Battle of Vardanakert

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Battle of Vardanakert
Datec. 702/703
Location
Vardanakert, North to the mountain Ararat, near the riverbanks of Araxes, Armenia
Result Armenian victory
Belligerents
Umayyad Caliphate Bagratid Armenia
Commanders and leaders
Ostikan of Arminiya Smbat VI Bagratuni
Strength
8,000 2,000

The Battle of Vardanakert was fought between an Arab garrison and Armenians in January 703. [1] [2] The Armenian prince Smbat VI Bagratuni defeated the 5,000-strong Umayyad army from the garrison in Nakhichevan. [3] Struck by a surprise attack, the remaining Arabs fled to the river Araxes and either drowned or froze to death. [3] Smbat, chosen to rule by Byzantine commission, managed to re-conquer the majority of Armenia and drive the Arabs out of the country. [4]

Contents

Aftermath

Despite this success, the Umayyad generals Muhammad ibn Marwan and Maslamah ibn Abd al-Malik soon restored Armenia to subject status. [a] Muslim control was secured by organizing a large-scale massacre of the princely families ( nakharar ) within the cathedral of Nakhchivan, which was burned, in 704. [4]

Notes

  1. ↑ Macler states it was the Arab commander Qasim that invaded and reconquered Armenia. [4]

References

  1. ↑ The Church of the Holy Cross of Ałt'amar: Politics, Art, Spirituality in the Kingdom of Vaspurakan. BRILL. 2019-08-05. p. 149. ISBN   978-90-04-40099-3.
  2. ↑ Hacikyan, Agop Jack (2000). The Heritage of Armenian Literature. Wayne State University Press. p. 146. ISBN   978-0-8143-3023-4.
  3. 1 2 Hoyland 2015, p. 155.
  4. 1 2 3 Macler 1923, p. 156.

Sources

40°17′19″N44°58′46″E / 40.2885°N 44.9795°E / 40.2885; 44.9795

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