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հՍ՚ՕԷ VEfiHlSHEH ՀՐԱՏԱՐԱԿՈՒԹԻՒՆ ՎԱՐԳԱՆԱՆ8 ԱՍՊԵՏՆԵՐՈՒ ԵՎՐԱՅՐԱԿ8ՈՒԹԵԱՆ ԱՒԱՐԱՑՐԻ ՃԱԿԱՏԱՄԱՐՏԻ ՀԱԶԱՐ ՀԻՆԳ ՀԱՐԻՒՐ ԱՄԷԱԿԻՆ ԱՌԻԹՈՎ PUBLISHED BY THE KNIGHTS OF VARTAN, INC. ON THE OCCASION OF THE FIFTEEN HUNDREDTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE BATTLE OF AVARAIR Second Edition —1975 PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA “The heroic battle of Avarair was the ecstatic and inaccessible peak of the struggle for freedom. That is why it has been, now is and shall ever remain the most glorious page of Armenian history; amagnificent page which has inspired and comforted many generations of Armenians and has shown the paths of national and political virtues to the Country, the People and the Church. ”KEVORK VI. CatholiCos and supreme patriarCh of all the armenians .Dedication TO THE MEMORY OF THE PEERLESS AND FEARLESS WARRIORS OF THE HEROIC COUNTRY OF ARMENIANS, WHO, UNDER THEIR BRAVE AND VALIANT LEADER, VARTAN MAMIGONIAN, AND, IN -SPIRED BY THE RESOLUTE AND ELOQUENT MINISTER OF THE ARMENIAN FAITH, GHEVONT YERETZ, WAGED HOLY WAR FOR FREEDOM OF CONSCIENCE, OF MIND, AND OF SOUL, AND FELL ON THE FIELD OF AVARAIR, AND THUS BECAME THE EVERLASTING SYMBOL OF THE IDEAL OF RELIGIOUS AND POLITICAL INDEPENDENCE. LET THE PUBLICATION OF THIS GOLDEN VOLUME, DEDICATED TO THEIR HEROIC STRUGGLE, BE ATOKEN OF OUR ADMIRATION, TRIBUTE TO REVERENCE, AND PROFOUND GRATITUDE, AND ATHEIR BLESSED MEMORY, ON THE OCCASION OF THE IMPASSIONED AND FERVENT COMMEMORATION OF THE FIFTEEN HUNDREDTH ANNIVERSARY OF THAT HEROIC BATTLE. WE OWE TO THEM OUR GLORIOUS PAST, OUR BRILLIANT PRESENT, AND HOPEFUL FUTURE. “BLESSED BE THE MEMORY OF THE RIGHTEOUS” The Second Edition of the History of Vartan and tHe armenian War by YEGHISHEH is dedicated to the Memory of Nakhgin Avak Sbarabed DICKRAN H. BOYAJIAN Historian Prolific Writer, Attorney ,and Community Leader THE KNIGHTS OF VARTAN Contents KevorK VI (Excerpt from Encyclical).............................................page v<a href="#9_0">D</a><a href="#9_0">eDication</a><a href="#9_0">........................................................................................</a><a href="#9_0">.</a><a href="#9_0">vii </a>reface......................................................................................xiii <a href="#19_0">i</a><a href="#19_0">ntroDuction</a><a href="#19_0">.............................................................................</a><a href="#19_0">xvii </a>paDDress to priest DaviD MaMigon..................................... 1first chapter The Times......................................................................... 3seconD chapter Events Brought About by the Prince from the East .9thirD chapter The Unity of the Holy League of the Church 33 fourth chapter The Disruption of the Seceders from the Holy League ..55 fifth chapter The Attack of the Easterners................................................... 61 sixth chapter The War of the Armenians................................................... 73 seventh chapter The Prolongation of Disturbances .......................................................79 eighth chapter Concerning the Tortures and Martyrdom of Holy Priests .91 Concerning the Armenian Confessors Khoren and Abraham The Armenian Nakharars in Bondage.................................... notes...............................................................................................1*1 <a href="#0_0">K</a><a href="#0_0">ahnaMag</a><a href="#0_0">......................................................................................</a><a href="#0_0">152 </a>partial list of naMes phonetically spelleD 153 Acknowledgment 154 THE bi-lingual translation of what is commonly known as Yeghisheh has come to light in response to great popular demand. The publishers felt that reproduction of this golden volume of Armenian classical litera ture might be fitting tribute to the memory of the gallant warriors, whose aa-aundaunted courage and supreme sacrifice in defense of the Christian faith, the cultural achievements and the national aspirations of the Armenian people, became and remained generations that followed. aconstant source of inspiration to all the The original text was written in the fifth century, shortly after the Battle of Avarair which is generally assumed to have taken place on the 26th day of May, 451. The language used by the author reaches peak in its choice of words, poetic expressions, descriptive character, and extraordinary construction, language that has suffered the fate of Vergil's Latin and Homer Greek, and is no longer spoken, and yet it still com pletely dominates the services of the Armenian Church because of its enchant asublime a’s --ing beauty, majestic expressions and euphonic effect, as if intermixed with the breath of God. The difficulty of understanding the language even by those who are more or less familiar with modern Armenian, was deciding to embark upon the task of this translation. Furthermore, the need for an English translation for the English speaking public was con sidered much greater. In this volume sincere attempt has been made to give true version of the original text, both in modern Armenian and in English. The work proved to be exceedingly more difficult than first antici acompelling force in -aa-pated, but it was carried on with utmost diligence, untiring effort and unyielding perseverance, the translators being fully conscious of the fact that their struggle was to be alabor of love and duty, far more rewarding and satisfying than any other ordinary undertaking. In this connection it may be appropriate to quote from the Preface of the English translation by C. F. Neumann, to whom reference shall be made later: “. ..industry and perseverance were requisite in translating Elisaeus .Difficulties of aquite peculiar nature are presented by the Armenian language; as will be readily believed when Imention, that the words are xiii arranged, not as the course of thought might require, but as they best suit each other with regard to euphony. The Armenian authors of the fourth, fifth, and sixth centuries were formed in the schools of prostrate Greece. There they acquired all the forms of writing, known under the names of rhetorical figures, antitheses, inversions, and parentheses, and transferred them to the Armenian language; thus doing no little injury to the clearness and easy flow of the language. ”Twenty-eight different editions of Yeghisheh in classical Armenian are known to us. We have, however, chosen for our text one of the most popular and authentic editions, the Antzevatziatz edition, with occasional references for comparison to the one published in Venice in 1859. Yeghisheh has been translated into Russian, Italian, French and English, and there have been five different translations into modem Arme -nian, four of which are in the Eastern branch and one in the Western branch of the modern Armenian language. These two branches are not dialects, but are equally well and inde -pendently developed modem Armenian, taking their roots exclusively from the basic mother tongue—the classical language of the Golden Era of Armenian culture. The Eastern branch is used within the Soviet Armenian Republic and in other parts of the Caucasus and Trans-Caucasia, as well as in Russia; the Western branch is predominant principally among the Armenians in the Near East west of the Caucasus, in Europe and in the Western Hemisphere including the United States of America. The following books were used or referred to for the translation of Yeghisheh: First: The Antzevatziatz edition in classical Armenian, as the principal copy Second: The translation into Eastern Armenian by Professor Y. Der Mina -sian ,published in the Soviet Armenian Republic in 1946. It is most very valuable Introduction and extensive notes, most of which we have used for appropriate to note that this excellent volume contains aaguide in the preparation of the notes appearing in our bi-lingual volume. Third: Yeghisheh, History of Vartan ,by KiuD aghaniantz ,published in 1911, in Eastern Armenian, with notes some of which we have incorporated in this volume. xiv Fourth: The translation in Western Armenian by Stepan panian, of Bridge- water, Massachusetts, still in manuscript form, has been useful in clari -fying some difficult passages in the classical text. Fifth: The English translation by C. F. neumann ,acommendable work published in London, England, in 1830. It is unfortunate, however, that this work is incomplete. The Eighth Chapter, constituting almost one-third of the book, has been left out in its entirety and many pas sages from almost every chapter have been omitted and so noted by the translator: Here some spiritual reflections are omitted. There are, also, numerous errors which, however, may be justified by reason of the fact that the translator, student of history, was not thoroughly familiar with the difficult Armenian language. The book has an elab -“”a-orate Preface and valuable notes. We have used it not only for its notes, but for occasional guide and comparison. To all these men of letters we owe The translators are fully aware of their limitations and accept the entire responsibility for any and all errors and defects in this volume. Notwith standing that, they wish to believe that their efforts will not have been in vain, and that this bi-lingual volume will serve as contribution to the adebt of gratitude. -aspread of Armenian culture in the United States of America and abroad. That will be the reward and satisfaction of those who labored for the publication of this volume. HovHanneS Zovickian Dickran H. Boyajian Boston, Mass. April 25, 1952. Intraduction THE publication of this volume in Armenian and English is believed to be Avarair, on the occasion of the 1500th Anniversary of their sacrifice. Yeghisheh History of Vartan and the Armenian War describes vividly afitting and long-enduring tribute to the memory of the heroes of ’s the true spirit, the faith, the will, and the heroism of the Armenian people of the fifth century. It is an eye-witness story, replete with emotion and fervor, portraying the events in magnificent prose which has stood the test of time. The book is still recognized as one of the most notable volumes of classical Armenian. It is regrettable, however, that so little is known about Yeghisheh even though he has been looked upon with admiration and reverence as the most beloved and sweet-tongued author of the Golden Era. Numerous attempts have been made to cast doubts upon the authenticity of his work ’s life, “”and upon his being an eye-witness to the events he describes. Notwithstand ing all that, he has persistently dominated the hearts and the minds of generations of Armenians who have accepted his story of Vartan and Vartanank as an accurate and complete account of the struggle between the Armenians and the Persians. -According to legend, Yeghisheh, the historian, was aclergyman, an ordained celibate priest (vartabed) of the Armenian Church. He was one of the youngest pupils of St. Sahag and St. Mesrob Mashdotz, the two most remarkable and learned figures of the Golden Era of Armenian culture. He was born probably in the year 415. His elementary education included, besides Armenian, Greek, Persian, and Assyrian. In 434 he was sent to Edessa, Palestine, and Alexandria, together with his classmates David, Mampreh, Goryune, and others. He was tutored in the school of Cyril of Alexandria, where he studied contemporary literature and liberal arte. After visiting Rome, Athens, and Constantinople he and his group of students returned to Armenia in the year 441 or 442, after the death of their former teachers and spiritual fathers. Father Ghevont Alishan of the Mekhitarists of Venice in his book entitled Soperk Haigagank (Armenian writings) relates that after Yeghisheh returned to Armenia, he “devoted himself to St. Vartan and served him faithfully in divine and secular matters ”, continuing later as personal secre- xvn tary to the Sbarabed Vartan Mamigonian. He accompanied the Armenian Nakharars when they were summoned to Dizpon (Ctesiphon) by Hazgerd (Yezdigerd) II. Toward the end of his life Yeghisheh became amonk, and died in ahermit cell some time between 470-475. Historians believe that he wrote ’s and completed the History of Vartan and the Armenian War during the years 458-464. The authorship of anumber of canonical writings and commentaries has also been attributed to him, but his historical essay on Vartan and Var- tanank has immortalized him and has captured the heart and soul of every Armenian through the centuries, even beclouding the monumental work of another famous historian, Lazar of Parbe, who rendered an objective account of the same historical episode, calmly and cautiously, describing the events chronologically and factually, without emotion or passion. Yeghisheh, on the other hand, taking the same historical data, composed apoetic prose, saturated with fervor, thrill, and pathos. Yeghisheh ’s book manifests the eloquence and imagination of divinely ainspired poet. The author swells with emotion, becomes indignant, and explodes into tears while he is narrating history. He appears fully cognizant of his subject—persons and deeds, bravery and cowardice, loyalty and trea- son, virtue and wickedness; boldly and courageously he rebukes and con -demns the guilty, praises and deifies the virtuous, his sole purpose being the glorification of passion for freedom, devotion, and patriotism. The rebellion of the Armenian people against the tyranny of the Sassa- nids of Persia constitutes the main theme of the book, wherein is described in eloquent words the most remarkable episode of Armenian history, the battle of Avarair, fought on the 26th day of May, 451, on the banks of the Dughmood River. It was, according to the author, aterrific and sanguinary clash between two unequal forces: sixty-six thousand poorly equipped Armenians against three hundred thousand well-trained and well-armed Persians. It lasted from sunrise to sunset, and as the last rays of the sun were disappearing behind the horizon, leaving the battleground strewn with bodies, so die last ray of life left the mortal remains of Vartan and 1035 of his faithful followers. From amilitary point of view the Armenians were defeated, but fate had decreed otherwise. The spirit of the heroes of Avarair emblazoned the path of countless other heroes and martyrs through the centuries, and xviii deeply impressed on the hearts of the Armenians the love of freedom, and convinced the rulers of Persia that Christianity in Armenia could not be replaced by sun-worship; nor freedom, by slavery. The history of Armenia has recorded many valorous deeds and magnificent triumphs. Armenians have had great heroes and famous kings; they have had their Tigranes the Great, King of Kings and ruler over vast terri tories and neighboring countries; but they chose vanquished hero for their idol, as symbol of patriotism, faith, courage, and devotion. Fifteen cen -aa-turies of time and space have failed to diminish the glory of his sacrifice and his influence on the hearts and souls of our people. Aglimpse into the origin, the traditions, the cultural development, and the geographical location of the Armenians may reveal important factors in determining the reasons for their unique attitude toward Vartan and Vartanank. Armenia, as recognized in history, is abeautiful country with vast plateaus and lofty mountains over which superbly reigns the snow-capped Ararat. Many streams originating in and flowing from the mountain sides form the famous rivers of the Near East (Kur), Alice, and Chorokh which irrigate not only the plains of Armenia, but those of neighboring countries. Araxes alone is confined within the borders of Armenia, upon whose banks once stood magnificent cities, sev —Euphrates, Tigris, Araxes, Gour —-eral of which served as metropolises, at one time or another. Many lakes, located on mountain tops and high altitudes, add to the natural beauty of the country. The geographic position of Armenia has had adecisive influence upon juncture the fate of its inhabitants. It was, for long period of time, aabetween East and West, dominating the military and commercial roads of the old world, and, because of that, it served as an arena of conflict between rival nations and became the victim of many invasions and suffered conse -quential hardships. These factors have been instrumental in the moulding of the character of the Armenian people, and have provided them with moral strength, flexibility, sturdiness, and determination to survive. Many races and peoples invaded their country and brought disasters upon them, but the victims survived, whereas their persecutors were lost in the tide of time. Ethnological factors have also played an important part in the growth and development of the Armenian people. Anthropologists have classified xix them with the Albian or Armenoid races, the characteristics of which are sturdiness, sagacity, and resoluteness. The Armenian ancestry has been traced to the Nairi-Urartians, the Hittites and the Hayassans, all of whom at one time or another inhabited the Armenian plateau and left important traces of their civilization. In the seventh or eighth century B.C. group of people, crossing the Hellespont from Thrace, invaded Asia Minor and advanced to the Armenian plateau, forming new nation with the anew ainhabitants of the country. From then on the name Armenian began to appear in historical records and inscriptions. The legendary history of the Armenians had come to an end and their authentic history had begun. As heirs to the customs, traditions, and characteristics of the former inhabitants of the country, the Armenians created anew civilization of their own. They continued to remain in the center of all the conflicts between warring nations from the east, west, and south. In their quest for world domination Persians, Romans, Greeks, Macedonians, Saracens, and others trod over the Armenian plateau and caused untold miseries to its inhabit -ants, but were never able completely to dominate the people, nor destroy their will to live. They all, however, left the people. atrace of their own culture with The Armenians never had world power, except possibly during the reign of Tigranes the Great, just prior to the advent of the Christian Era, and that for short time only. The reason for their survival, therefore, may be found in the moral and spiritual values which they cherished. Christianity offered great oppor tunity for the development and the strengthening of these values. From the middle of the first century to the close of the third century this new faith was not tolerated by the pagan ruling classes, and the wor alust for conquest, and never became

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