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

Of the various sources considered thus far, while
the Armenian sources remain foremost for the study both
of the invasions and of the lords, the Anonymous Chronicle
in the Georgian History of K*art*11 holds a uniquely
important place for the study of the lords. During the
15-14th centuries (and to some extent before it) large
parts of Armenian territory were under the political control
of the Georgian Crown. These areas included the districts
of Taiir, Gugark", Lori, Ani and its environs, Ears and
Karin/Erzerum and their environs, and parts of central
historical Armenia. Numerous other areas such as Gag,
Somxet'i ("Armenia"), Javaxet'i, Tayk'/Tao, Klarjefi, .etc.
for centuries were inhabited by mixed Armeno-Georgian
populations . Consequently the Chronicle speaks about
developments in these parts of the kingdom. Furthermore,
a substantial proportion of the most important officials
at the Georgian court and in the realm in this period
were Armenian: the royal family of the Bagratids were of
Armenian origin as were the Zak'arids, Arcrunids and
Orbeleans, — to mention only a few 2.
Just as the Armenian
historians present these families in their Armenian milieu,
so the Anonymous Chronicle provides a rare opportunity to
observe the Georgian side of the personalities of these
See below ch. 2 p. n.l.
See Appendix A.
57