Universal History

STEPANOS TARONETSI AND HIS WORK "UNIVERSAL HISTORY"

Stepanos Taronetsi lived and created during a period (from the middle of the 10th century to the beginning of the 11th century) that has been considered the "century of peaceful construction." This was thanks to the military and political strengthening of the Bagratunis, when the raids of foreign invaders had comparatively ceased and internal feudal divisions had softened. M. Abeghyan wrote: "This is the most fortunate period of our feudalism."¹ At that time, special emphasis was placed on church construction, and spiritual and cultural life became active, with a number of prominent figures contributing to its development, including the learned vardapet doctor of theology/teacher and historian, Stepanos Taronetsi.

Specific biographical details regarding Stepanos Taronetsi Asoghik are not known. From the name Taronetsi, it should be concluded that he was likely born in the Taron province of Greater Armenia. He was called Asoghik literally: "little storyteller" or "little speaker" because he had a good voice and was an orator.

Asoghik, while writing about the Catholicos Anania I Mokatsi (946-968) and the famous spiritual figures of the time, notes that during his "boyhood," he saw some of them with his own eyes and enjoyed their honey-tongued speech. This means that at that time, Stepanos was still a youth. He carried out his activities especially during the Catholicosate of Sargis I Sevantsi (992-1019), at whose request he wrote his "History."

As is evident from the testimony of Grigor Magistros, Stepanos Asoghik also authored a work titled "Commentary on the Prophet Jeremiah."²

The original title of Stepanos Asoghik’s "History" has been a subject of controversy. In most manuscripts, it is titled "History of the Times." The foundation manuscript N 2865 (13th century) is missing its beginning; the second part is titled "History of Stepanos Taronetsi according to historiographical letters," that is, "History of Stepanos Taronetsi according to historiographical writings." According to the New Armenian Dictionary, in Grabar Classical Armenian, the word tarr letter/character also meant book or volume (vol. II, p. 847). Indeed, just like the first part, the second is a compilation from the writings of historians of previous centuries; therefore, the first part should have been titled in the same way. The third part is also evidence of this, as it is mainly an independent work; for this reason, it is titled in manuscript A: "History of the Times by Stepanos Taronetsi, self-narration, third part."

In manuscript O and in the first printing, it is written: "History of the Times by Stepanos Taronetsi, self-narration, third volume." That is, in the manuscripts...

1 M. Abeghyan, History of Ancient Armenian Literature, vol. 1, Yerevan, 1944, p. 507.
2 "Letters of Grigor Magistros," Alexandropol, 1910, letter 65.