Cilica

Cilica was at its time the only safe place for Christian Armenians as other parts of the Armenian Highlands where conquered by foreign invaders. Cilicia therefore managed to safeguard Armenian traditions, sciences, religion and many forms of medieval art. Thus emphasizing the importance of this period and Kingdom to Armenians and the development of their culture. With the invasions of Mamluks, Mongols and later Turks the kingdom eventually fell to the Muslims and the Armenian population was gradually pushed out with the Armenian Genocide in 1915 as the final stroke.

King Levon of Cilicia by Vagan Garibyan

Armenian Cataphract (189 BC – 12 AD)

Armenian Cataphract (189 BC – 12 AD)

Armenian Ayrudzi Cataphract (disambiguation: Ayr – u – Dzi; Man – and – Horse). The Artaxiad Heavy Cavalry. Artaxiad Dynasty ruled the Kingdom of Greater Armenia from the Second Century BC to the First Century AD. King Tigran the Great’s best military asset was the Ayrudzi Cavalry which was noted in several primary sources; Strabo 64/63 BC – ca. 24 AD (Artaxiad period) said : “Artavasdes (king of the Armenians), at the time when he invaded Media, showed, apart from the rest of the cavalry, six thousand horses drawn up in battle array covered with complete armor.” 

Author: Arman Avakian

Historic 3D reconstruction of Armenian warriors using historical motifs of armour, and clothing.

Armenian Kings in medieval European manuscripts.

Armenian Kings in medieval European manuscripts.

The King of Armenia having an audience with Richard II at Westminster (book 5, chapter 7). – Jehan de Wavrin, Anciennes et nouvelles chroniques d’Angleterre (c 1470-c 1480) – British Library

Armenian Kings in medieval European manuscripts

Armenian Kings in medieval European manuscripts

The king of Armenia in a mountain fortress – Histoire ancienne jusqu’à César, (f.193r.) c. 1330 – 1340 AD. – British Library

Sinope, Queen of Armenia

Sinope, Queen of Armenia 

Queen Sinope, Ruler of Armenia, from the Amberley Panels, ‘Heroines of Antiquity’, Lambert Barnard c.1526 (oil & tempera on panel). Pallant House Gallery, Chichester, UK. One of eight surviving panels forming part of decorative scheme for Amberley Castle, former residence of the bishops of Chichester; commissioned by Robert Sherborne (c.1450-1536) Bishop of Chichester;

Armenian Kings in medieval European manuscripts. Louis IX receiving Armenian envoys (Saint Louis, book 19) – Grandes Chroniques de France, c.1332-1350 AD. – British Librar

Armenian Kings in medieval European manuscripts.

Louis IX receiving Armenian envoys (Saint Louis, book 19) – Grandes Chroniques de France, c.1332-1350 AD. – British Librar

Old Armenian Pictures (colored) Armenian lady Zaruhi Gyulbekyan, picture by Dimitri Yermakov

Old Armenian Pictures (colored)

Armenian lady Zaruhi Gyulbekyan, picture by Dimitri Yermakov