Ashot II the Iron (; died 929) was king of Bagratid Armenia from 914 to 929, succeeding his father, King Smbat I, after the latter's martyrdom. His reign was characterized by persistent rebellions from vassals, challenges from rival claimants to the throne, and relentless foreign invasions—all of which Ashot successfully confronted and overcame, earning him the enduring epithet Yerkat (Երկաթ), meaning "the Iron".Adontz, Nicolas (1965). "Ašot Erkatʻ ou de fer, roi d'Arménie de 915 à 929". Etudes Armeno-Byzantines (in French). Lisbonne: Livraria Bertrand. pp. 265–283.
Origin of the epithet "Yerkat" Ashot II is remembered in Armenian historical tradition with the epithet Yerkat (the Iron). Contemporary chroniclers explain that he earned this title not only for his remarkable personal bravery, physical endurance, and unbreakable will, all of which were demonstrated in continuous warfare, but also because of the merciless, harsh, and iron-fisted severity he displayed toward his own subjects and internal opposition.Leo (1967). Collected Works (in Armenian). Vol. 2. Yerevan. p.260
Prince of Princes Ashot Erkat entered political life as Prince of the Armenian Princes. During the reigns of the first four Bagratuni kings (Ashot I, Smbat I, Ashot II, Abas: 887–953), this position was held by members of the royal house who subsequently inherited the Armenian throne.Yeghiazaryan, Arman (2014). "Prince of Princes of Armenia under the First Bagratuni Kings". Vem (in Armenian). No. 1. pp. 62–74.
During Smbat I's reign, two of the king's brothers—first Shapuh and then David—were appointed to this office. Smbat I was unable to appoint his son Ashot as Prince of the Armenian Princes at that time, because in 897 he had been forced to hand over Afshin, the emir of Atropatene, as a hostage, only retrieving him in 901. In 903, following Afshin's death, Emir Yusuf of Atrapatakan waged war against Smbat I, but they soon concluded peace. Yusuf subsequently sent a royal decree to Smbat I, appointing his eldest son, Ashot, as Prince of the Armenians and formally recognizing his right to the throne.Hovhannes Draskhanakerttsi (2010). History of Armenia. Matenagirk Hayots. Vol. 11. Antelias, Lebanon. Ashot Yerkat, recognized by Emir Yusuf, held this post until 909, when Yusuf invaded Armenia.Yeghiazaryan, Arman (2016). Ashot Yerkat: King of Armenia (in Armenian). Yerevan: YSU Publishing House. pp.8-9
From 914 onward, Ashot, with the help of Gurgen, the Georgian ruler of Tao, was proclaimed King of Armenia.Gordon, Stewart (2001). Robes and Honor: The Medieval World of Investiture. New York: Palgrave. ISBN 978-0-312-21230-8. With Gurgen's support, he was able to launch a liberation struggle against the Arab Emir Yusuf and Gagik Artsruni, the prince of Vaspurakan, who had allied himself with Yusuf. In 910, Ashot led the Armenian army in the Battle of Dzknavachar, where, according to Hovhannes Draskhanakerttsi, the Armenian forces were defeated due to betrayal by the Utians.
Systemic change and the problem of the three "Armenian" kings After the martyrdom of Smbat I, the centralized government system of the Bagratid kingdom underwent a serious transformation. Instead of the previously existing one-man title of "King of Armenia" and centralized power, a political situation arose in which three thrones simultaneously appeared, each bearing or claiming the title "King of Armenia".Yeghiazaryan, Arman (2016). Ashot Yerkat: King of Armenia (in Armenian). Yerevan: YSU Publishing House. pp. 48-50
These three kings were:
Ashot II Yerkat – the legitimate heir of Smbat I, representing the main branch of the Bagratid house and enjoying the support of Byzantium and the Catholicos of Armenia.Yeghiazaryan, Arman (2016). Ashot Yerkat: King of Armenia (in Armenian). Yerevan: YSU Publishing House. p. 51 Gagik Artsruni – the ruler of Vaspurakan, whom the Arabs had recognized as king as early as 908 in an effort to divide the integrity of Armenia. Ashot Shapuhyan (Sparapet) – a rival king crowned by the Sajjan emirate, who had become a tool in Yusuf's hands in his struggle against the legitimate king.
This situation broke the traditional model of Armenian statehood, where there was one supreme king and the remaining princes were his vassals. Such decentralization and transformation of the state system greatly complicated the unification of the country and the creation of a united front against external enemies, as each king tried to consolidate his own power in the region.Yeghiazaryan, Arman (2016). Ashot Yerkat: King of Armenia (in Armenian). Yerevan: YSU Publishing House. pp. 52-53
The liberation war and coronation In 909, Yusuf's troops pursued Smbat I, who had fled to Kgharjk and then settled in Dvin. In the spring of 910, Yusuf sent an army against Smbat I, and the troops he dispatched were also joined by the regiments of Gagik Artsruni. Smbat I's troops were led by his sons, the princes of the Armenian princes Ashot and Mushegh. A battle took place near a place called Dzknavachar in the Nig province, during which the Armenian troops suffered a heavy defeat. Mushegh was captured, but Ashot managed to escape. Smbat had fortified himself in the Blue Fortress, and a liberation struggle was underway in the country under the leadership of the crown prince Ashot. Hovhannes Draskhanakertsi reports that terrible chaos and famine had begun in the country. Crown Prince Ashot was supposed to unite the people, drive the enemy out of the country, punish the disobedient princes, and bring the country out of that difficult situation. In 908, Prince Gagik Artsruni, breaking the alliance with Smbat I, proclaimed himself the king of Armenia, laying the foundation for the Vaspurakan Artsruni Kingdom (908–1021). Yusuf, wanting to divide Armenia by any means, recognized Gagik's kingdom. However, Gagik Artsruni did not create a rival kingdom in Armenia, and Yusuf's expectations were not justified. All this was compounded by the raids of the northern mountain tribes. Hovhannes Draskhanakertsi reports that such a famine had begun that there were even cases of cannibalism. In 913, when Smbat I was captured, Yusuf proclaimed Gagik Artsruni the king of Armenia.Tovma Artsruni (2010). History of the House of the Artsrunik. Matenagirk Hayots. Vol. 11. Antelias, Lebanon. pp. 281-282
After Smbat I was tortured in Yernjak fortress by the Atrpatakan policeman Yusuf in 914 and crucified in Dvin, the Armenian throne passed to his crown prince, Ashot II (914–928). Immediately after his father's martyrdom, Ashot II, together with his brother Abas, assumed leadership of the liberation struggle against Arab rule.Hovhannes Draskhanakerttsi (1912). History of Armenia. Tiflis. pp. 233-235
Ashot II resorted to immediate and preemptive military operations, striking at Arab military units stationed in various provinces of the country. Armenian forces successfully liberated Bagrevand, Shirak, Gugark, and the vicinity of Tiflis. After clearing Gugark of the enemy, Ashot II reestablished the rights of the Armenian princes in Tashir, and appointed Movses as the governor of Utik.Hovhannes Draskhanakerttsi (1912). History of Armenia. Tiflis. pp. 243-244 For his uncompromising and victorious battles against the Arabs, his extraordinary will, endurance and courage, the people bestowed upon the king the title of "Iron".Hovhannes Draskhanakerttsi (1912). History of Armenia. Tiflis. p. 245
Despite his military successes, the country was in a dire situation: years of devastation, Arab invasions and famine had plunged the Armenian provinces into chaos. In order to overcome the crisis and obtain foreign political support, in 915 the Catholicos of Armenia Hovhannes Draskhanakertsi addressed a letter to the Byzantine Emperor Constantine VII the Yellow-Eyed. In the autumn of the same year, Ashot II Iron left for Constantinople, the capital of Byzantium, on a diplomatic mission.
Reign Ashot II succeeded his father Smbat I upon the latter's death in 914. Smbat had fought off an invasion launched by the Emir of Atropatene, Yusuf Ibn Abi'l-Saj, but when Smbat surrendered he was tortured and beheaded by Yusuf in Yernjak. Having taken control of the central lands of Armenia, Yusuf installed Ashot II's first cousin, also named Ashot, in Dvin as the "anti-king" of Bagratid Armenia.Garsoïan, Nina (1997). "The Independent Kingdoms of Medieval Armenia". In Hovannisian, Richard G. (ed.). The Armenian People from Ancient to Modern Times. Vol. 1. New York: St. Martin's Press. pp. 158–162. ISBN 0-312-10169-4. Harried by Yusuf's forces, Ashot II visited Constantinople to receive aid from Empress Zoe Karbonopsina.Runciman, Steven (1929). The Emperor Romanus Lecapenus and His Reign: A Study of Tenth-Century Byzantium. Cambridge University Press. pp 129-133. Ashot II was well received, and a Byzantine force was assembled to assist Armenia in defeating the Arabs. The force accompanying Ashot II, led by the Domestic of the Schools Leo Phokas the Elder, moved out the next year and marched along the Upper Euphrates, entering Taron with scant opposition from the Arabs.Runciman, Steven (1929). The Emperor Romanus Lecapenus and His Reign: A Study of Tenth-Century Byzantium. Cambridge University Press. p.131
Ashot the pretender and Yusuf's armies were unable to stop the Byzantine advance, which stopped short of capturing Dvin due to the onset of winter. Nevertheless, the force had returned Ashot II to a powerful position in Armenia and managed to inflict heavy casualties against the Arabs.Treadgold, Warren (1997). A History of Byzantine State and Society. Stanford University Press. p. 474 This still left the anti-king Ashot in control of Dvin, and civil war raged on from 918 to 920, when the pretender finally conceded defeat. Numerous other rebellions in Armenia also took place, but Ashot II was able to defeat each one of them. In 919, Yusuf instigated a failed rebellion against the Caliph and was replaced by a far more well-disposed Arab governor, Subuk. In 922, Ashot II was recognized as the ruler of Armenia by the Abbasid caliph in Baghdad and Subuk recognized him as shahanshah, or "king of kings".
The Byzantines were distressed with Ashot II's close relations with the Arabs and dispatched a new force under the Domestic of the Schools John Kourkouas to disrupt Ashot II's position as king and to support the rebels fighting him. In 922, Kourkouas reached Dvin in an unsuccessful attempt to capture a city that was defended by both the Arabs and Ashot II. In 923, the Caliph, facing troubles at home, released Yusuf, who traveled back to Armenia to unleash his fury against Ashot II. He began demanding tribute from the Armenian rulers but faced considerable resistance from Ashot II.Runciman, Steven (1929). The Emperor Romanus Lecapenus and His Reign: A Study of Tenth-Century Byzantium. Cambridge University Press. p.133. Time and again, Ashot II was able to defeat and rout the Arab armies sent against him for several years. A second unsuccessful attempt by Kourkouas to take Dvin in 927/8 coincided with Ashot II's victory over an invading Muslim army near Lake Sevan and again north of Dvin. Byzantine emperor Romanos I Lekapenos soon turned his attention to the east to fight the Arabs in Syria, leaving Ashot II master of his domain at the end of his reign. Ashot II died in 929 without any sons or heirs and was succeeded by his brother Abas I.
Relations with the Byzantine Empire (914–916) In the period following the coronation of Ashot II the Iron, Armenia and the entire Christian Transcaucasia found themselves in an extremely difficult military-political situation. The Sajyan emir Yusuf launched new raids on Vaspurakan, Syunik, and Gugark.