BRAGATIDS (874)

Princely and royal dynasty founded in Armenia and Georgia during the 9th century by the Bragatuni family.

Rivalry between the Byzantine empire and the Abbasids caliphate for political control of the area led to the emergence of the Bragatuni as a major power.

The election in 885 of Ashot V Bragatuni as King Ashot I the Great of Armenia was confirmed by both the Byzantine emperor and the Abbasids, and the dynasty maintained its rule in Armenia until 1045.

Another Bagratid, Adarnase IV, became king of Georgia in 888, and his line ruled there intermittently until 1505.

Armenian art flourished during the Bagratid dynasty; particularly remarkable is the architecture at the Bagratid capital of Ani, which succesive kings embellished with palaces and numerous churches.