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The Armenite

Armeniaca Person

Ashot III the Merciful

HistoryPoliticsAlso: Ashot III, Ashot the Merciful, Ashot Voghormats and 3 more

Armenian
Աշոտ Գ Ողորմած
Died
977

Ashot III the Merciful was a king of the Bagratid dynasty who reigned in Armenia from 952 to 977.1 The Bagratids had been princes of Armenia since 806, when the Arabs chose Ashot Bagratuni as prince. In 885 the nobles elected Ashot I the Great as king, and both the caliph and the Byzantine emperor recognized him.2

In 961 Ashot III moved his capital from Kars to Ani. He made the city a major center of art and literature, and it became known for its architecture.13 His successors Smbat II and Gagik I continued to build at Ani.34

Sources

  1. “Ashot III the Merciful.” Encyclopaedia Britannica. link. ↩
  2. “Armenia: The marzpans.” Encyclopaedia Britannica. link. ↩
  3. “Ani.” Encyclopaedia Britannica. link. ↩
  4. “Trdat the Architect.” World History Encyclopedia. link. ↩