Vaspurakan (also transliterated as Vasbouragan in Western Armenian) meaning the “noble land” or “land of princes”) was the eighth province of Greater Armenia, which later became an independent kingdom during the Middle Ages, centered around Lake Van. Located in what is now called northeastern Turkey and northwestern Iran, the region is considered to be the cradle of Armenian civilization.
From the 9th century BC, Vaspurakan was part of Urartu. In the 6th century BC, it became part of Satrapy of Armenia. From 189 BC, it became one of Greater Armenia’s provinces. Then it became part of Arsacid Dynasty of Armenia.
After the division of 387, it was included into Persian Armenia. In the 8th century, it fell under Arab control. Many rebellions took place in Vaspurakan. In 885, within the territory of Kingdom of Armenia, it became free.
During most of its history, it was ruled by the Ardzruni dynasty, which first managed to create a principality in the area. At its greatest extent Vaspurakan comprised the lands between Lake Van and Lake Urmia (also known as Kaputan) in 908.
In 908 Gagik I of Vaspurakan was recognized King of Armenia by the Abbasid Caliph in competition to the Bagratids, but soon he was reconciled with Ashot II, who recognized him as the King of Vaspurakan. In 1021, Seneqerim Ardzruni gave Vaspurakan to the Byzantine Empire, receiving estates in Sebasteia and surroundings in exchange.
After Vaspurakan was ceded to the Byzantine Empire, it was conquered by Seljuq Turks. Laterly it was ruled by Ahlatshahs, Ayyubids and Sultanate of Rum successively.
The Kurds as an ethnic group appear in the medieval period. The Kurdish people are believed to be of heterogenous origins combining a number of earlier tribal or ethnic groups including Median, Lullubi, Guti, Cyrtians, Carduchi. They have also absorbed some elements from Semitic, Turkic and Armenian people.
Kurds and Armenians became increasingly distinct, both culturally and politically, as Armenians chose Christianity as their official religion while Kurds chose Islam. This difference in religion also signified in a difference of mentality, with Armenians adopting Occidental values instead of the Oriental values and lifestyle adopted by Kurds.
Although most Armenians stayed Christian, some converted to Islam because of the favourable status given to Muslims under Islamic rule. The Armenians of Vaspurakan who converted to Islam were Kurdified over time.
The nomadic Turkic tribes moved towards the Middle East and Anatolia in expense of the local populations of Kurds, Armenians, and other natives.
In the beginning of 13th century, part of Vaspurakan was liberated by the Zakarids, but was then conquered by the Mongols, and then by the Ottoman Turks. Notable is the Siege of Van of 1915 during the Armenian Genocide.
Norsk: Det armenske høylandet
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