Armenian History - Decline

From the mid -11 th century Bagratid kingdom and its princedoms declined due to the impact of Byzantium which was free to act the weakening of the caliphate and pressure of the new enemies – Seljuk Turks.

Armenia was again divided between the Muslim East and the Christian West as once between Romans and Persians. The country was devastated by wars and attacks, the cities were destroyed, the population was mercilessly annihilated.

Many Armenian princes conceded their possessions to Byzantium and received cities and lands in the far southwest of the empire, near the Mediterranean Sea, in the mountains of Cilicia Tavr . It was there that the new Armenian kingdom, Cilicia , was formed. It preserved the traditions of Armenian culture and maintained Armenian statehood for another three centuries.