ONCE MORE ABOUT THE MAIN FUNCTION OF THE ARMENIAN PITIASHKHS (BDEAŠXS)

At present, it can be assumed with great confidence that the main function of the Armenian pitiashkhs-governorships was military. They were responsible for protecting the external border of neighboring small allied states, and in this matter the entire army of the satellite state was subordinate to...

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Main Author: Hakobyan Alexan
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: National Academy of Sciences of Armenia 2021-12-01
Series:Banber Arevelagitut'yan Instituti
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.orientcpnme.am/media/attachments/29/29__2021-12-29-09-29-20.pdf
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author Hakobyan Alexan
author_facet Hakobyan Alexan
author_sort Hakobyan Alexan
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description At present, it can be assumed with great confidence that the main function of the Armenian pitiashkhs-governorships was military. They were responsible for protecting the external border of neighboring small allied states, and in this matter the entire army of the satellite state was subordinate to them. Thus, the pitiashkhs of Gugarq were responsible for protecting the external border of the kingdom of Iberia (Virq), the pitiashkhs of Ałdzniq were responsible for protecting the external border of the kingdom of Osroene (Edessa), the pitiashkhs of the Nor-Shirakan sides were responsible for protecting the external border of the kingdom of Adiabene (Assyria), and the pitiashkhs of Korduq were responsible for protecting the external border of the kingdom Aruastan (Migdonia). As compensation for their service, the pitiashkhs received control over small areas of the neighboring satellite states. Probably, such an Iranian institution of pitiashkhs was introduced in Armenia by Tigran II during the acceptance of the rights and duties of the king of kings. Analysis of information from Armenian sources shows that several border principalities / governorships also had similar pi¬tiashkh functions. Thus, specific relations were formed between some individual pitiashkhs of the Ar¬menian Kingdom (the bdeašxs) and neighboring states, which sometimes led to sepa¬ra¬tist tendencies. One of the striking examples of this is the relationship between the Armenian principalities / governorship of Gardman on the right bank of the Kura River and the kingdom of Albania Proper on the left bank of the Kura. In the 4th century the principalities / viceroyalties of the Eas¬tern side of Armenia (Gardmanatsiq and Gorozuayq - “Gargaratsiq” who were separated from Syuniq) - on behalf of the king of Greater Armenia, performed military pitiashkh functions with respect to the Albanian and Bağasakan kingdoms on the left bank of the Kura, bearing supreme responsibility for the protection of their external (northern) borders.
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spelling doaj.art-7bff9b9246884bc78441ae2226bcfcb02022-12-22T01:47:36ZengNational Academy of Sciences of ArmeniaBanber Arevelagitut'yan Instituti2738-27102738-27022021-12-01125375https://doi.org/10.52837/27382702-2021-34.2-04ONCE MORE ABOUT THE MAIN FUNCTION OF THE ARMENIAN PITIASHKHS (BDEAŠXS)Hakobyan AlexanAt present, it can be assumed with great confidence that the main function of the Armenian pitiashkhs-governorships was military. They were responsible for protecting the external border of neighboring small allied states, and in this matter the entire army of the satellite state was subordinate to them. Thus, the pitiashkhs of Gugarq were responsible for protecting the external border of the kingdom of Iberia (Virq), the pitiashkhs of Ałdzniq were responsible for protecting the external border of the kingdom of Osroene (Edessa), the pitiashkhs of the Nor-Shirakan sides were responsible for protecting the external border of the kingdom of Adiabene (Assyria), and the pitiashkhs of Korduq were responsible for protecting the external border of the kingdom Aruastan (Migdonia). As compensation for their service, the pitiashkhs received control over small areas of the neighboring satellite states. Probably, such an Iranian institution of pitiashkhs was introduced in Armenia by Tigran II during the acceptance of the rights and duties of the king of kings. Analysis of information from Armenian sources shows that several border principalities / governorships also had similar pi¬tiashkh functions. Thus, specific relations were formed between some individual pitiashkhs of the Ar¬menian Kingdom (the bdeašxs) and neighboring states, which sometimes led to sepa¬ra¬tist tendencies. One of the striking examples of this is the relationship between the Armenian principalities / governorship of Gardman on the right bank of the Kura River and the kingdom of Albania Proper on the left bank of the Kura. In the 4th century the principalities / viceroyalties of the Eas¬tern side of Armenia (Gardmanatsiq and Gorozuayq - “Gargaratsiq” who were separated from Syuniq) - on behalf of the king of Greater Armenia, performed military pitiashkh functions with respect to the Albanian and Bağasakan kingdoms on the left bank of the Kura, bearing supreme responsibility for the protection of their external (northern) borders.http://www.orientcpnme.am/media/attachments/29/29__2021-12-29-09-29-20.pdfgugark'gardmanpitiashkhsgovernorshipsałdznik'not-artašrakankadmēatsik'korduk'karkargorozuayk'mihraneansalbaniabałasakan
spellingShingle Hakobyan Alexan
ONCE MORE ABOUT THE MAIN FUNCTION OF THE ARMENIAN PITIASHKHS (BDEAŠXS)
Banber Arevelagitut'yan Instituti
gugark'
gardman
pitiashkhs
governorships
ałdznik'
not-artašrakan
kadmēatsik'
korduk'
karkar
gorozuayk'
mihraneans
albania
bałasakan
title ONCE MORE ABOUT THE MAIN FUNCTION OF THE ARMENIAN PITIASHKHS (BDEAŠXS)
title_full ONCE MORE ABOUT THE MAIN FUNCTION OF THE ARMENIAN PITIASHKHS (BDEAŠXS)
title_fullStr ONCE MORE ABOUT THE MAIN FUNCTION OF THE ARMENIAN PITIASHKHS (BDEAŠXS)
title_full_unstemmed ONCE MORE ABOUT THE MAIN FUNCTION OF THE ARMENIAN PITIASHKHS (BDEAŠXS)
title_short ONCE MORE ABOUT THE MAIN FUNCTION OF THE ARMENIAN PITIASHKHS (BDEAŠXS)
title_sort once more about the main function of the armenian pitiashkhs bdeasxs
topic gugark'
gardman
pitiashkhs
governorships
ałdznik'
not-artašrakan
kadmēatsik'
korduk'
karkar
gorozuayk'
mihraneans
albania
bałasakan
url http://www.orientcpnme.am/media/attachments/29/29__2021-12-29-09-29-20.pdf
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