Family tree Bas » Smbat "de Martelaar" Bagratuni (855-912)

Personal data Smbat "de Martelaar" Bagratuni 

• He was born in the year 855.
• (Geschiedenis) .Source 1

  Smbat de Martelaar (ca. 855 - Erndjak, 912) was koning van Armenië.
  
  Smbat was lid van de familie Bagratuni en was zoon van koning Ashot I Bagratuni en Kotramide. In 890 volgde hij zijn vader op maar moest daarbij wel de weerstand van zijn oom overwinnen. In 892 werd Smbat echter formeel gekroond door de stadhouder (van de kalief) van Azerbeidzjan. Hij was voortdurend in gevecht met opstandelingen en met de Arabieren, maar sloot wel een vriendschapsverdrag met Leo VI van Byzantium. In 902 wist Smbat de stadhouder van Azerbeidzjan te verslaan, hierdoor werd Smbat een rechtstreekse vazal van de kalief. De nieuwe stadhouder Yussuf van Azerbeidzjan stookte daarop de Armeense oppositie op tot een opstand. In 912 was Smbat zo in het nauw gebracht dat hij zich aan Yussuf moest overgeven. Die liet Smbat prompt onthoofden en stelde zijn lichaam ten toon terwijl het aan een kruis was genageld (wat zijn bijnaam verklaart).

• (Levens event) .Source 2

  Smbat I (Armenian: ????? ?.) (850–912), known as "the Martyr", was the second King of Armenia (890–912) of the medieval Kingdom of Armenia of the Bagratuni dynasty, and son of Ashot I. He is the father of Ashot II (known as Ashot Yerkat) and Abas I.
  Rule
  
  Smbat I's rule was a period of unending wars against the Arab conquerors and the rebellious Armenian nobles. He fought with mixed success against Afshin, the Caliph's representative in Azerbaijan, but was defeated by Afshin's brother Yusuf.
  
  Late in his rule he was betrayed by Gagik Artsruni and Sparapet Ashot who proclaimed themselves independent from Smbat's rule. Towards the end of Smbat's rule Yusuf made war on him again. Smbat's wife was captured and traded in exchange for Smbat's son Mushegh and nephew Smbat, who were then poisoned by Yusuf. Yusuf's army ravaged the rest of Armenia as it advanced towards Blue Fortress, where King Smbat had taken refuge, and besieged it for some time. Smbat finally decided to surrender himself to Yusuf in 914 in hopes of ending the Arab onslaught; Yusuf, however, showed no compassion towards his prisoner as he tortured the Armenian king to death and put his headless body on display on a cross in Dvin. He was succeeded by his son Ashot II who was able to eventually expel the invaders and brought peace to Armenia.
  
  The Royal Family
  
  King Smbat had brothers Shapuh, sparapet of Armenia, and David, presiding prince (ishkhan) of Armenia. Shapuh was buried in his family's cemetery at Bagaran and King Smbat replaced him with his son Ashot. Ashot built the church of Bagaran there on the banks of the Akhurian River. This same Ashot would later be declared King by Yusuf in opposition to Ashot II in an attempt to divide Armenia, a plan which failed after two years of civil war.
  
  Smbat had at least two sisters, Mariam and Sophia. Mariam was regarded as a holy woman. She had sons Grigor, Sahak, and Vasak. Prince Grigor was poisoned by Yusuf while Sahak and Vasak took refuge at Sevanavank. Yusuf pursued them and so with their mother, families, and as much property as they could carry they again took off to the east. They retreated to Artsakh where their mother died. After a few years when the family had regained their lands, her body was brought back and buried at a church she built at a place called Soghaka.
  
  The sister Sophia was married to Krikor Artsruni and had children Ashot, Sophia, Gagik, and Gurgen. Gagik was an ambitious prince who ruled Vaspurakan and challenged his uncle King Smbat's rule.

• He died in the year 912 in Emdjak, he was 57 years old.
• A child of Ashot I Bagratuni and Kotramide
• This information was last updated on January 4, 2013.

Household of Smbat "de Martelaar" Bagratuni

Child(ren):

1. Abas I Bagratuni  ????-953 
2. Musel Bagratuni  -910
3. Ashot II "Yerkat" Bagratuni  890-928 

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Timeline Smbat "de Martelaar" Bagratuni

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