Battle of Avarayr
Battle between Christian Armenians and the Sasanian Empire (451 CE) / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Battle of Avarayr | |||||||
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A 15th-century Armenian miniature depicting the battle | |||||||
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Belligerents | |||||||
Sasanian Empire Pro-Sasanian Armenians | Christian Armenians | ||||||
Commanders and leaders | |||||||
Vasak of Syunik Mushkan Niusalavurt |
Vardan Mamikonian † Ghevond Vanandetsi[6] | ||||||
Strength | |||||||
200,000[4]–300,000[7] Sasanians 60,000 Armenian loyalists[7] Unknown number of elephants | 66,000 Armenians[7] | ||||||
Casualties and losses | |||||||
Heavy[5] | Heavy[5] |
The Battle of Avarayr (Armenian: Ավարայրի ճակատամարտ, romanized: Avarayri Chakatamart) was fought on 26 May 451 on the Avarayr Plain in Vaspurakan between a Christian Armenian army under Vardan Mamikonian and Sassanid Persia. It is considered one of the first battles in defense of the Christian faith.[8] Although the Persians were victorious on the battlefield, it was a pyrrhic victory as Avarayr paved the way to the Nvarsak Treaty of 484, which affirmed Armenia's right to practise Christianity freely.[4][5]
The battle is seen as one of the most significant events in Armenian history.[9] The commander of the Armenian forces, Vardan Mamikonian, is considered a national hero and has been canonized by the Armenian Apostolic Church.[10][11]