738) Ani under Armenien Byzantium and the Turkish Rule

Ani was an historical city, which located on the politically, militarily and economically important road. At the same time, An� was an important military station for Byzantium Empire. Archeological researchers show prints of Roma, Byzantium, Iran, Arab, Georgian, Armenian and Turkish civilizations in An�. Selcuk Turks conquered An� after the war with Byzantium on 16 August 1064.

Conflicts between Byzantium and Armenian forces started in 961. Armenian king of An� Yovannes-Smat was an ally of Georgian Giorgi. After Byzantium invaded Georgia, Yovannes sent Catholicos Petros to the Byzantium Emperor II. Yovannes died in 1041. In the year 1042, Byzantium tried to take An� twice, but both attempts were unsuccessful. Byzantium forces entered An� in 1045. Although Byzantium lost the conflict, the people of An� surrounded the city to save their king Gagik’s life. During the Byzantium rule Armenians faced cruelty from the administration, particularly during the era of emperors, II. Basileos and Konstantinos IX. Monomakhos. All Byzantium emperors tried to destroy Armenian national identity. Armenian people in An� were forced to immigrate to the Bulgaria and southern Anatolia. Byzantium rule in An� continued until 16 August 1064 when Turkish rule started there.

During the Turkish rule places, mosques, bridges were constructed in An�. The first Emir of An� was Menüçehr who printed money on which Sultan’s name was written.

Asst. Prof. Dr. Erol KÜÇÜKO�LU*
* Atatürk University President of the Department for Turkish Armenian Relations -
- Armenian Studies, Issue 4, December 2001 - January-February 2002