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

Ganjakee'i's Hiatory of Armenia is a lengthy work
in 65 chapters, written in a clear, simple style. It
ooomences with the Christianization of Armenia and narrates
events from Armenia's political and Church history, based
on sources cited by the author . Since most of these
sources have survived, the early portion of the History
—albeit by no means devoid of interest—is less important
than the eection(beginning with chapter 11) wherein
Kirakos describes events of his own day. The writer himself
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clearly was conscious of this fact < Kirakos was eminently
qualified to write about 13th century Armenia* An intell-
igent man trained by an intellectual of Vanakan's caliber,
the author was familiar with Church organization and
problems, with prominent contemporary churchmen and their
historical writings . He was acquainted with important
Armenian naxarars such as prince Proi Zalbakean, who
participated in the Mongol conquest of Baghdad in 1258/59
and narrated to Kirakos what he had seen and heard, and
prince Grigor Maoikonean, who informed Kirakos what he had
heard from a Mongol noble about Chinglz-Khan . His detailed
KG, "Introduction", pp. 6-10.
KG, chp. 20 p. 231.
Kirakos mentions his teacher Vanakan's now-lost work,
KG, ehp. 5 P. 178.
KG, chp. 60 p. 364;chp. 32 p. 272.
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