Universal History

the title "Universal History" does not exist. The opinion that "Asoghik himself called his History 'Universal...'" is baseless.1

The 11th-century historian Aristakes Lastivertsi wrote about Asoghik and his book: "Stepanos Taronetsi, who composed the world-narrative book with wonderful arrangements."2 It is also noteworthy that later, M. Chamchyan considered it a "History of Armenians,"3 the New Armenian Dictionary [NHB] called it "History,"4 M. Ormanian called it "History" or, according to Lastivertsi, "World-Narrative,"5 and K. Shahnazaryants, appearing to have no manuscript basis, titled it "Universal History" when first printing Asoghik's book, likely keeping in mind Aristakes Lastivertsi’s description of "world-narrative book" and the comprehensive content of historical events spanning centuries in Asoghik’s work.6 M. Emin, noting the first publication, titled Asoghik’s book "Universal History" Russian: "Всеобщая история".7 St. Malkhasyants followed K. Shahnazaryants, titling the 2nd edition "Universal History," even though such a designation is absent in manuscript C, which served as the basis for the text he compiled. Nevertheless, the title "Universal History" for this book has found wide dissemination. For us, the title "History of Times" found in the manuscripts is acceptable, but it is difficult to violate a tradition that has found universal recognition over a long period.

Stepanos Taronetsi divided his "History" into three parts, aiming to present a brief history of the three Armenian royal authorities (Haykazyan, Arshakunis, and Bagratunis), while simultaneously presenting a brief history of the countries and peoples near and, to some extent, far from the Armenian world, according to Armenian and foreign written sources.

In all manuscripts, the beginning of the first part is missing. It existed initially, which the author confirms by writing: "Now, let us begin with the beginnings, in which our forefather went out from the garden [Eden]..."8 The 11th-century historian Aristakes Lastivertsi confirms the same, writing about Asoghik: "Starting from the first man and continuing, he summarizes his history up to the end of Gagik."9

The first part consists of five chapters, in which a brief history is composed, covering the period from the creation of the world up to the time of the first Armenian Arshakunis. This part also includes reflections on Egypt...

[1] "Notable Figures of Armenian Culture" (5th-18th centuries), Yerevan, 1976, p. 196.
[2] "History of Aristakes Lastivertsi," Yerevan, 1963, p. 26.
[3] M. Chamchyan, History of Armenians, Vol. II, Venice, 1785, p. 877.
[4] NHB [New Armenian Dictionary], Vol. I, p. 9.
[5] M. Ormanian, History of the Nation, Vol. I, Holy Etchmiadzin, 2001, p. 1383.
[6] It is known that Vardan Areveltsi also wrote such a history. M. Emin, certainly following K. Shahnazaryants, published that book by Vardan Areveltsi (he called himself Vardan Bardzaberdtsi) in 1861 in Moscow under the title "Universal History," while G. Alishan published it in 1862 in Venice based on an ancient manuscript under the title "Collection of History."
[7] "General History of Stepanos Taronetsi, nicknamed Asoghik," Moscow, 1864.
[8] Stepanos Taronetsi, p. 7; cf. T2, p. 295, note 10.
[9] Aristakes Lastivertsi, p. 26.