Armenian History - Bagratids

The devastating raids of Arabs forced the former Persian Armenia to accept the power of Arabic Caliphate. In 652 Armenia became a province of the caliphate. Numerous uprisings took place against it. The most active were Bagratids who managed to achieve their ambitions. In 859 Ashot, one of the princes, was appointed the ruler of Armenia.

In 885 Ashot accepted the title of the tsar. Armenian statehood was restored. Bagratid state with the capital in Ani had favorable conditions for developing trade, crafts, arts, churches, and monasteries. The apogee of the prosperity of Bagratid kingdom was reached under Gagik I (989-1020).