Ashot IV Qadj

Ashot IV Qadj meaning Ashot the Brave or Ashot The Vailiant was the younger son of Gagik I.

Life

When his eldest brother Hovhanness-Smbat was enthroned as King of Armenia as the legal heir of the Bagratuni Dynasty as King of Armenia (King of Ani), Ashot was greatly displeased as he had aspirations to the throne. So he organized a military campaign through his supporters beseiging and later conquering the Armenian capital Ani, usurping the power and dethroning the king Hovhannes-Smbat III in 1021. But later on a compromise agreement was reached between the two feuding brothers such the legal heir would reassume his power but on a much smaller territory in provinces near the capital, whereas Ashot would become king in provinces closer to Persia and Georgia. The concurrent rule of the two brother continued with Hovhannes-Smbat III ruling (1020–1040) and that of Ashot IV (1021–1039).

However despite the compromise agreement, the feud, sometimes military, continued between the two brothers during their concurrent reign thus greatly weakening the unity of the Bagratuni dynasty.

Their troublesome rule was followed by Gagik II, the last king of the dynasty from 1042-1045 when the dynasty finally collapsed. Ashot IV Qadj may actually be Ashot VIII lineage, but was the 4th Ashot to hold the Armenian throne, the previous king Ashots being Ashot I of Armenia, (known as Ashot the Carnivorous) who ruled 884-890, Ashot II (known as Ashot Yergat (Ashot the Iron), 915-930, Ashot III Olomurdz, (Ashot the Gracious) 953-977.

Preceded by Gagik I

King of Armenia (Bagratid Kingdom of Armenia) as King in various provinces 1021–1039 concurrently with Hovhannes-Smbat III (King of Ani) (1020-1040)

Succeeded by Gagik II