T H E    B A G R A T I D    D Y N A S T Y


1885 ENGRAVING OF THE RUINS OF THE MASSIVE OUTER WALLS OF THE CAPITAL ANI.
 


CAPITAL -- KARS AND LATER -- ANI
Ašot I (885-890)
Smbat I (890-913)
Ašot II the Iron (914-929)
Abas (929-953)
Ašot III (953-977)
Smbat II (977-989)
Gagik I (989-1020)
Yovhannēs-Smbat (1020-1041)
Ašot IV co-rule (1022-1040)
Gagik II (1043-1045)


SAHAK BAGRATUNI [CENTER] WITH CROWN PRINCE AŠOT. FRESCO IN MREN TEMPLE.


THE HUGE GAGKASHEN CATHEDRAL OF ANI [XTH CENTURY] WAS ERECTED
ACCORDING TO THE GENERAL LAYOUT OF THE VIITH CENTURY ZVARTNOTS CATHEDRAL

THE SWORD WOULD BE FORGED ANEW...


ARMENIAN BAGRATID NOBLEMAN YOVHAN [JOHN] IN THE XITH
CENTURY BARONIAL DRESS. FROM A 1007 MANUSCRIPT.
DURING THIS PERIOD THE ARMENIAN ARISTOCRACY RECEIVED
AN ALL-AROUND EDUCATION INCLUDING THE ART OF WAR, DIPLOMACY,
FINE ARTS, THEOLOGY, SCIENCES AND COURT ETIQUETTE.

THE BAGRATID DYNASTY ALSO ESTABLISHED
A BRANCH IN NEIGHBORING GEORGIA [BAGRATIONI]
THAT HELD THE SEAT OF POWER UNTIL 1801.



HERMETIC ARMAN ARCHITECTURE AT ITS FINEST. FUSED HARMONY.
ŠOŁAGAVANK CHURCH ON THE ISLAND [NOW PENINSULA] OF SEVAN.
IXTH CENTURY. STEPAN MNATSAKANIAN'S RECONSTRUCTION.
A BACKDROP FOR A NUMBER OF HISTORIC AND ROMANTIC NOVELS
LIKE AŠOT THE IRON [HEROIC BAGRATID KING WHO HELD OUT ON THE ISLAND
AND FOUGHT OFF FOREIGN INVADERS] AND ANCIENT GODS BY LEVON ŠANT.


AL VANK‛. IXTH CENTURY. STEPAN MNATSAKANIAN'S RECONSTRUCTION.


QUEEN GORANDUXT OF THE BAGRATID KINGDOM OF VANAND [CENT. KARS].
ONE OF THE MANY OFFSHOOT BRANCHES OF THE HOUSE OF BAGRAT.
FROM A 1064 ILLUMINATED MANUSCRIPT.


KING GAGIK OF THE BAGRATID KINGDOM OF VANAND [CENT. KARS].
ONE OF THE MANY OFFSHOOT BRANCHES OF THE HOUSE OF BAGRAT.
FROM A 1064 ILLUMINATED MANUSCRIPT.


PRINCESS MARIANE OF THE BAGRATID KINGDOM OF VANAND [CENT. KARS].
ONE OF THE MANY OFFSHOOT BRANCHES OF THE HOUSE OF BAGRAT.
FROM A 1064 ILLUMINATED MANUSCRIPT.


THE DIFFUSION OF ARMENIAN ARCHITECTURAL INNOVATIONS
FROM ARMENIA TO EUROPE AND BEYOND



A PAINTING DEPICTING THE CATHOLICOS AND KING GAGIK HOLDING
THE MODEL OF ANI'S GAGKASHEN CATHEDRAL -- ON TOP
OF THE SUN DIAL AND THE EAGLE OF THE ZVARTNOTS CATHEDRAL.
RELIEFS OF ZVARTNOTS CATHEDRAL AND THE ODZUN MONUMENT
IN THE BACKGROUND.


THE REMNANTS OF THE MOTHER CATHEDRAL
1905 PAINTING BY ARSHAK FETVAJYAN [1866 - 1947]

THE BAGRATID DYNASTY