„Kamsarakan“ – Versionsunterschied

Vorlage:Noble house

Kamsarakan (Vorlage:Lang-hy) was an Armenian noble family that was an offshoot of the House of Karen, also known as the Karen-Pahlav. The Karens were one of the seven great houses of Iran and was of Parthian origin.Vorlage:Sfn

In the Byzantine-Sasanian era, the Kamsarakan were mostly known for following a pro-Byzantine policy. In the late 8th century, they met their downfall as a result of participating in an uprising against Arab rule.

After the 8th century, a branch of the Kamsarakan, the Pahlavuni, rose to some prominance. According to Cyril Toumanoff the Pahlavunis in turn had two branches: the Zakarids-Mkhargrzeli, associated with the Kingdom of Georgia; and the Hethumids, associated with the Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia.Vorlage:Sfn

A branch of the House of Karen (Karen-Pahlav), one of the seven great houses of Iran, the name of Kamsarakan is derived from Prince Kamsar, who died in 325.Vorlage:Sfn The Kamsarakans had their base in "two princely states", which were both located in the historic region of Ayrarat-Arsharunik.Vorlage:Sfn The old city of Yervandashat, in present-day eastern Turkey, was their capital. The fortresses of Bagaran, Artagers, Shirak and Ani (which later became a city) were also associated with the Kamsarakan.Vorlage:Sfn

From their establishment the Kamsarakans enjoyed prestige due to being the cousins of the Parthians.Vorlage:Sfn Later they also acquired, following the demise of the last Arsacid branch (the Armenian branch) in 428, a large amount of political power, which, Toumanoff states, was due "to their quasi-margravial position on the northern frontier of the realm".Vorlage:Sfn The Kamsarakans had a high rank in the order of precedence of the Armenian princes; they supposedly ranked second "of the four broad classes".Vorlage:Sfn As such they had a feudal obligation supply 600 horses to their suzerain, the King of Armenia.Vorlage:Sfn

Due to the geographical location of its principalities, the Kamsarakan were not involved "in any special way in Armino-Iranian relations".Vorlage:Sfn Later, when the Roman Empire annexed the western part of historic Armenia, Gazavon II Kamsarak and some other members moved to Sasanian Armenia, at the time ruled by an Armenian vassal.Vorlage:Sfn Prior to this event, Gazavon II had been the leader of the pro-Roman Armenian princes.Vorlage:Sfn Then, later, another Kamsarakan member, Arshavir II, is recorded as having participated in the anti-Sasanian revolt led by Vardan Mamikonian.Vorlage:Sfn Arshavir II also took part in the insurrection of 482–484, together with his son and successor Narses.Vorlage:Sfn

The Kamsarakans were known for following a broadly pro-Byzantine policy, and they were actively involved in the political life of the empire as well.Vorlage:Sfn For example, three brothers from the Kamsarakan family served as generals for Justinian I (r. 527–565); Narses, Isaac the Armenian (Sahak), and another Sahak/Isaac, who was executed by the king of the Ostrogoths, Totila, in 546.Vorlage:Sfn A later Kamsarakan, Narses II Kamsarakan, served as presiding prince of Armenia for the Byzantine emperor in the late 7th century, and also held the high-ranking Byzantine office of curopalates. Another individual, presumably a Kamsarak, was the patrician Arsaber/Arshavir, noted for having revolted against the Byzantine emperor in 808.Vorlage:Sfn

The Kamsarakans are also known for having taken part in the revolt against Arab rule in Armenia in 771–772.Vorlage:Sfn When the insurrection failed, the Kamsarakan were amongst the "victims of the disaster", and they had no choice but to sell their "double princedom" to the Bagratids.Vorlage:Sfn

In the Bagratid era, the Kamsarakan rose to prominence once again, only now by its cadet branch the Pahlavunis, led by the princes Bdjni and Nig. Cyril Toumanoff adds: "it derived also the name of Arsharuni from one of its principalities, which distinguished it from the related houses of Abelian (princes of Abelunikʿ), Gabelian, Havenni and, possibly, Dziunakan; after the 8th century, it bore, in memory of its origin, the surname of Pahlavuni."Vorlage:Sfn

When the Bagratids were destroyed and Prince Gregory II abdicated in 1045–1046 to allow the Byzantine emperor to assume control over his lands, the Pahlavunis moved to Cilicia, where they were now known as the Hethumids; they would dominate this "last phase of Armenia’s political history", first as princes of Lambrun, and after 1226, as kings of Armenia.Vorlage:Sfn When the Hethumids had gone extinct (14th century), the Armenain crown passed, through inheritance, to the Lusignan dynasty of Cyprus, and afterwards to the House of Savoy.Vorlage:Sfn The Zakarids-Mkhargrzeli, another branch of the Pahlavunis, were a dominant factor in the Kingdom of Georgia in the 12th–14th centuries, and "has survived to this day".Vorlage:Sfn

The Kamsarakans and their Pahlavuni branch, and in turn the Zakarid-Mkhargrdzelis, were known for being patrons of Armenian architecture.Vorlage:Sfn Notable examples of structures built by the family include castles and palaces, as well as "splendid churches", such as the Church of St. Gregory (commissioned by Abughamr I Pahlavuni).Vorlage:Sfn

• List of regions of old Armenia

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