Two Armenian Historians: Kirakos of Gandzak and Ukhtanes of Edessa

III
INTRODUCTION.

first part of his book, completed in 690 Armenian (comm. 20 January) 1241, and says positively that he was then aged "40 years more or less."

If he knew in his youth the learned and venerable vartabied doctor of theology Mkhithar-Goch, who died in a very advanced age, in 1213, he could hardly have received his lessons. He says himself to have had for master Martiros, successor of Mkhithar at the convent of Nor-Getic, and Vanacan the historian, at that of Taouch-Berd and at Khoranachat; p. 102, 110, 120. He names as his fellow student Vardan the Great, famous exegete and historian, who speaks equally of him in his Epitome, with esteem and affection.

After the taking of Chamkor by the Thathars, in 1235 1), he was taken prisoner by the troops of Molar-Noin, with Vanacan, who was ransomed for 80 dahécans gold coins (p. 124); as for him, although the Mongols wanted to keep him because he knew their language, or rather, probably Turkish or Arabic, he succeeded in fleeing by night and hid at the convent of Getic, place of his first education. An inscription, without date, from this convent, teaches us that Kiracos had donated to it 20 volumes, 40 gold pieces, and many other objects.

This is all that is known of his person. He died in 1272, the same year as Vardan, according to Malakia Abégha. 2)

As for his book, of which we offer the translation today, it is composed of a Preface, where are enumerated seventeen historians consulted by him, for the composition of his historical summary; of this same summary, from the conversion of Armenia by St. Gregory the Illuminator until 1165, finished by an exposition of the dogmas and rites of the Armenian church, due to the pen of the catholicos supreme head of the Armenian Church Nersès the Graceful, the one who was in intimate relations with the emperor Manuel Comnenus, regarding the union of the Greek and Armenian churches. This treatise, half historical, half theological, is very interesting from these two points of view and must have been reworked by Kiracos; for it is more extensive than the Encyclicals published under the name of Nersès, in Armenian and in French, in Italian and in Russian.

After this treatise opens the history properly speaking, of which the author began the drafting the day of Pentecost, 19 May 690 Arm. — 1241 (p. 5, 138) and finished it in a space of eight months; for the Armenian year indicated had begun on 20 January: this is what one sees at the end of § XXXIV.

The rest of the book, until the end, in 1265 of the Christian era, during 24 years, contains a series of facts relative to Armenia, under the Mongol domination, in the approximately chronological order of their accomplishment. Vardan goes until 1268 and stops at the death of Houlagou. If many details are missing, which the author, as an eyewitness, could and should have inscribed, it is that the vartabied Vanacan had, for his part, already consigned them in writing, and that Kiracos, like Vardan, who had knowledge of this work,

1) Tchamitch says, in 1238. | 2) Addit. et écl p. 446.