Geography and power
In 885, with the coronation of Ashot I Bagratuni, the Armenian kingdom was restored after a long interruption. The first capital of the new state was Bagaran, an ancient city on the right bank of the Akhurian River. It had been founded as early as the Orontid period and had retained religious and dynastic significance for centuries.
The choice of Bagaran was above all a political symbol. The Bagratunis had come to power through a complex diplomatic struggle while maintaining relations with both the Arab Caliphate and Byzantium. The new capital had to be under their direct control and associated with the historical authority of the dynasty.
Historical evidence
Bagaran’s church of St Theodore dates to the seventh century, roughly two and a half centuries before the restoration of Bagratid kingship. The church date and the capital date answer different questions. Read together, the architectural record and the court history show how an established settlement became the seat of a new kingdom.
Later history of the city
However, Bagaran could not meet all the administrative and military needs of the expanding kingdom for long. The center of Bagratuni power was moving toward Shirak, closer to the dynasty’s principal territories and important fortresses. The role of capital therefore soon passed to Shirakavan. Bagaran retained its religious and historical importance, but later wars and population movements caused it to decline gradually.
Sources and further reading
Հովհաննես Դրասխանակերտցի, Հայոց պատմություն · P. Cuneo, Architettura armena, 1988.