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Re: Military Notebook: Military Discussions
Historic Battles: Battle of Ani
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Ani
The Battle of Ani was fought between the forces of Vahram Pahlavouni and the Byzantine Empire in 1042. The Byzantine Empire was soundly defeated, with up to 20,000 dead.
Date: 1042
Location: Ani
Result: Armenian victory
Belligerents:
Byzantine Empire
Kingdom of Armenia
Commanders and leaders:
Kingdom of Armenia
Vahram Pahlavouni
Byzantine Empire
Unknown
Strength:
Kingdom of Armenia
50,000
Byzantine Empire
Unknown
Casualties and losses:
Kingdom of Armenia
Unknown
Byzantine Empire
20,000
Vahram selected a body of 30,000 infantry and 20,000 cavalry, forming three divisions, which fought against the Byzantines. A battle ensued in which the invaders were routed with great slaughter. The fight was so ferocious that the effusion of blood flowing into the Akhurian River is said to have coloured its waters completely red.
The Byzantines left 20,000 dead behind. This victory allowed Vahram Pahlavuni along with Catholicos Petros Getadarts to crown Gagik II king of Armenia and subsequently take the fortress of Ani, which had been in the hands of Vest Sarkis.
Vahram Pahlavouni of Armenia:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vahram_Pahlavouni
Vahram Pahlavouni (967–1045) was an Armenian army commander, (sparapet) and Prince of Bjni and Nik in Bagratuni Armenia. He was the head of the noble family of Pahlavouni, who held the hereditary title of sparapet in the Bagratuni kingdom of Ani.
In 1041 Vahram Pahlavouni prepared the coronation of the successor to Smbat III, the king’s nephew Gagik II who at that time was only fourteen years old.
The Byzantine emperor, was aiming to take control of Ani and its surroundings and annex them to the Empire. To that end, he began supporting the rebel Vest Sarkis, an Armenian pro-Byzantine prince and adviser of king Smbat III, who took over the city of Ani with the intention of handing it over. The princes and nobles that remained loyal to the Bagratuni dynasty, rallied around Vahram Pahlavouni and resisted three assaults of the Byzantine Army over the Kingdom of Ani, compelling the imperial forces to retreat. The Byzantines then sent a very large army through the southern part of Bagratuni Armenia and at the same time convinced the king of Caucasian Albania to attack Armenia from the east.
During a fierce battle that was fought in 1042 under the walls of the capital city of Ani, general Vahram Pahlavuni heavily defeated the Byzantine army, killing at least 20,000 men. This victory allowed Vahram Pahlavuni along with Catholicos Petros Guedadarts to crown Gagik II as king of Armenia and subsequently take the fortress of Ani, which was in the hands of Vest Sarkis. The latter ran to the fortress of St. Mary and was eventually captured. After these victories, Vahram and the new Armenian king defeated an army of the Seljuk Turks and the security of the kingdom was temporarily restored. Nevertheless, Byzantine diplomacy, the treachery of Catholicos Petros and the young king's political mistakes led to the occupation of Ani by Byzantine troops in 1045. After this tragic event, Armenian statehood in Greater Armenia continued for a few more decades through the Armenian Kingdoms of Kars, Siunik and Lori, the former vassals of the Kingdom of Ani.
Vahram's military talent and heroic contributions were sung in Armenian literature and popular songs. Vahram built the Marmashen fortress and Marmashen monastery where he was probably buried as well.
Up-Coming: Second Battle of Sarvandik'ar (1276)
Historic Battles: Battle of Ani
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Ani
The Battle of Ani was fought between the forces of Vahram Pahlavouni and the Byzantine Empire in 1042. The Byzantine Empire was soundly defeated, with up to 20,000 dead.
Date: 1042
Location: Ani
Result: Armenian victory
Belligerents:
Byzantine Empire
Kingdom of Armenia
Commanders and leaders:
Kingdom of Armenia
Vahram Pahlavouni
Byzantine Empire
Unknown
Strength:
Kingdom of Armenia
50,000
Byzantine Empire
Unknown
Casualties and losses:
Kingdom of Armenia
Unknown
Byzantine Empire
20,000
Vahram selected a body of 30,000 infantry and 20,000 cavalry, forming three divisions, which fought against the Byzantines. A battle ensued in which the invaders were routed with great slaughter. The fight was so ferocious that the effusion of blood flowing into the Akhurian River is said to have coloured its waters completely red.
The Byzantines left 20,000 dead behind. This victory allowed Vahram Pahlavuni along with Catholicos Petros Getadarts to crown Gagik II king of Armenia and subsequently take the fortress of Ani, which had been in the hands of Vest Sarkis.
Vahram Pahlavouni of Armenia:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vahram_Pahlavouni
Vahram Pahlavouni (967–1045) was an Armenian army commander, (sparapet) and Prince of Bjni and Nik in Bagratuni Armenia. He was the head of the noble family of Pahlavouni, who held the hereditary title of sparapet in the Bagratuni kingdom of Ani.
In 1041 Vahram Pahlavouni prepared the coronation of the successor to Smbat III, the king’s nephew Gagik II who at that time was only fourteen years old.
The Byzantine emperor, was aiming to take control of Ani and its surroundings and annex them to the Empire. To that end, he began supporting the rebel Vest Sarkis, an Armenian pro-Byzantine prince and adviser of king Smbat III, who took over the city of Ani with the intention of handing it over. The princes and nobles that remained loyal to the Bagratuni dynasty, rallied around Vahram Pahlavouni and resisted three assaults of the Byzantine Army over the Kingdom of Ani, compelling the imperial forces to retreat. The Byzantines then sent a very large army through the southern part of Bagratuni Armenia and at the same time convinced the king of Caucasian Albania to attack Armenia from the east.
During a fierce battle that was fought in 1042 under the walls of the capital city of Ani, general Vahram Pahlavuni heavily defeated the Byzantine army, killing at least 20,000 men. This victory allowed Vahram Pahlavuni along with Catholicos Petros Guedadarts to crown Gagik II as king of Armenia and subsequently take the fortress of Ani, which was in the hands of Vest Sarkis. The latter ran to the fortress of St. Mary and was eventually captured. After these victories, Vahram and the new Armenian king defeated an army of the Seljuk Turks and the security of the kingdom was temporarily restored. Nevertheless, Byzantine diplomacy, the treachery of Catholicos Petros and the young king's political mistakes led to the occupation of Ani by Byzantine troops in 1045. After this tragic event, Armenian statehood in Greater Armenia continued for a few more decades through the Armenian Kingdoms of Kars, Siunik and Lori, the former vassals of the Kingdom of Ani.
Vahram's military talent and heroic contributions were sung in Armenian literature and popular songs. Vahram built the Marmashen fortress and Marmashen monastery where he was probably buried as well.
Up-Coming: Second Battle of Sarvandik'ar (1276)
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