[29] In the year 513 A.E. [1064] Sultan Alp-Arslan [1063-1072] came against the city of Ani with many troops and invested it on all sides. The citizens arose against them in battle, but the infidels with their multitude triumphed and turned them back, confining them in the city. In the waiting for [further] warfare, [the citizens] broke down, not having hope for aid from any quarter except in their prayers to God for help. The city was filled with numerous mobs. [The Saljuqs] demolished [part of] the city wall with rock-hurling devices, though they were unable to enter the city, and therefore planned to turn back. However, the princes who had been designated to defend the city, paron Smbat, Bagarat's father, and paron Grigor, Bakuran's son, started to fortify themselves into the citadel as the sultan and his troops wanted to depart. Now when the princes had secured themselves, the citizens' [unity] broke, and everyone turned to flight. The chiefs of the city fell upon the ground of the kings, bitterly weeping over their lordless condition. When the infidels learned about this they turned back, entered the city, and, like wild beasts, began to slay everyone with the sword. They took women and children captive, and loaded up with booty. They threw down the great cross which was on the dome [of the cathedral], as well as the crystal chandelier which was in the church, shattering it into many pieces. This was the same [chandelier] which Smbat the Conqueror had brought [from India] which cost ten thousand pieces of gold and weighed twelve thousand litrs. As soon as they threw down the cross, there was rain and thunder and the corpses of the slain washed into the river and the splendid city was cleansed of the blood. But the sultan was very regretful about the broken chandelier. As for the cross, they took it to Naxjawan and put it [g59] under the threshold of the mosque, so that everyone entering or exiting would step on it. At that time King Gagik was at Kars. The sultan sent for him to come in submission. Gagik was a wise and clever man, and thought to peacefully escape from him. So he donned mourning clothes and sat upon a black cushion. When the envoy [of Alp-Arslan] saw him thus outfitted in black, he asked the king why he was so arrayed. And [Gagik] replied: "When my friend Sultan Tughril, the brother of Alp-Arslan, died, I put on mourning clothes." The astonished man went and related this to the sultan, who was astounded and arose with his entire army and went to Kars to see Gagik. He made peace with him and clothed him in royal garments. Gagik prepared a great feast for the sultan and his troops. In so doing, Gagik peacefully got free of him; and in a few days he gave Kars to the Byzantines [in exchange for which the Byzantines] gave him Tsamndaw, Caesarea and Xawatane'k'. And thus was the House of the Armenians overturned.

[30] In the year 514 [1065] a people in the West, [the Turkic Uzes] made war on the Byzantine emperor Ducas. The latter assembled numerous troops and sent them against [the Uzes], designating Apuk'ap's son, Basil, as the military commander. They went and encamped on the banks of the Danube River. In a fierce battle against each other, the Byzantines were defeated and turned to flight, while [the Uzes] gathered up all their belongings and seized Basil, leading him [g60] into captivity. Subsequently three men absconded with Basil and took him to Ducas in Constantinople, receiving numerous rewards [for the deed]. During the same year the blessed patriarch, lord Xach'ik, was translated to Christ having reigned as patriarch for six years in exile in a foreign country. For the Byzantine nation made him endure much tribulation, to the point that they put him into a fire, and when he was not harmed due to his holiness, they considered that this [feat] had been achieved through sorcery. And so, for a long time, he lived in exile, he whose predecessor had been so richly endowed that he had 700 bishops and 700 villages and many vardapets, musicians, and attendants. But once sovereignty had been removed from the Armenians, the kat'oghikos also became impoverished. [The Byzantines] wanted to do away with the patriarchate of the Armenians completely, and for seven years the Armenians were held in their faith until King Gagik, with enormous efforts and huge expenses, was able to obstruct this. He received a command to have whomever they chose as patriarch again. Then King Gagik and the remaining princes of the Armenians looked to find a worthy [candidate]. They selected Vahram from the Pahlawuni clan, son of Grigor Magistros, son of the sparapet [commander-in-chief] of the Armenians, Vasak Pahlawuni. [Vahram] had married, in accordance with wordly custom, [but subsequently] he became a monk, learned in the wisdom of the Old and New Testaments, and was familiar with the study of sacred literature from his childhood on. It was [Vahram] whom they made kat'oghikos of the Armenians, by the general will of the entire assembly and of everyone. And they named him [g61] Grigoris [I Vkayase'r, 1066-1105] after his ancestor, Saint Gregory. [Grigoris] made the churches of the Armenians resplendent and dispelled the thick gloom which had enveloped the Armenian people. He translated into Armenian from Greek and Syriac numerous sermons, lives of the saints, and histories of the martyrs, and so loved the saints that he was called Vkayase'r [Lover of Saints]. He went about on foot and preached like Christ's apostles, and thus was he a good shepherd throughout all the days of his life. In the same year a certain prince of the Persians [named] Salar Xorasan assembled a great multitude [of troops] and came to the district of Edessa. [31] A small force emerged from the city [to fight] against them and were able to put them to flight. However as the infidels' numbers increased [the Edessans] themselves were put to flight, and the foreigners took the entire country as booty and put them to the sword. Now at that time the duke of the city of Antioch, Pext, happened to be in Edessa. He was a brave man of Armenian nationality and he took his troops and went out to fight. Peghunit [Nicetas Pegonites], the duke of Edessa, brought out his proximus, gave him his troops, and instructed him to betray Pext so that he would be destroyed and not have the name of triumph. Thus when Pext wanted to fall upon the troops of the foreigners at night—and this [plan] was a secret—that malicious proximus (who was named Vard) unable to prevent him [g62] from approaching the foreigners, had the war trumpets sounded at once. The troops of the foreigners, who were at ease, heard the sound of the trumpets and got dressed. Meanwhile Pext attacked, killed many [Saljuqs], and put everyone to flight. As soon as the trumpets had sounded, the proximus and his troops went off to one side and did not aid Pext. Upon learning about this, Pext said: "Oh you apostates, here once again you have displayed your treachery." He returned to Edessa and then went to Antioch where he informed the emperor about all of this in writing. The proximus was taken to Ducas in Constantinople where he was flayed alive. His skin was stuffed [with grass] and the body was sent to Edessa. Pext was greatly rewarded, while Pegonites was removed from Edessa and deposed. Salar Xorasan killed many people at the gates of Edessa, then returned to Persia with great spoil. In this period Emperor Ducas, the patriarch, and all the clerics unanimously wanted to eliminate the [clerical] ranks and traditions of the Armenian church. They sent to Sebastia and summoned to Constantinople Atom and Apusahl, Senek'erim's sons. Realizing what was afoot, they took along the vardapet Yakovbos K'arap'nets'i. When they arrived, at first the emperor treated them with respect, but gradually, little by little, he revealed his intentions [g63]. He declared: "It is our imperial command that all the Armenian princes receive Byzantine baptism." Doubting [what to do], they replied to the emperor: "Without Ashot's son, Gagik, we cannot reply; for he is a valiant man, and king, and our brother-in-law. Send and summon him, since if we do that [which you proposed] without him, he will burn us and our clans with fire." However Ducas did not want to do this. Nonetheless Atom and Apusahl secretly sent and informed Gagik. Meanwhile Emperor Ducas held an examination [of doctrine] with vardapet Yakovb and received numerous responses from him. Yet on the question of the Two Natures, [Yakovb] tilted slightly toward the Byzantine [conception]. As everything he said pleased the emperor, the latter ordered him to write a document of [doctrinal] unity between the Armenians and the Byzantines on that basis. He had this document placed in [the cathedral of] St. Sophia as if [to indicate] that, behold, from this time forth, the Armenians and Byzantines had become united. At the same time, soaring like an eagle, Gagik arrived, which made the emperor extremely happy. [32] [The emperor] brought forth the document of unity between the Armenians and the Byzantines which Gagik read then tore up and threw on the ground in the emperor's presence. Ducas was greatly embarassed by this. Then Gagik said to Ducas: "Oh emperor, there are many men like this [Yakovb] in the land of the Armenians, and we do not accept them as accomplished vardapets." And Gagik upbraided that vardapet Yakobos with many words, saying: "How could you dare speak with such boldness regarding all the Armenians?" And to the emperor he said: "Oh [g64] king, acknowledge that I am a son of the kings of the Armenians, and a king over the Armenian people, and that all the Armenians are obedient to me. [Understand] that I am versed in all the Biblical testaments. Today I will speak with the Byzantine wise men about the orthodox faith of the Armenian people." Taking paper, Gagik wrote in his own hand concerning the doctrine of the blessed Trinity, about Christ's corporealization according to the doctrine of the holy Fathers, and about the ranks of the church, about the mystery of the life-giving mass, having as support the holy Fathers based on the testimony of blessed Scripture. He also anathematized all the wicked ranks of heretics who made bold to say wicked words about the holy Trinity and the saving administration of Christ. He wrote about all these topics very extensively and spoke before the emperor and all the Byzantine rhetoricians. He satisfied and convinced all of them. Then they made friendship and peace with [Gagik] the son of the kings of Armenia, and Ducas gave gifts to Gagik and to the sons of Senek'erim, and to all their princes. The name of Gagik was glorified among all the vardapets of the House of the Armenians. In this period the eloquent and blessed vardapet Grigorios Narekats'i shone forth with wisdom. Then Gagik left the emperor's presence with great glory but wrathfully, and as he travelled along he had the glorious [Byzantine noble]women and their daughters disgraced, and he ravished their treasures. He had resolved never to return to Constantinople nor to respond to any Byzantine summons. He thought to go to Alp-Arslan, sultan of Persia, and to rule from the throne of his kingdom, since [the sultan] had called him many [g65] times. It was due to his Christian faith that he had not done so. In Caesarea there was a metropolitan named Markos, very renowned and very rich in all luxury goods. He was a defamer of the Armenians and loathed them to the point that he had named his dog Arme'n, and referred to all dogs as "Arme'n." Gagik had been informed about all of [Markos'] evil [activities] and was waiting for an opportune time to repay his evil with evil. When they arrived in Caesarea, they took lodging in the home of Markos. Markos came before them unwillingly. When they had dined and were making merry in drink, Gagik said to Markos: "I have heard that you have an enormous dog, and I would like to see it." So Markos [summoning the dog] called out: "Arme'n, Arme'n." Then Gagik inquired: "Your dog is named Arme'n?" Markos replied: "We call him Arme'n because of his great strength." Gagik signalled his attendants who seized the dog. [33] Then he ordered that a sack be brought. When Markos saw this he became angry, thinking that they wanted to take the dog away from him. [Gagik] ordered that Markos also be seized and that the dog and Markos be put into the sack. Then he ordered the dog beaten, and the dog devoured Markos. Thus did Markos die. His home was subjected to looting, and they left with the booty. Gagik made bold to do this among the Byzantines, but he never returned to Constantinople nor did he answer their summons. This was the period of Gagik, son of Abas of Kars, a wise man full of all genius, versed in the Old and New Testaments. [It was also the period] of the prominent prince Atrnerseh in the district of Bagrewand, a man forceful in learning and a powerful orator. Now during the days of this Gagik [g66] Shahnshah, king of the Armenians, a wonderous sign regarding the holy mass took place in the monastery named Pizu which Gagik, king of the Armenians, had built. On the day of the blessed Pentacost, a piece of the holy host had fallen [to the floor]. During the night two clerics saw visions: one [cleric had a vision in which he] saw that the chandelier had fallen, but [its light] was not extinguished, while the other saw a radiantly shining star illuminating the church. The abbot of the monastery heard about this and ordered that they take candles and go to investigate. They discovered that piece of the holy host which had fallen to the floor. Picking it up with awe and trembling, they gave thanks to God Who alone had worked this miracle.

In the year 515 A.E. [1066] a comet appeared in the eastern part [of the sky] and moved westward. After being visible for one month, it disappeared, but after many days it reappeared in the west. In this period an impious emir from Persia, named O'shin, came and polluted all the districts [of the Armenians]. Coming close to Black Mountain he wrought unbelievable destruction in that district, putting to the sword numerous monks, and solitary ascetics, setting on fire all the districts and killing everyone. And then anger piled upon anger, because a Persian emir named Gumushtikin (Gomshtikin) who was part of Alp-Arslan's court came to Amida with numerous troops and annihilated those who had survived [g67] the previous wrath, and [the Saljuqs] turned many districts into uninhabited places. [Gumushtikin] came to the district of Edessa and besieged Nisibis, fighting some days against [the city] but was unable to take it. So he crossed the Euphrates and attacked the district of Hisn-Mansur (Harsnmsr), putting the entire population to the sword. Now a certain prince who was in the fortress of Nisibis, sent to Edessa alerting the duke of Edessa, called Arvandanos, [to the fact that] Gumushtikin was encamped by the banks of the river with few men [and urging Arvandanos] to come against him and arrest him. However, Arvandanos did not come quickly, and so while he was coming Gumushtikin learned about it and sent to Hisn-Mansur and brought his forces. Arvandanos reached the fortress of O'shin with 1,500 horsemen and 20,000 infantry. When the two sides clashed in battle, Arvandanos hurled himself upon them like a lion, for he was a valiant fighting man. The area was narrow and difficult. The Turks began to increase. [34] At this Arvandanos said: "Let's elude the Turks and turn back a bit. We will draw them after us and when we turn back on them they will be unable to flee." However other soldiers of Arvandanos' force, who were Byzantines, did not agree with this plan. They left Arvandanos and fled. On that day there was a great slaughter and wrath upon the believers, for the number of slain was 11,000, while Arvandanos and other princes were seized and taken captive. [Others] who escaped by a hairsbreadth fled into O'shin fortress. The impious emir [Gumushtikin] placed a yoke on Arvandanos' neck and led him into captivity. He brought him to the city [g68] of Edessa and sold him for 40,000 dahekans. As a guarantee of payment for 20,000 dahegans, [Gumushtikin] took [Arvandanos'] son hostage, where he remained in Persia. They sold other princes as well, and then Gumushtikin returned to Persia with a great deal of booty. He presented to the sultan many slaves, some 2,000 boys and girls.

In the year 516 A.E. [1067] Emperor Ducas died. His son Michael was still a small boy, and so the imperial throne lacked an emperor for a year. The empress, who was named Eudocia (Ewdok'sia) [Eudocia Macrembolitissa, regent 1067-1068], and who had ruled the empire for a year secretly had a certain prince, named Diogenes (Dio'zhe'n), brought [to Constaninople]. She married him and kept him in her chamber. Then she summoned the caesar who was Ducas' brother, and trying [to probe] him, said: "What shall we do? The imperial throne is unoccupied, and Michael is still a child." On these pretexts she wanted to ruin him. The caesar replied to the empress: "What concern of mine is that, since I and my sons are your servants? Give the empire to whomever you choose." The empress, who was astonished by his wisdom, said: "Go into that chamber and prostrate yourself before the [new] emperor. He went into the room and prostrated himself, and thanked God that he had not opposed her. They quickly took Diogenes [Romanus IV Diogenes, 1068-1071] to St. Sophia and the entire people anointed him emperor. During this period the blessed patriarch, the son of Gregory Magistros, wanted to step down from the [duties of the] patriarchate to enjoy monastic life, just as his ancestor the great Gregory the Illuminator had done [g69] after so many tribulations. His secretary Ge'org also shared this desire and was to accompany him. Everyone heard about this, and King Gagik and the princes of the Armenians [tried to] stop him. But he did not want to listen to them. So they ordained vardapet Ge'org [as kat'oghikos] at [Gagik's] order. Lord Grigoris was astounded by this, but unwillingly he ordained him, and then went off to pray with the monastics in a retreat. In the same year Emperor Diogenes assembled all the Western lands and came with numerous troops to the district of the Tachiks. He besieged Manbij (Mnpe'ch) with many machines and demolished a part of its wall. The terrified inhabitants of the city made cross-like objects out of any material [available] and, taking them in hand, went out to the emperor. Now the emperor had mercy on them, designated a general over them with cavalry, made them tributary, [and then he] departed quickly for Constantinople, since the empress had called for him. In the same year a young emir of the clan of Sultan Alp-Arslan arose and wanted to secretly rebel from the Persians and go to Constantinople. He reached Sebastia with numerous troops. The curopalate came from Constantinople to fight him, and they clashed in battle with each other [g70] near Sebastia. The Byzantines were defeated and fled. The next day the Turks turned upon them again in battle, expelled them and made them fugitives, capturing the curopalate himself. The Byzantine troops, blinded by the dust, fled to a rocky place called Makriti (Makr'it), and fell [over the cliffs] to their deaths. After a few days the king of the Armenians and the princes made friendship and an alliance with the young emir. He took the curopalate and other captives, some 3,000 men, and secretly reached Constantinople. The emperor received him with great honor since he was a benevolent person.

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