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BC 2111- BC 585 - In the Beginning

Armenian history is divided into seven parts, each exhibiting the political changes that took place in the country. The first part embraces a period of 1779 years, commencing at the time of the general deluge, or the year of the creation of the world 1757, according to the Jewish chronology, or 2663 according to the Septuagint. In the beginning of this period the foundation of the Armenian monarchy was established by Haic, the fourth descendant of the second general father of mankind.

The ancestral and primitive home of the Armenians is the land of Ararat, descended from the Aryan stock. The Armenians call the progenitor of their nation and the first ruler of their country Haig or Haik, whose father they believe to have been Torgoma, the Thogarma of Scripture (Genesis x. 3), the son of Gomer and grandson of Japhet. Haik lived for a long period, witnessing the events which happened during the erection of the Tower of Babel; the confusion of languages that ensued; the building of the city of Nineveh; and the foundation of sovereign power in Assyria by Belus. During this time, his descendants rapidly increased, and his sons Armenac, Manavaz and Core had already distinguished themselves by their wisdom and virtue.

Haig had originally lived in the country of Shinaar; but he retired from the oppression of the Assyrian king Belus, and established himself in the hills of the neighboring Armenia. Their nation dates back to the year 2111 BC [2247 by another calculation], when Haik killed Belus of Assyria in battle, and became the chief ancestor and founder of the Armenian nation. Belus pursued the emigrant with an armed force into his new abode, but was defeated by Haig and fell in battle. This is said to have happened twenty-two centuries before the Christian era.

The Armenians to this day call themselves after his name, and their country Haiasdan, i.e., the land of the Haik. Haicus was succeeded in his authority by his son Armenac. The Haics or Armenians were also known by the appellations of Torgomeans, Ascanazians and Japhethians. The first of these is derived from Torgomah, the father of Haicus; the second from Ascanaz his uncle; and the third from Japheth his great grandfather.

A genealogical table, based upon Genesis x, 2-3, and xi, 10-26, would show that Abraham came about three hundred years after Haik. The catalogue of the Babylonian kings from Belus to Ninus, as preserved by Moses Chorenensis, derives some confirmation from the similar list of Armenian sovereigns supposed to be contemporary; at the top of which is Haic, who is said to have ascended the throne at the same time with the first of the two princes just named.

About three hundred years later, Aram, the sixth successor of Haig ruled over Armenia. He signalized his reign by the conquest of part of Media, Assyria, and Cappadocia. Aram was the Armenian ruler who governed in the days of Ninus; and the names of his successors, from Haic down to the dissolution of the Assyrian empire under Sardanapalus, are regularly recorded; and frequently, too, in connection with the contemporaneous sovereigns who held their state at Nineveh. The governor appointed by Aram in the last province laid the foundation of a town, which he called after his own name, Mishak, Majak, or Mazaca: it was subsequently named Caesarea. The conquest of Aram first made known the people over whom he ruled, and neighbouring nations called them Aramides, and subsequently Armenians, from the name of their king.

His son and successor, Ara, fell in a war with the Assyrian queen, Semiramis. Armenia then became dependent on the Assyrian throne, though it was still governed by native princes. King Scavordi, about the middle of the eighth century before Christ, threw off this allegiance. His son, Paroir, or Baroir, joined Arbaces and Belesis, the governors of Media and of Babylonia, in their revolt against Sardanapalus. After this, the kings of Armenia were again independent sovereigns.

In the reign of Haikak, the contemporary of Nebuchadnezzar, and the fifth king in succession from Paroir, the family of one of the exiled Jewish nobles, Shambat, came into Armenia. From him descended the great family of the Bagratians, which subsequently, about the middle of the ninth centurv of our sera, came to the throne of Armenia.

The next king but one after Haikak, was Dikran, or Tigranes I., who assisted Cyrus in his rebellion against Astyages and the Medes. To him Armenian authors ascribe the foundation of the city of Tigranocerta; but Plutarch and Strabo assign to Tigranes, the contemporary of Mithridates. He was followed by his youngest son, Vahagn, who became celebrated by many deeds of valour in his wars with the Medes: the Armenians and Georgians composed and sung poems in his praise.

A corps of Armenians formed part of the Persian army in the expedition of Xerxes against Greece. They, and a corps of Phrygians, wore the same kind of armour, and were both commanded by Artochmes, a son-in-law of Darius. Herodotus, in mentioning these facts (vii. 73), expresses an opinion that the Armenians were a colony of the Phrygians; Strabo (xi. c. 14., t ii. p. 463, ed. Tauch.) seems inclined to consider them as of Thessalian origin, hut his arguments are not very convincing.