Van-Biaina: The Capital of the Mighty Kingdom of Ararat

The Fortress - City of Van

The prominent city of Van, on the eastern lakeshore of beautiful, scenic and sacred Lake Van in the heart of Armenia, was the capital of the exalted and powerful Araratian Kingdom. Van is the evolved name of the original name of Biaina (from the B-V phonetic shift). Another name that Van was known under was Toushpa or Tosp. Van most probably was established in the second part of second millenium BC. It began to grow and gained importance after the great innovations and additions that were made to the city by Araratian king Sardour the First (835 - 825 BC), who realized the potential importance in strategic, economic and as well as the political aspects of the location of the city. The city rapidly began to grow from the influx of people from the neighboring towns and villages. During the reign of king Menua (810 – 786 BC) a massive and complex water canal of more then 80 kilometers long starting from the river of Khoshap to the city of Van was build to supply the water shortages that developed due to the rapid growth of the populace of the city. Armenians of Ararat were masters of canal building, huge canals were sometimes dug out of the rocks and cliffs that were on the way of the canal routes. The canal is a wonder marvel of the ancient world, some parts of the canal are still in use today. The father of Armenian history, Movses Khorenatsi (Moses of Khorene) tells us that during the successive reigns of successors of Menua, kings Argishti the First (Ara the First) and Sardour the Second, a number of new innovations were added to the city. New beautiful palaces, magnificent temples, wide streets, garnished baths and grand markets sprang up around the city to fulfill the swift inflow of merchants that made their way to the city. Master craftsmen from all over the vast kingdom of Ararat found their way to the capital were they made the finest and most delicate artifacts of their time such as, fine jewelry and exquisite decorations, elegant pottery and porcelain, beautiful carpentry, etc. The culture of Ararat as a whole influenced many peoples of the ancient world such as the Scythians, Cimmerians and Medians. The Achaemenid Persians, the successors of the Medians, overall modeled their culture and art after that of the kingdom of Ararat, having seen the splendor of Ararat during a close contact and trade with the wealthy Armenian cities. Van was also an important center of weaponry making that supplied the military arsenal of the mighty Araratian army (which was made up of confederate Armenian states of Ararat, at its peek was nearly 300,000 strong). New fortifications and towers were also erected in Van in order to assure the safety of bustling and crowded trade and commerce of the city. In 735 BC having seen the rapid growth and might of Ararat and its dominance in Northern Mesopotamia, Syria and Eastern Anatolia, the Assyrian king Tiglathpalaser, decided to launch a typical Assyrian campaign of pillaging and destruction against Ararat. The Assyrians with heavy losses managed to advance into the heart of Ararat and the Mother City of Van. The Assyrians laid siege to Van and many times in vain charged the strong walls of Van. The military garrison armed citizens and the royal guard of the city headed by king Sardour the Second drove back the loot hungry invader from the gates of Van. By the beginning of VI th century BC a new dynasty emerged in Armenia, the Yervandouni Royal House. Yervandounis house claimed descent from the Forefather Haik himself. Indeed they had close blood ties with the ruling Araratian House. After the expiration of last male heir to the Araratian throne, Rousha the Fourth, Yervand the First established a new Royal Dynasty in Armenia, which after him became known as Yervandouni.

Van Under the Successive reigns of Yervandouni, Artashesian, Arshakouni and Artsrouni Dynasties.

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