Ashot I of Armenia

Ashot I
King of Armenia
Reign	Armenia: Prince of Princes 862–884 King of Armenia 884–890
Full name	Ashot I Bagratuni
Titles	Prince of Princes King of Armenia
Successor	Smbat I the Martyr
Consort	Katranide
Royal House	Bagratuni Dynasty of Armenia
Dynasty	Bagratids
Father	Smbat the Confessor

Ashot I Bagratuni (Աշոտ Մեծ) was an Armenian prince, with Ashot II, oversaw Armenia's second golden age (862–977). He was born to Smbat the Confessor.

His family, the Bagratunis, was one of the most powerful in the kingdom along with the Artsruni. Both families were struggling for power through warfare against Arab invaders. He was recognized by the Abbasid Caliph Al-Musta'in as Prince of Princes of Armenia in 862, a status he kept also during the reigns of Abbasid Caliphs Al-Mu'tazz (866–869), Al-Muhtadi (869–870) and Al-Mu'tamid (870–892)

He was later crowned as King of Armenia through the consent of the Caliph al-Mu'tamid in 885, a move to prevent intrusion into the Armenian territory by Basil I Byzantine emperor of Armenian origin.

This way, Ashot I became the founder of the medieval Kingdom of Armenia, also known as Bagratid Armenia (Armenian: Բագրատունիների Թագավորություն Bagratunineri Tagavorutyun), an independent Armenian state starting in 885 by the ruling Bagratuni Dynasty. The Bagratid kingdom would continue until 1045.

Ashot I was married to Katranide. He reigned as king for around six years from 884 to 890. He was succeeded by his son, Smbat I.

References

• Federal Research Division (2004). Armenia a Country Study. Kessinger Publishing. ISBN 1-4191-0751-8. 
• Ghazarian, Jacob G. (2001). The Armenian Kingdom in Cilicia During the Crusades. Routledge (UK). ISBN 0-7007-1418-9. 

Preceded by (Himself as Prince of Armenia)

King of Armenia (Bagratid Kingdom of Armenia) 884/885–890

Succeeded by Smbat I