Gagik II, king of Armenia

• Son of Ashot IV, king of Armenia

Project MedLands, Kings of Armenia

GAGIK ([1025/26]-murdered Kendrosko [2 Mar 1076/29 Feb 1080], bur Pizu Monastery). The Chronicle of Matthew of Edessa records that “le roi d´Arménie Aschod, le Bagratide…fils de Kakig et frère de Jean” left “un fils…Kakag…âgé de quinze ans”[130]. The History of Aristakes Lastivertci records the accession of "Gagik son of Ashot" after the death of his father and paternal uncle[131]. He succeeded his father in 1041 as GAGIK II King of Armenia. Kirakos Ganjaketsi's History of Armenia records that "Gagik son of Ashot…[his] brother's son" succeeded after the death of "Yovhannes…also called Smbat" and ruled for two years, but that he "had no interest in military affairs…but…was trained from childhood in literature" and that "the Byzantines…called him to them" and "put the journeyer into exile on an island and appointed overseers to occupy his place for one year"[132]. He was brought to Ani to be crowned but was unable to evict the Byzantine forces of the regent Sargis Haykazn. The Chronicle of Matthew of Edessa paints a slightly different picture when it records that “un jeune homme de dix-neuf ans…Kakig…fils du roi Aschod…” (implying a delay of four years after the death of his father) was crowned king of Armenia by “Grégoire”, and that King Gagik captured “Sarkis”[133]. In 1043, Gagik was invited to Constantinople where he was kept in honourable confinement and eventually forced to cede the kingdom of Ani to Byzantium in 1045[134]. According to the Chronicle of Matthew of Edessa, the Byzantines started their conquest of Armenia during the reign of Emperor Mikhael IV (who died in 1041), while Emperor Konstantinos IX (succeeded in 1042) invited King Gagik to Constantinople, supported by the advice of Sarkis, where he was granted “Galonbegh´ad et Bizou”[135]. He was awarded the title magistros, given a palace in the capital and the lordship of Kalon peghat and Pizou in Cesarea as compensation[136]. Kirakos Ganjaketsi's History of Armenia records that "the Byzantines gave land and cities in the areas of Caesarea and Sebastia, which was given to the two kings Gagik"[137], referring to this Gagik and "Gagik king of Vanand and Kars who went to the Byzantines", the death of "Gagik Shahnshah king of Vanand" being recorded in "the first year of Diogenes's reign" [1068/69] later in the same source[138]. The territory of the kingdom of Ani was combined with the Iberian theme, known thereafter as the theme of Iberia and Armenia[139]. Kirakos Ganjaketsi's History of Armenia records that "Gagik king of Kars" murdered the archbishop of Cæsarea, by being mauled by his dog with which he placed in a large sack, for which he was killed by the Byzantines "hurled…from the wall of the fortress"[140]. The Chronicle of Matthew of Edessa records that “Kakig Schahenschah, fils d´Aschod, fils de Kakig, fils de Sempad, fils d´Ergath, de la race des Bagratides” was killed in “l´année 528 [2 Mar 1079/29 Feb 1080]” at “une forteresse…Guizisdara” by “des chefs romains, fils de Mandalê (Pantaléon)”[141]. The Chronicle attributed to King Hethum II records that "Gagik king of the Armenians" was killed in [2 Mar 1076/1 Mar 1077] by "the sons of Mandele in the fortress of Kendrosko"[142]. The editor of the Recueil des historiens des croisades places this fortress in the Byzantine theme of Lycandus formed by Emperor Leon VI (ruled 886-912) in the south-east of Cappadocia, north of Germanicia or Marash[143]. Smbat Sparapet's Chronicle records that King Gagik was buried "in his monastery of Pizu"[144]. m --- of Vaspurakan, daughter of DAVIT of Vaspurakan Lord of Siwas & his wife ---. The History of Aristakes Lastivertci records the marriage of "Gagik son of Ashot" and "the daughter of Dawit, son of Senekerim" on the orders of the emperor[145].

King Gagik II & his wife had three children:

• 1) YOVHANES, The Chronicle of Matthew of Edessa records that “son fils aîné…Jean” survived his father[146]. Smbat Sparapet's Chronicle records that King Gagik "left a son Yovhannes"[147]. m ---, daughter of ABIRAD of Ani. The primary source which confirms her parentage and marriage has not yet been identified.

Yovhanes & his wife had one child:

• >>>>>> (a) ASHOT (-1080). The primary source which confirms his parentage has not yet been identified.
• 2) DAVIT, The primary source which confirms his parentage has not yet been identified. Betrothed to ---, daughter of ABULGHARIB of Tarsus & his wife ---. The primary source which confirms her parentage and marriage has not yet been identified.
• 3) daughter, The primary source which confirms her parentage has not yet been identified.

Links

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gagik_II
• http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gagik_II_d%27Arm%C3%A9nie