Paytakaran (Armenian: Փայտակարան, romanized: Pʻaytakaran) was the easternmost province (nahang or ashkharh) of the Kingdom of Armenia.[1][2] The province was located in the area of the lower courses of the Kura and Arax rivers, adjacent to the Caspian Sea. It corresponded to the territory known as Caspiane to Greco-Roman sources (Kaspkʻ or Kazbkʻ in Armenian sources).[1][3] Today, the area is located in the territory of modern-day southeastern Azerbaijan and northwestern Iran. The centre of the province was the town of Paytakaran, after which it was named.[3][4]
Paytakaran is interpreted as "the land of Pʻayt", applied by Medians to this territory to their north, from Median *karan- ("border, region, land", compare with Lankaran). Pʻayt is probably the name of a Caspian tribe. Pʻayt also means "wood" in Armenian, although Heinrich Hübschmann and others reject any connection with this word and believe the etymology to be non-Armenian.[2][4] In the classical Armenian sources, Paytakaran is mentioned as the name of the province only in the 7th-century geography Ashkharatsʻoytsʻ and the history of Ghevond, while the city of the same name is mentioned more frequently.[2][4] Paytarakan/Caspiane/Kaspkʻ is also identified with the region of Balasagan (Baghasakan in Armenian).[5]
Geography
Greater Armenia divided into 16 large provinces.
Paytarakan was located on the right bank of the Arax River, which separated it from the Armenian provinces of Artsakh, Siunik and Utik to the north, although some authors believe that it included territory on the left bank of the Arax as well.[2] It was separated from Adurbadagan to the south by the Karadagh and Talysh mountains and bordered the Caspian Sea to the east.[1][2] It is believed to have encompassed the greater part of the Mughan Plain and the Lankaran Lowlands.[1] Paytakaran had a dry climate and is described in Ashkharatsʻoytsʻ as rich in cotton and wild barley.[2]Suren Yeremyan estimates its area as 21,000 square kilometres.[3]
Cantons
According to the 7th-century Armenian geography Ashkharatsʻoytsʻ, Paytakaran was the 11th of the 15 provinces of the Kingdom of Armenia. Ashkharatsʻoytsʻ provides the names of 12 cantons of Paytarakan, which at the time were in the possession of Adurbadagan:[6]
Hrakʻot-Perozh (centre: Paytakaran)
Vardanakert (centre: Vardanakert)
Ewtʻnapʻorakean Baginkʻ
Kʻoekyan
Baghanṛot
Ṛot-i-Bagha (appears to be a duplication of Baghanṛot)
The precise location of Paytakaran's cantons and its namesake city are unknown. The city of Paytakaran is often identified with the Bailaqan of Arabic sources and sometimes with Beylagan in modern-day Azerbaijan, on the left bank of the Arax.[2] A number of medieval Armenian authors, following Tovma Artsruni's example, misidentify the city of Paytakaran with Tbilisi.[2]
The spellings of the names vary greatly in different copies of Ashkharatsʻoytsʻ. Yeremyan reduces the number of cantons to ten by combining the duplicated Ṛot-i-Bagha/Baghanṛot and removing Kʻoekyan, which appears in only two manuscripts.[6] Several of the canton names indicate that they were sites of some religious significance. Ewtʻnapʻorakean Baginkʻ means "Altars of the Seven Niches", Spandaran means "place of sacrifices", and Atshi-Bagawan has been interpreted as "Place of the Fire God".[7]
History
The region was known to Greco-Roman authors as Caspiane, which was once home to a people called the Caspians.[2] Caspiane was contested between the regional powers. Strabo, writing c. 20 AD, mentions Caspiane among the lands conquered by King Artaxias I of Armenia from the Medes in the 2nd century BC, but adds that this land belonged to "the country of the Albanians" in his time.[8][9] Armenia had lost the territory to Caucasian Albania in about 59 BC, when Pompey rearranged the political geography of the region after defeating Tigranes the Great.[10] The region was again conquered by the Armenians at some point, most likely during the reign of Vologases I of Armenia.[4][11]
Armenian control over Paytakaran most likely vacillated during the rule of the Artaxiad and Arsacid dynasties.[2] It occupied a strategic position due to its proximity to the Caspian Gates, and nomadic peoples frequently crossed through the region to raid central Armenia and Adurbadagan.[2] Although the documents known as the Zoranamak (Military Register) and Gahnamak (Throne-List) mention a prince of Kaspkʻ who provided a force of 3000 men to the Armenian army and occupied the tenth seat at the royal table, this is considered spurious by Cyril Toumanoff and Robert Hewsen.[1][12] None of the classical historians mention any princely house of Caspiane, and the region appears to have been a royal domain under Armenian rule.[13] The provincial centre Paytakaran was likely a royal city and served as a royal dungeon under the Arsacids; 438 pre-Christian priests are said to have been imprisoned there by the lord of Angeghtun following the Christianization of Armenia.[1]
Paytarakan is said to have been conquered in the early 330s by the Arsacid noble Sanatruk/Sanesan, who made its chief city his temporary capital and attempted to usurp the Armenian throne.[3] The classical Armenian historian Faustus of Byzantium names Paytakaran among the provinces that rebelled against King Arsaces II in the 360s. This rebellion was suppressed by sparapetMushegh Mamikonian in the late 360s during the reign of Pap.[1][4] Faustus writes that Mushegh sacked the city of Paytakaran, killing many of its inhabitants and taking tribute and hostages.[14] After the partition of Armenia in 387, the province remained a part of eastern Armenia until the dissolution of the Arsacid Kingdom of Armenia in 428, when it was ceded to Adurbadagan.[1]
Population
The region was non-Armenian by ethnic composition. Hewsen describes it as "probably the least Armenian" of the traditional Armenian provinces.[15][16] Strabo writes that the Caspians who once inhabited the region had disappeared by his time, so the Caspians (Kaspkʻ) of Armenian sources 400 years later were likely not the same people but rather a "hodgepodge of Albanians, Cadusians, Amardians, Atropatenian Medes, and other nomadic or semi-nomadic Iranian tribes".[17]
References
^ abcdefghHarutyunyan, B. (1986). "Pʻaytakaran". In Hambardzumyan, Viktor (ed.). Soviet Armenian Encyclopedia (in Armenian). Vol. 12. Yerevan. pp. 301–302.
^ abcdefghijkHakobyan, T. Kh.; Melik-Bakhshyan, St. T.; Barseghyan, H. Kh. (2001). "Pʻaytakaran". Hayastani ev harakitsʻ shrjanneri teghanunneri baṛaran [Dictionary of toponymy of Armenia and adjacent territories] (in Armenian). Vol. 5. Yerevan State University. pp. 229–230.
^ abcdeHiwbshman, H. (1907). Hin Hayotsʻ Teghwoy Anunnerě [Ancient Armenian Place Names] (in Armenian). Translated by Pilējikchean, H. B. Vienna: Mkhitʻarean Tparan. pp. 101–106.
^Hewsen, Robert H. (1973). "Caspiane: An Historical-Geographical Study" (PDF). Handes Amsorya (1–3): 92.
paytakaran, armenian, Փայտակարան, romanized, pʻaytakaran, easternmost, province, nahang, ashkharh, kingdom, armenia, province, located, area, lower, courses, kura, arax, rivers, adjacent, caspian, corresponded, territory, known, caspiane, greco, roman, sources. Paytakaran Armenian Փայտակարան romanized Pʻaytakaran was the easternmost province nahang or ashkharh of the Kingdom of Armenia 1 2 The province was located in the area of the lower courses of the Kura and Arax rivers adjacent to the Caspian Sea It corresponded to the territory known as Caspiane to Greco Roman sources Kaspkʻ or Kazbkʻ in Armenian sources 1 3 Today the area is located in the territory of modern day southeastern Azerbaijan and northwestern Iran The centre of the province was the town of Paytakaran after which it was named 3 4 Paytakaran was the easternmost province of the ancient kingdom of Armenia Contents 1 Etymology 2 Geography 2 1 Cantons 3 History 4 Population 5 ReferencesEtymology EditSee Pʿaytakaran for etymology Paytakaran is interpreted as the land of Pʻayt applied by Medians to this territory to their north from Median karan border region land compare with Lankaran Pʻayt is probably the name of a Caspian tribe Pʻayt also means wood in Armenian although Heinrich Hubschmann and others reject any connection with this word and believe the etymology to be non Armenian 2 4 In the classical Armenian sources Paytakaran is mentioned as the name of the province only in the 7th century geography Ashkharatsʻoytsʻ and the history of Ghevond while the city of the same name is mentioned more frequently 2 4 Paytarakan Caspiane Kaspkʻ is also identified with the region of Balasagan Baghasakan in Armenian 5 Geography Edit Greater Armenia divided into 16 large provinces Paytarakan was located on the right bank of the Arax River which separated it from the Armenian provinces of Artsakh Siunik and Utik to the north although some authors believe that it included territory on the left bank of the Arax as well 2 It was separated from Adurbadagan to the south by the Karadagh and Talysh mountains and bordered the Caspian Sea to the east 1 2 It is believed to have encompassed the greater part of the Mughan Plain and the Lankaran Lowlands 1 Paytakaran had a dry climate and is described in Ashkharatsʻoytsʻ as rich in cotton and wild barley 2 Suren Yeremyan estimates its area as 21 000 square kilometres 3 Cantons Edit According to the 7th century Armenian geography Ashkharatsʻoytsʻ Paytakaran was the 11th of the 15 provinces of the Kingdom of Armenia Ashkharatsʻoytsʻ provides the names of 12 cantons of Paytarakan which at the time were in the possession of Adurbadagan 6 Hrakʻot Perozh centre Paytakaran Vardanakert centre Vardanakert Ewtʻnapʻorakean Baginkʻ Kʻoekyan Baghanṛot Ṛot i Bagha appears to be a duplication of Baghanṛot Aṛos Pichan centre Pichan Hani Atshi Bagawan centre Bagawan Spandaran Perozh centre Spandaran Ormizd Perozh Alewan centre Alewan The precise location of Paytakaran s cantons and its namesake city are unknown The city of Paytakaran is often identified with the Bailaqan of Arabic sources and sometimes with Beylagan in modern day Azerbaijan on the left bank of the Arax 2 A number of medieval Armenian authors following Tovma Artsruni s example misidentify the city of Paytakaran with Tbilisi 2 The spellings of the names vary greatly in different copies of Ashkharatsʻoytsʻ Yeremyan reduces the number of cantons to ten by combining the duplicated Ṛot i Bagha Baghanṛot and removing Kʻoekyan which appears in only two manuscripts 6 Several of the canton names indicate that they were sites of some religious significance Ewtʻnapʻorakean Baginkʻ means Altars of the Seven Niches Spandaran means place of sacrifices and Atshi Bagawan has been interpreted as Place of the Fire God 7 History EditThe region was known to Greco Roman authors as Caspiane which was once home to a people called the Caspians 2 Caspiane was contested between the regional powers Strabo writing c 20 AD mentions Caspiane among the lands conquered by King Artaxias I of Armenia from the Medes in the 2nd century BC but adds that this land belonged to the country of the Albanians in his time 8 9 Armenia had lost the territory to Caucasian Albania in about 59 BC when Pompey rearranged the political geography of the region after defeating Tigranes the Great 10 The region was again conquered by the Armenians at some point most likely during the reign of Vologases I of Armenia 4 11 Armenian control over Paytakaran most likely vacillated during the rule of the Artaxiad and Arsacid dynasties 2 It occupied a strategic position due to its proximity to the Caspian Gates and nomadic peoples frequently crossed through the region to raid central Armenia and Adurbadagan 2 Although the documents known as the Zoranamak Military Register and Gahnamak Throne List mention a prince of Kaspkʻ who provided a force of 3000 men to the Armenian army and occupied the tenth seat at the royal table this is considered spurious by Cyril Toumanoff and Robert Hewsen 1 12 None of the classical historians mention any princely house of Caspiane and the region appears to have been a royal domain under Armenian rule 13 The provincial centre Paytakaran was likely a royal city and served as a royal dungeon under the Arsacids 438 pre Christian priests are said to have been imprisoned there by the lord of Angeghtun following the Christianization of Armenia 1 Paytarakan is said to have been conquered in the early 330s by the Arsacid noble Sanatruk Sanesan who made its chief city his temporary capital and attempted to usurp the Armenian throne 3 The classical Armenian historian Faustus of Byzantium names Paytakaran among the provinces that rebelled against King Arsaces II in the 360s This rebellion was suppressed by sparapet Mushegh Mamikonian in the late 360s during the reign of Pap 1 4 Faustus writes that Mushegh sacked the city of Paytakaran killing many of its inhabitants and taking tribute and hostages 14 After the partition of Armenia in 387 the province remained a part of eastern Armenia until the dissolution of the Arsacid Kingdom of Armenia in 428 when it was ceded to Adurbadagan 1 Population EditThe region was non Armenian by ethnic composition Hewsen describes it as probably the least Armenian of the traditional Armenian provinces 15 16 Strabo writes that the Caspians who once inhabited the region had disappeared by his time so the Caspians Kaspkʻ of Armenian sources 400 years later were likely not the same people but rather a hodgepodge of Albanians Cadusians Amardians Atropatenian Medes and other nomadic or semi nomadic Iranian tribes 17 References Edit a b c d e f g h Harutyunyan B 1986 Pʻaytakaran In Hambardzumyan Viktor ed Soviet Armenian Encyclopedia in Armenian Vol 12 Yerevan pp 301 302 a b c d e f g h i j k Hakobyan T Kh Melik Bakhshyan St T Barseghyan H Kh 2001 Pʻaytakaran Hayastani ev harakitsʻ shrjanneri teghanunneri baṛaran Dictionary of toponymy of Armenia and adjacent territories in Armenian Vol 5 Yerevan State University pp 229 230 a b c d Yeremyan Suren T 1963 Hayastane est Ashkharhatsʻoytsʻ i Armenia according to Ashkharhatsoyts in Armenian Yerevan Armenian SSR Academy of Sciences Publishing p 88 a b c d e Hiwbshman H 1907 Hin Hayotsʻ Teghwoy Anunnere Ancient Armenian Place Names in Armenian Translated by Pilejikchean H B Vienna Mkhitʻarean Tparan pp 101 106 Hewsen Robert H 1973 Caspiane An Historical Geographical Study PDF Handes Amsorya 1 3 92 a b Hewsen 1973 p 99 Hewsen 1973 pp 102 105 Strabo Geography 11 4 Persus Digital Library Strabo Geography 11 14 Persus Digital Library Redgate Anna Elizabeth The Armenians Peoples of Europe Cornwall Blackwell Publishers 1998 ISBN 0 631 22037 2 Hewsen 1973 p 94 Hewsen 1973 p 97 Hewsen 1973 pp 97 98 Hewsen 1973 p 96 Hewsen Robert H Armenia A Historical Atlas Chicago University Of Chicago Press 2000 ISBN 0 226 33228 4 p 102 Hewsen 1973 p 87 Hewsen 1973 p 91 Coordinates 39 14 00 N 48 26 00 E 39 2333 N 48 4333 E 39 2333 48 4333 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Paytakaran amp oldid 1129619750, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
