Bagrat II Bagratuni

Origins and division of inheritance

Bagrat was the eldest son of Ashot IV Bagratuni, who controlled much of Armenia and was recognized as presiding prince by the Abbasid caliphs. The Abbasid government divided Ashot's authority, naming Smbat commander-in-chief and Bagrat presiding prince four years later. Bagrat was likely the first presiding prince to bear the title 'prince of princes' (ishkhan ishkhanats), rendered in Arabic as batrik al-batarika. In 830 he built the Church of the Holy Savior in Mush.

Relations with his brother

The Abbasid policy of dividing authority succeeded, as the brothers frequently quarreled. During the Khurramite rebellion of Babak Khorramdin, Armenian princes achieved significant autonomy. Smbat, who had been a hostage at the caliphal court, was more cautious than Bagrat about challenging Arab power, but both were too weak to threaten Abbasid dominance. In 841 Smbat led a revolt against governor Khalid ibn Yazid al-Shaybani, securing his recall and replacement with Ali ibn Husayn. The Armenians refused to pay taxes to the new governor and blockaded him in Bardaa.

Revolt and capture

In 849 Caliph al-Mutawakkil appointed Abu Sa'id Muhammad al-Marwazi governor of Arminiya. As he approached Armenia, Bagrat sent envoys with gifts and tribute to prevent Arab tax collectors from entering, an act of open revolt. Abu Sa'id withdrew. The next year, Abu Sa'id sent al-Ala ibn Ahmad al-Azdi and Musa ibn Zurara (married to Bagrat's sister) to subdue Taron and Vaspurakan under pretext of raising taxes.

Bagrat and Ashot I Artsruni of Vaspurakan defeated al-Ala, then faced Musa near Mush, pursuing him to Baghesh until Bagrat's sister intervened. The Armenians massacred Arab settlers in Aghdznik, prompting caliphal intervention. Abu Sa'id died en route in 851; his son Yusuf took command. Ashot Artsruni made a separate peace, forcing Bagrat to negotiate.

During talks, with his brother's connivance, Bagrat was treacherously seized at Ivat and taken to Samarra, where he was forced to convert to Islam and died.

Aftermath

Bagrat's arrest provoked his subjects to kill Yusuf the following year. Al-Mutawakkil sent a large army under the Turkic general Bugha al-Kabir, who over three years re-occupied all of Arminiya, from Taron and Vaspurakan to Caucasian Albania and most of Iberia. Armenian princes, divided by personal rivalries, fought alongside the caliphal troops and handed over rivals into captivity. Tens of thousands of male fighters were executed. By 855 most princes of Armenia were captives in Samarra, including Bagrat's sons Ashot and David, who were sent to the Caliph with their relatives.