History of Nagorno-Karabakh - Mashtots and Aranshakhik Period

Mashtots and Aranshakhik Period

In 469 the kingdom of Albania was reformed into Persian "marzpandom" (satrapy). In the early 4th century Christianity spreads in Artsakh. At the beginning of the 5th century, thanks to the creation of the Armenian written language by Mesrop Mashtots, an unprecedented rise of culture began in whole Armenia, in particular also in Artsakh, Mesrop Mashtots having founded one of the first Armenian schools at the Artsakh Amaras Monastery. In the 5th century the eastern part of Armenia, including Artsakh, continued to remain under the Persian rule. In 451 the Armenians in response to the policy of compulsion to the Zoroastrian Persia organized a powerful revolt known as Vardan war. Artsakh took part in that war, its cavalry having particularly distinguished itself. After the suppression of the revolt the considerable part of the Armenian forces took shelter in the impregnable fortresses and thick woods of Artsakh to continue further struggle against the foreign yoke. At the end of the same century Artsakh and neighboring Utik united under the rule of the Aranshakhiks with Vachagan the Devout at the head (487–510’s). Under the latter a considerable rise in culture and science is observed in Artsakh. According to the evidence of a contemporary, in those years in the land there were built as many churches and monasteries as there are days in a year. At the turn of the 7th century the Albanian marzpandom breaks into several small principalities. In the South Artsakh and Utik create a separate Armenian principality of the Aranshakhiks. In the 7th century the Armenian Aranshakhiks are replaced by the Migranians (Mihranids) dynasty of Persian origin which, becoming related with the Aranshakhiks, turns to Christianity and rapidly Armenized. In the second half of the 7th century in the initial period of the Arab dominion the political and cultural life in Artsakh does not cease. In the 7th–8th centuries a distinctive Christian culture was shaped. The monasteries Amaras, Orek, Katarovank, Djrvshtik and others acquire All-Armenian significance.