Ashot III the Merciful Bagratid king of Armenia

  Algemene notities:

After the Arab invasions of Armenia starting in 639, the country lay in waste and enslavement for several decades. In time Armenians were able to live in relative peace with the Muslim hordes that ravished the country, but the Christians were constantly harassed and murdered at will whenever Islamic zealousness inflamed the conquerors. The Byzantines rarely did anything to help. By the middle of the eighth century there was some measure of tolerance by some the Arabs. In 744 Ashot from the House of the Bagratids was appointed governor. Following Ashot, other Armenian princes were granted positions of authority, but this arrangement vacillated, depending on the Arab governors. When conditions became too harsh, the Armenians would often rise in rebellion. In 859 another Ashot was appointed as governor and was given the title of “Prince of Prince” of Armenia , of Georgia, and the Lands of Caucausus. In 885 he was proclaimed King of Armenia and Armenia granted its freedom. Beginning in the 9th century, Armenia enjoyed a brilliant period of independence when the powerful Bagratid Dynasty asserted political authority. Resumption of international trade brought prosperity and the revival of artistic and literary pursuits. The capital of Ani grew to a population of about 100,000, more than any urban center in Europe . Religious life flourished and Ani became known as the "city of one thousand and one churches." In the middle of the 11th century, most of Armenia had been annexed by Byzantium. Ashot III fourth Armenian king of the Bagratid Dynasty. Ashot III, Merciful, a rare example of kindness among ruling caste of that epoch. Curing the years of his rule he left not a single person in his kingdom without his attention and care. In 961 he established Ani as the capital of Armenia, built hospitals, schools and asylums (for lepers, too) all over the country. Arts and craps prospered. For all this people called him Merciful.

http://schools.ascp.am/gyumri20/figures/AshotIII.htm

Ashot trouwde met N.N. (N.N. werd geboren omstreeks 900.)