house of Arcruni will go extinct. ... and I now I put an end to you...

And to Moslems, and Jews and fire-worshippers ... “... live in Tigranokert ... in all other places I will hunt you and kill you.”

I've taken a liking to Smbat, pity his reign was so short. What traits did he have?

Long live Ishkhan? Siran.

 

[ekorovin]

Wow, what a great post that was

I really dig the style. Really, great job.

Thanks!

That was a fantastic chapter you got your hands on. How old is she?

Thanks! And she's two.

I've taken a liking to Smbat, pity his reign was so short. What traits did he have?
Long live Ishkhan? Siran.

He was brave, proud and zealous, and became cruel after the events of civil war.
As for Siran's title, I don't know, probably will go with princess (she's duchess ingame), unless someone Armenian-speaking comes to the thread and tells me proper title.

 

[Mikkel Glahder]

Thanks! And she's two.

Two eh, bevare of them revolts. Also, I like your writing style, maybe I'll copy some of that in my own AAR, when I come home from school.

 

[ekorovin]

Chapter 5
Girls' War - Pechenegs - Khan Kortan - Arab Wars - Justanids - Siran's comin of age.​

The tumultuous early years of Siran’s reign left little information. With many monasteries, traditional centers of learning laid to waste, cities sacked and merchant routes shifting, there’s little information on the period. Let’s summarize it:

In the earliest days of Siran’s reign the war with Georgia sparked up, known as Girls’ War, due to the fact that both Georgia and Armenia were ruled by underage females. This war was a continuation of different feuds and vendettas between feudal clans of the border, usually subsided by royals, but in the power vacuum of regencies they evolved into all-out war. The opening stages of the war were not in Armenian favor, Armenian forces were defeated at Gavazi . This loss coincided with the invasion of Turkic warlord Alp-Yurek, ruler of Urmia under Caliphate.



Somewhere around this time a new force enters Transcaucasian arena: Pechenegs. At first they appear as a mercenary group at service of Armenia: they thoroughly crushed Alp Yurek at the shores of lake Van, forcing him to acknowledge defeat in 891, and then crush Georgians at Kagankatuyk.

In the year of 892 the great conqueror Kortan-Khan, famous “Leper Khan” or “Khan in the Mask” leads his Pecheneg hordes through Darial gorge and conquers all Georgia. Georgian sources often claim that Kortan was invited to this side of Caucasus by Armenians, but this seems not likely. More probably Pechenegs at Armenian service were exiles from the Steppe, perhaps due to their Christianisation.

Kortan devised Georgia among Pecheneg tribal aristocracy, leaving only mountainous region of Tusheti under Bagrationi control.

Traditional Turkic "mask" helmet allowed Kortan to conceal his face, disfigured by leprosy. It's said that he had vast collection of gold and silver masks, some of them allegedly remade from church decorations looted in Tbilisi. ​

The Pechenegs at Armenian service, however, once again proved being the most valuable part of Armenian military, repelling Arab invasion led by Kaysites.

Young princess Siran spent tremendous amount of time among Pechenegs. The exact reason for that is unknown, but we can theorize that she was kept as a hostage to guarantee payment to Pecheneg mercenaries. However, she was treated very well, and developed strong fondness to them and their customs. She ride as well as any Pecheneg, wore Pecheneg costume, hunted with Pecheneg warriors, and preferred kumis to Armenian wine till the end of her days.

Generally successful beginning of Siran’s reign gave place to more sour days. In the year of 893, Armenian princes tried to chase Kaysites out of traditional Armenian lands for good. But involvement of Abbasid caliph led to the series of staggering Arab victories.

Depleted Armenian forces were forced to surrender. Sensing their weakness, Zoroastrian ruler Vasudan Justanid, unifier of Daylemite and Kurdish tribes loyal to old faith of Iran, invaded Armenia and after a short war took Seunik in 896.

By 899, Kaysites invaded again and conquered Taron.

The year 901 finds Sirin finally of age. The situation is dire for Armenia, all territories conquered by Smbat are lost, Taron is lost also. Muslim Arabic nomads from Kaysite lands and Kurdish and Daylemite Zoroastrian nomads from Justanid lands prey on her population.
Stuck between three great empires: Caliphate in the south, Rome in the west, and Pecheneg Khanate of Crimea to the north, young Siran is faced with a choice that will change the fate of Armenia forever.

 

[ekorovin]

So yeah, it happened, I lost to Zoroastrian AI.

With the state I'm in, I think it may be time to swear fealty to somebody. The only question is who to choose: Romans (Christians, traditional go to destination for Armenian rulers when things turn sour, kinda obvious and boring), Caliph (Historically plausible, but may go on revoking spree. Though if I convert I can try female Muslim ruler. Not sure if Muslims can marry matrilineally, though, plus Siran's zelaous) or Pechenegs (Strong, surprising, Siran has ties with them, probably won't be able to revoke my titles. Kortan is interesting character)

 

[Sunspawn]

Pechengs! Go Pecheng!

Subbed, awesome AAR.

 

[siempie78]

Krimea all the way!

 

[Dayni]

So yeah, it happened, I lost to Zoroastrian AI.

With the state I'm in, I think it may be time to swear fealty to somebody. The only question is who to choose: Romans (Christians, traditional go to destination for Armenian rulers when things turn sour, kinda obvious and boring), Caliph (Historically plausible, but may go on revoking spree. Though if I convert I can try female Muslim ruler. Not sure if Muslims can marry matrilineally, though, plus Siran's zelaous) or Pechenegs (Strong, surprising, Siran has ties with them, probably won't be able to revoke my titles. Kortan is interesting character)

Go Pecheng. Siran wouldn't be likely to join the Sunnis, and it's not like the ERE would be happy with her being a Miyaphisite. Besides, the Khan is a pretty cool guy, he falls apart and yet he is still a more convincing ruler.

Also, what is that gif from?