The Turco-Mongol Invasions and the Lords of Armenia in the 13 ...

Indeed, it was during such Mongol campaigns—be they
in the as yet unsubdued areas of eastern Armenia, or in
those areas of western Armenia under Saljuqid rule—that
the naxarars had the opportunity to display their martial
prowess, their loyalty, and their greed. ?or there was
much booty to be had, and this naturally appealed to the
naxarars. Thus (in 1236) did the atabek Awag participate
in the sack of An! (the property of his cousin Sahniah)
and the looting of its churches . The city of Karin/Erzerum
o
was sacked in 1242 . The naxarara are reported to have been
invaded Samc'xe and.devastated it. "When there was no
strength left, Iwane C'ixisJvarel-Jaqeli, who was also
called Ivarlvare, appealed to queen Rusudan, at her
agreement, for him also to seek protection with Chaghatai,
to free the country from destruction. He [firstoothered
to ask her permission] because he was the meZur8let-uxuc *es
and the pgince of Samc'xe. The queen agreed and sent him.
Then Iwane went and met
honor and appointed
Mur. pp. 74-76).
KG PP. 257-60.
tai who received him with
or the country" (KC pp. 189-91?
KG p. 279: "...And at that time the city was heavily
populated, being filled not only with Christians and TaSiks,
but all the people from the entire district had assembled
there. In the city were countless holy gospels [belonging
to] the great and the lowly. The foreigners took them and
sold the expensive ones to the Christians in their army,
cheaply. In glee they spread through each district,
dividing up the churches and monasteries". However, to
the credit of the princes, KG notes "Hay Christ reward
the Christian princes Awag, Sahniah, Vahram's son, Aiouia,
pious Dop*'s son, Grigor Xa£enc'i, and their troops. For
these princes bought out of slavery as many men, women,
and children, bishops priests and deacons as was possible...1*
(KG p. 280). GA pp. 307, 309:"...Then the Armenian and
Georgian princes took [away] many books, heortologia,
martyrologia, the Apostolic works, lectionaries, Acts, and
the Gospels written in gold, richly adorned beyond comparison
for the edification and adornment of the sons of the new
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