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

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1291 to <strong>13</strong>18 a system <strong>of</strong> collegial sovereignty existed <strong>in</strong><br />

Georgia whereby Lalaean Ic<strong>in</strong>gs were forced to share <strong>the</strong><br />

realm with co-k<strong>in</strong>gs—<strong>the</strong>ir very sons, or c<strong>and</strong>idates from<br />

<strong>the</strong> rival l<strong>in</strong>e <strong>of</strong> David Rusudanean .<br />

Hostile relations among prom<strong>in</strong>ent families had at<br />

<strong>the</strong>ir base disputes over l<strong>and</strong>. From <strong>the</strong> order <strong>of</strong><br />

Kirakos Ganjakec'i's narration, one might (<strong>in</strong>correctly)<br />

assume that <strong>the</strong> amirspaaalar Awag Zak'arean was <strong>the</strong>r<br />

first <strong>Armenia</strong>n pr<strong>in</strong>ce to surrender to <strong>the</strong> <strong>Mongol</strong>s (1236)<br />

<strong>and</strong> consequently his hold<strong>in</strong>gs were not disturbed by <strong>the</strong><br />

conquerors2. However, Kirakos1 junior contemporary,<br />

Step'annos Orbelean, placed <strong>the</strong> submission <strong>of</strong> Elikum<br />

Orbelean before that <strong>of</strong> Awag-5, <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> po<strong>in</strong>t is reveal<strong>in</strong>g<br />

<strong>and</strong> crucial. For <strong>the</strong> <strong>Armenia</strong>n Orbeleans, prior to <strong>the</strong><br />

C. Touman<strong>of</strong>f, "<strong>The</strong> Fifteenth Century Bagratids <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />

Institution <strong>of</strong> Collegial Sovereignty <strong>in</strong> Georgia", Traditio<br />

VJI (1949-51) pp. 204-5, 210.<br />

KG pp. 255-56.<br />

SO pp. 149-50: "...Tak<strong>in</strong>g [Elikum] as a guide [<strong>the</strong> <strong>Mongol</strong>s'<br />

comm<strong>and</strong>er Aslan-noy<strong>in</strong> ] went as far as Ani, subdu<strong>in</strong>g everyone.<br />

He took Vayoc' Jor <strong>and</strong> Elegia as far as Ereror village which<br />

st<strong>and</strong>s opposite Garni, <strong>and</strong> gave it all to Elikum, say<strong>in</strong>g:<br />

•That which was taken by <strong>the</strong> sword <strong>and</strong> that which was bought<br />

with gold are equally <strong>the</strong> patrimony <strong>of</strong> man. How <strong>the</strong>se<br />

districts which I have taken with my sword shall be yours<br />

as patrimony <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> patrimony <strong>of</strong> your l<strong>in</strong>e. £° you now<br />

faithfully look upon us <strong>and</strong> serve <strong>the</strong> Great Khan who sent<br />

us here*. And Elikum with great heartfelt thanks served<br />

<strong>the</strong>m. From that day forth it was confirmed that those<br />

[l<strong>and</strong>s] would be <strong>the</strong> patrimony <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Orbelean tun(House)<br />

<strong>and</strong> l<strong>in</strong>e. Now o<strong>the</strong>r comm<strong>and</strong>ers subord<strong>in</strong>ated o<strong>the</strong>r l<strong>and</strong>s<br />

<strong>and</strong> broufo* out <strong>of</strong> Kayen fortress, Awaf. <strong>The</strong>y took <strong>the</strong>

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