History of Armenia (book)

The History of Armenia (Old Armenian: Պատմութիւն Հայոց, Patmut῾iwn Hayoc῾), attributed to Movses Khorenatsi, is an early account of Armenia, covering the legendary origins of the Armenian people as well as Armenia's interaction with Sassanid, Byzantine and Arsacid empires down to the 5th century.

It contains unique material on ancient Armenian legends, and such information on pagan (pre-Christian) Armenian as has survived. It also contains plentiful data on the history and culture of contiguous countries. The book had an enormous impact on Armenian historiography. In the text, the author self-identifies as a disciple of Saint Mesrop, and states that he composed his work at the request of Isaac (Sahak), the Bagratuni prince who fell in battle in 482.

"Genealogy of Armenia Major", encompassing the history of Armenia from the beginning down to ;

Alexander the Great

"History of the middle period of our ancestors", extending from Alexander to the death of and the reign of King Terdat (330);

Gregory the Illuminator

the third part brings the history down to the overthrow of the Arshakuni dynasty (428); and

the fourth part brings the history down to the time of the Emperor (474–491), during this time there were three wars: a. the Armenian Independence War headed by Vasak Syuni (450), b. the civilian war between Vardan Mamikonyan and Vasak Syuni (autumn of 450 – May 451), inspired by Romans, Persians and Armenian clergy, c. the 2nd independence war headed by Sahak Bagratuni (who ordered Movses Khorenatsi to write the "history of Armenia") and then by Vahan Mamikonyan (after the death of Sahak Bagratuni in 482).

Zeno

English translation, 1978 (Harvard, ISBN 978-0-674-39571-8).

R. W. Thomson

G. Kh. Sargsyan, Russian translation, 1991 ( 9785808401853).

ISBN

R. W. Thomson, English translation, rev. ed. 2006 (Caravan Books, 978-0-88206-111-5).

ISBN

Under Soviet rule the book was published many times.

History of Armenia

Zenob Glak

John Mamikonean

Gregory the Illuminator

Roman relations with the Armenians

Robert H. Hewsen, "The Primary History of Armenia": An Examination of the Validity of an Immemorially Transmitted Historical Tradition, History in Africa (1975).

(in Armenian)

Movses Khorenatsi, "The History of Armenia"

(in English)