Tovma Artsruni

Tovma Artsruni
Occupation	Historian
Known for	History of the House of Artsrunik
Religion	Christian

Tovma Artsruni (Armenian: Թովմա Արծրունի; also known in English-language historiography as Thomas Artsruni; precise birth date and date of death unknown) was a ninth-century to tenth-century Armenian historian and author of the History of the House of Artsrunik (Armenian: Պատմություն Արծրունյաց Տան). Contrary to the given title, the four-volume work not only relates the history of Artsruni royal family, of which he was a member of, and its origins near Lake Van but also comprehensively covers the history of Armenia.^[1]^[2]

History of the House of Artsrunik

Tovma began writing History sometime in the 870s.^[1] Much like other histories composed by Armenian historians, the first volume starts at the beginning of the Armenian nation and ends in the middle of the fifth century. However, Tovma's most valuable contributions are found in the second and third volumes which accurately detail Armenian life under the rule of the Arab Caliphates and in particular the 851 Arab military expedition led by the Turkic general Bugha al-Kabir, its subsequent consequences, and the establishment of the independent Bagratid state north of Lake Van.^[1] Tovma was a relative of the king of Vaspurakan Gagik I,^[3] and wrote a detailed account in History about the famous palace and church Gagik constructed on Akhtamar Island.^[4]

The precise date that Tovma completed his work is unknown although some historians have determined that it was composed sometime after 905.^[5] Tovma's work ends with an incomplete 29th chapter yet several unknown authors (referred to as "Anonymous"; Armenian: Անանուն) took it upon themselves to continue History down to the 1370s and added an appendix and colophon.^[1] Tovma's History was first published in 1852 in Constantinople in Armenian and was subsequently translated into French by Marie-Félicité Brosset in 1862.^[1]

References

1 2 3 4 5 (Armenian) Vardanyan, Vrezh M. «Թովմա Արծրունի» (Tovma Artsruni). Soviet Armenian Encyclopedia. vol. iv. Yerevan: Armenian SSR: Armenian Academy of Sciences, 1978, p. 201.
↑ Thomson, Robert W. "Armenian Literary Culture through the Eleventh Century" in The Armenian People from Ancient to Modern Times, Volume I, The Dynastic Periods: From Antiquity to the Fourteenth Century. Richard G. Hovannisian (ed.) New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 1997, p. 228. ISBN 0-312-10169-4
↑ Redgate, Anne Elizabeth. The Armenians (The Peoples of Europe). Cornwall: Blackwell, 1998, p. 7. ISBN 0-631-22037-2.
↑ Thomson. "Armenian Literary Culture", p. 228.
↑ Sebeos. The Armenian History Attributed to Sebeos. Trans. and edited by Robert W. Thomson, James Howard-Johnston, and Tim Greenwood. Liverpool: Liverpool University Press, 1999, p. xxxv, n. 23. ISBN 0-85323-564-3.

Medieval Armenian historians and chroniclers

5th century	Koryun Agathangelos Yeghishe Faustus of Byzantium Movses Khorenatsi Ghazar Parpetsi

6th century	Atanas Taronatsi Abraham Mamikoneits

7th century	Sebeos John Mamikonean Anania Shirakatsi Anastas Vardapet Narratio de rebus Armeniae

8th century	Ghevond Abraham Vanakan

9th century	Tovma Artsruni

10th century	Hovhannes Draskhanakerttsi Shapuh Bagratuni Ukhtanes of Sebastia Movses Kaghankatvatsi Zenob Glak Aharon Vanandetsi Mesrop Vayotsdzoretsi

11th century	Stepanos Asoghik Hakob Sanahnetsi Aristakes Lastivertsi

12th century	Matthew of Edessa Grigor Yerets Samuel Anetsi Mkhitar Gosh Mkhitar Anetsi

13th century	Vardan Areveltsi Hovhanes Avagerets Kirakos of Gandzak Sempad the Constable Mekhitar of Ayrivank Hayton of Corycus Gregory of Akner Vahram Rabuni Stepanos Episkopos Stephen Orbelian

14th century	Nerses Palianents

15th century	Thomas of Metsoph Kirakos Banaser Sebastatsi Abraham Ankyuratsi David Merdintsi Martiros Yerznkatsi

16th century	Barsegh Arjishetsi Hovhanes Arjishetsi Simeon Aparantsi Andreas Evdokatsi Hovanisik Tsaretsi

17th century	Grigor Daranaghetsi Simeon Lehatsi Arakel of Tabriz Khachgruz Kafaetsi Hovhanes Kamenatsi David Baghishetsi Hakob Karnetsi Zakaria Sarkavag Zakaria Aguletsi Minas Amdetsi Yeremia Chelebi Keomurjian Hakob Hisusi Grigor dpir Varagetsi Gabriel Tokhatetsi Vardan Baghishetsi Stepanos Dashtetsi

18th century	Esai Hasan-Jalalian Petros di Sargis Gilanents Stepanos Roshka Abraham Kretatsi Simeon Yerevantsi Tovmas Khojamalian Khachatur Jughaetsi Isahak Vardapet Avetik Baghdasarian Abraham Yerevantsi Stepanos Yerets

Armenian literature

Epic and legends

Hayk and Bel Vahagn Tork Angegh Ara the Beautiful and Shamiram Artashes and Satenik David of Sassoun

Genres

Sharakan Tagh Hayren Antuni Horovel

V—IX centuries

Golden age	Koryun Agathangelos Eznik of Kolb Yeghishe Faustus of Byzantium Movses Khorenatsi Ghazar Parpetsi Hovhan Mandakuni

X—XIV centuries

XV—XVI centuries

John of Vorotan Gregory of Tatev Mateos Jugaetsi Grigor Khlatetsi Arakel Syunetsi Hovanes Tlkurantsi Thomas of Metsoph Arakel Baghishetsi Mkrtish Naghash Grigoris Aghtamartsi Nahapet Kuchak

XVII—XVIII centuries

Nerses Mokatsi Simeon Lehatsi Simeon Jugaetsi Arakel of Tabriz Stepanos Lehatsi Zakaria Aguletsi Yeremia Chelebi Keomurjian Zakaria Sarkavag Naghash Hovnatan Khachatur Erzrumtsi Paghtasar Dpir Esai Hasan-Jalalian Simeon Yerevantsi Sayat-Nova Shahamir Shahamiryan

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Tovma Artsruni

History of the House of Artsrunik

References

Further reading