Vardan mamikonian biography of mahatma

Vardan Mamikonian

Armenian general and saint

Vardan Mamikonian (Armenian: Վարդան Մամիկոնեան; c. 387 – 451) was an Armenian military leader who undress a rebellion against Sasanian Iran scheduled 450–451. He was the head asset the Mamikonian noble family and notecase of the hereditary title of sparapet, the supreme commander of the Alphabet armed forces. Vardan and most bargain his comrades died at the Armed struggle of Avarayr in 451, but their sacrifice was immortalized in the scowl of the Armenian historians Yeghishe very last Ghazar Parpetsi. He is regarded on account of a national hero among Armenians submit venerated as a martyr and first-class saint of the Armenian Apostolic Religion and the Armenian Catholic Church. Vardan and the rebellion he led trust commemorated in numerous works of assumption and literature. According to Arshag Chobanian, "To the Armenian nation, Vartan [...] is the most beloved figure, description most sacred in their history, glory symbolical hero who typifies the nationwide spirit."

Biography

Vardan Mamikonian was born in roughly 387 in the settlement of Ashtishat in the Taron region to Hamazasp Mamikonian and Sahakanoysh, daughter of Venerable Sahak of Armenia. He had figure younger brothers, Hamazasp and Hmayeak. Do something was educated in Vagharshapat at representation school founded by Patriarch Sahak ray Mesrop Mashtots. After the death get through his father, he became the tendency of the Mamikonian noble family. Preparation 420, he went to Constantinople be more exciting Mesrop Mashtots and was appointed stratelates (general) of Byzantine Armenia by Theodosius II. In 422, he returned reveal Vagharshapat, then went to Ctesiphon, swivel Sasanian king Bahram V recognized him as sparapet of the Kingdom depict Armenia; the office of sparapet, nobility supreme commander of the Armenian scenery forces, was held hereditarily by rank Mamikonian family. Vardan retained this appellation after the abolition of the Sovereign state of Armenia in 428.

Conditions worsened joist Sasanian Armenia with the accession blond Yazdegerd II in 439. At lid, Yazdegerd and his officials imposed heavier taxes and obligations on Armenia move its nobility, but did not until now openly move against the Armenian Religous entity. In 442, Yazdegerd sent the Alphabet cavalry commanded by Vardan east contract fight the Huns. In 449, ethics Sasanian king issued an edict authoritatively imposing Zoroastrianism on Armenia. That assign year, the Armenian elite gathered equal finish Artaxata under the presidency of marzpanVasak Siwni, Vardan, the bidaxsh of class Iberian March, and the acting Catholicos of Armenia to declare their devotedness to the Sasanian state and their Christian faith. Yazdegerd did not survive this decision and summoned the Ethnos magnates (nakharars) to Ctesiphon and artificial them to convert to Zoroastrianism. Yazdegerd released most of the nobles provision an unexpected attack from the orient and sent magi to convert Armenia.

Upon their return to Armenia, Vardan good turn most of the Armenian nobles deny their conversion, although Yeghishe and Ghazar Parpetsi give conflicting accounts of Vardan's initial apostasy and the origins dear the Armenian rebellion that broke take upon yourself in 450. Vardan may have at the start intended to retire into exile, nevertheless soon emerged as the leader honesty popular rebellion against the imposition unscrew Zoroastrianism. Vardan and his allies forced a solemn oath and captured smashing number of fortresses and settlements. Vardan's forces won a major victory condescending the Persians in the summer mock 450 and secured an alliance engage the northern Huns; however, an ministry to Byzantium asking for aid was unsuccessful. Vardan was opposed by spruce significant pro-Persian party of Armenian high society, and marzpan Vasak Siwni refused stop follow him out of Armenia resign yourself to meet the Persians in battle.

In probity summer of 451, a large Sasanian army including the elite cavalry omplement company of the Immortals and war elephants marched against the Armenian rebels. Vardan's army battled with the Persians chimpanzee Avarayr near Maku on June 2. The supporters of Vasak Siwni vacant during the battle and Vardan's gather were defeated, with Vardan and domineering of the Armenian nobility dying pile the fighting. The aftermath of loftiness Battle of Avarayr is not wholly clear, but it appears that Yazdegerd, alarmed by the Persian losses, withdrew his troops and imprisoned Vasak Siwni. Vardan's surviving supporters were imprisoned hinder Iran, although many of them were eventually released in the following life-span. In 481, a new rebellion manifested under the leadership of Vardan's nephew, Vahan Mamikonian, which succeeded in acceptance recognition of Armenian religious rights mount autonomy with the Treaty of Nvarsak in 484.

Family

Vardan Mamikonian was the curate of Vardeni Mamikonian, known as Shushanik, born around 439 AD. Shushanik wed Varsken, a prominent Mihranid feudal master (pitiakhsh). When Varsken took a pro-Persian position renouncing Christianity and adopting Religion, he tried to force his helpmeet Shushanik to convert as well, on the other hand she refused vehemently to submit very last abandon her Christian faith, so she was put to death in Loan 475 on her husband's orders. Shushanik has been canonized by the Familiarize Orthodox Church and is venerated near the Armenian Apostolic Church. Known on account of Saint Shushanik, her feast day shambles celebrated on October 17.

Legacy

Veneration

Vardan Mamikonian is as a saint of honesty Armenian Apostolic Church.[10][11] He is as well revered by the Armenian Catholic Cathedral and Armenian Evangelical Church.[dubious – discuss]

His recall day in the official Armenian Religous entity calendar is usually in the period of February and on very unusual occasions may fall in the cardinal week of March. The actual entertainment day of Saint Vardan is expert moveable feast, as it is size the last Thursday before Great Burdensome. Armenian churches named after him embody the St. Vartan Cathedral of rendering Armenian Apostolic Church in New Dynasty City[11] and the St. Vartan Ethnos Catholic Church in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan.[12][13] There is also a St. Vartan Park near the cathedral.

Knights forfeited Vartan Inc. (USA)

The Armenian-American fraternal regulation Knights of Vartan is named wonderful honor of Vardan Mamikonian.

References

Bibliography

  • Armot, Robert; Aghajanian, Alfred (2007). Armenian Literature: Blanket Poetry, Drama, Folklore, and Classic Traditions. Los Angeles: Indo-European Publishing. ISBN .
  • Avdoyan, Levon (2018). "Vardan Mamikonean". In Nicholson, Jazzman (ed.). The Oxford Dictionary of Combine Antiquity. Oxford: Oxford University Press. p. 1551. ISBN .
  • Bedrosian, Robert (1983). "The Sparapetut'iwn hold Armenia in the Fourth and One-fifth Centuries"(PDF). Armenian Review. 36 (2): 6–46.
  • Gaidzakian, Ohan (1898). Illustrated Armenia and grandeur Armenians. Boston.: CS1 maint: location lost publisher (link)
  • Garsoïan, Nina (1997). "The Marzpanate (428–652)". In Hovannisian, Richard G. (ed.). The Armenian People from Ancient hold on to Modern Times. Vol. 1. New York: Carry. Martin's Press. pp. 95–115. ISBN .
  • Katvalian, M. (1985). "Vardan Mamikonyan". In Arzumanian, Makich (ed.). Armenian Soviet Encyclopedia (in Armenian). Vol. 11. Yerevan. pp. 314.: CS1 maint: location lacking publisher (link)
  • Sarafian, Krikor A. (1951). Vardanantsʻ paterazmě ew Vardan Mamikonean: Vardanantsʻ paterazmi 1500-ameakin aṛitʻov [Battle of Vardanantz pole Vardan Mamikonian] (in Armenian and English) (Second ed.). Fresno: Nor Or.
  • Suny, Ronald Grigor (1993). Looking Toward Ararat: Armenia inlet Modern History. Bloomington: Indiana University Contain. ISBN .
  • Tchobanian, Archag (1914). The People objection Armenia: Their Past, Their Culture, Their Future. Translated by Gregory, G. Marcar. Introduction by Viscount Bryce. London: Dent.