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

In the coming decades, no "answer* would have been
necessary, as anti-Christian persecution became policy.
Such persecutions, executions, confiscations, and des-
tructions of churches were reported from all parts of
historical Armenia . Anti-Christian persecution was
launched formally with the plundering and killing ezped-
For the first decade of the 14th century, surviving
colophons speak of persecutions and confiscations at
Alt'amar (14CC p. 41), and of Turkmen attacks on Zayk'/
Tao (KG pp. 310-12; Mur. pp. 175-77). During the second
decade there were destructions of monasteries in parts of
northeastern Armenia (14CC p. 66), and at Karin (14CC p.
102, also the martyrdom of bishop Grigor Earneo'i d. 132V
22 ANil pp. 121-27), persecutions in southern Armenia at
Alt'amar (14CC p.114), Varaga (14CC pp. 136-37), Berkri
( 14CC p. 144), Sebastia (14CC p. 163). The third decade
brought a slight relaxation of the terror, but soon it
escalated again (VT p. 164). In the fourth, decade,
persecution was reported from Iranian Tabriz (14CC p. 283)«
Lori in northern Armenia (14CC p.249), Alt'amar (14CC p.
259), Goit'n (14CC p. 281), and Erevan. This'last city
was attacked by a coalition of Mongols, Turkmans and
Kurds (14CC p. 305). In the fifth decade persecutions,
brigandage, and massacres continued at Erzir.jan (14CC p.
325), Tayk* (14CC p. 327), Bayburt and Tevrike (14CC p.
369), C'lna (14CC p. 379) and between 1350 and 1360
occurred at Alt'amar (14CC pp. 405, 414), Erz: Jan (14CC
p. 411), and Bjjni (VT pp. 169-70). In the seventh decade
there were persecutions, expulsions, massacres and destructions
of churches in Hayoc* Jor near Julamerik
(14CC p. 458) and Mui (14CC p. 483). Reference to persecutions
in the above cities should not be taken to mean
that persecutions occurred solely there and solely at
that date. Anti-Christian terror was a permanent feature
of the 14th century and it was general throughout the
Armenian highlands, north, south, east, and west, though
Its scale and intensity did vary greatly.
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