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

share in the property of the royal line" . The Orbeleans
are not mentioned here. The sources themselves are
in conflict over who was the more important naxarar
in this period, but what is important here is the
evidence of conflict among the families. Indeed, within
the Orbelean family itself quarrels arose among the
children of TarsayiS aftep his death (1290)2.
Conflicts among the secular lordly families were
paralleled by conflicts among the clerical nobility.
As the history of the Armenian Church in this period
has been studied in elaborate detail in Ormanian's
Azgapatum. here we shall note only some of the major
divisions which led to unlimited conflict and rivalry.
First, there were religious differences within the two
branches of the Zak'arid family itself. Though Zai'are
remained true to Armenian Monophysitism, his brother
Iwane "converted" to Georgian Chalcedonian Orthodoxy.
Nor was Iwane an exceptional case. Many Armenians,
KG p. 285? Mur. p.153.
SO pp. 177-78: "...But then his eons commenced arguing
over their father's lordships and princedom. They went,
to the royal court and stood before the ruler Arghun-Khan
and familiarized him with their debate. Arghun called"
forth the senior son, Elikum, appointed him to his father's
place and set him as prince over all. However, although
Elikum ruled all of his father's patrimonies and princedom,
nonetheless he did not want to deprive his brothers. So he
divided the entire inheritance with the advice of the
bishops, vardapeta and azats. He gave a suitable portion to
his brother's son, Liparit...".
276