Battle of Varnakert

Infobox Military Conflict
conflict=Battle of Varnakert
partof=


caption=
date=697-705
place=Varnakert
result=Armenian victory
combatant1=Arabs
combatant2=
commander1=?
commander2=Smbat Bagratouni
strength1=8,000
strength2=40
casualties1=?
casualties2=?|

Battle of Varnakert (697-705) Smbat Bagratouni defeated the 8,000 strong Arab army from the garrison in Nakhichevan. Smbat, with the aid of Byzantine Empire, managed to re-conquer the majority of Armenia and drive the Arabs out of the country. [Ghevond, Histoire des Guerres et Conquêtes des Arabes en Arménie, translated by Chamazarian, Paris, 1856, p. 23]

During the period when the Arab governor Merwan ruled Armenia (723-744), the country experienced relatively great freedom, but his successors introduced a reign of terror, fore-fronted by persons such as Suleiman, Bekir and Hassan (766-778). In 774 the Armenians revolted again, this time led by Moushegh Mamikonian, who managed with his remaining 30 men to push back the 4,000 Arab riders which had been sent against him from the garrison in Dvin [Ghevond, Histoire des Guerres et Conqu�tes des Arabes en Arm�nie, translated by Shahnazarian, Paris, 1856, p. 133]

References