Beginning from the year of 700 to the middle of the 9th century, Armenia together with the countries of the South Caucasus (Kartli, Arran, Shirvan and Derbent) constituted a single administrative unit called Arminiya of Arab Caliphate. The Mamikonyans were one of the strong, if not the strongest Nakharar (princely) family, which owned vast lands. Already from the 7th century the rivalry between the Mamikonyans and the Nakharars of Bagratuni is visible. In the 8th century, the institution of the First Prince (Prince of Armenia), except for two cases, was mainly in the hands of the princes of Bagratuni.

Keywordsthe Mamikonyans the Bagratunis Ashot Msaker Caliphate Arsharunik Tayk Taron

In 428 AD, the Persian king Vram V Gor (420/421-438/439 AD), by the agreement of most of Armenian nakharars, abolished the Arsacid kingdom (66-428 AD) in Armenia. After that, up to the 630s AD, Armenia turns into a Persian border administrative unit – marzpanate. Armenia, although had the status of marzpanate, it still retained internal autonomy in the basis of the nakharar system. The Armenian princes-nakharars remained the hereditary landowners of their territories. The nakhararutyun (principality) was ruled by the nakharar, who was the hereditary landowner of his territory and the nahapet or tanuter of his clan. In the Arshakuni and later in marzpanian Armenia, the lands were owned by three groups 1) the king (after 428 AD – the Sasanian king), 2) the church, 3) the nakharars. The principalities of the marzpanian period was quantitatively inferior to the royal one.

KeywordsArmenian marzpanate nakharars Sasanians nakharar domains Mamikonyans Bagratunis Syunis Artsakh “Gahnamak”.