SOURCESOur map was compiled from two written sources.1) Novella No. 31 of Justinian (“new code of law”). With this law dated 536, the Byzantine State established two new provinces in the Armenian territories it seized in the Iranian war, which ended in 531 with the “Eternal Peace” treaty: Upper Armenia (center Erzincan) and Fourth Armenia (civil administrative center Martyropolis = Silvan, military center Kitharizon = Bingöl Haraba). The First and Second Armenia provinces, which had long belonged to Byzantium, were renumbered as Second Armenia (Sivas) and Third Armenia (Malatya). The cities included in each province have been noted.2) Anonymous Armenian Geography Treatise (Աշխարհացոյց), estimated to date from the late 6th century. This text, which has numerous early manuscript copies, provides the administrative division of the Armenian Kingdom, which had long disappeared at that time, and the organizational scheme of the local Armenian principalities, which were still extremely vibrant. It does not mention the two empires that shared the Armenian country. Interestingly, while it lists around a hundred Armenian principalities in the area that was part of the old kingdom, it does not mention any principality names in the Armenia Minor (Sivas and Malatya) region, which is outside the area of the old kingdom.On the map, we have shown each province in a different color. The lists below are arranged from west to east and north to south.The thick blue line indicates the Armenia Minor province, which was dependent on the Roman Empire in the 1st century BC to the 3rd/4th centuries AD, and the thick red line indicates the independent or semi-independent Armenian Kingdom, which the Romans called Armenia Major. The black line is the border of Byzantine/Iranian influence as of the 531 Peace.BYZANTINE PROVINCES1) Second Armenia: Capital Sebastopolis (Sivas). Komana (center Tokat), separated from the Pontus Polemoniacus province, and Zela (Zile), separated from the Helenopontos province, were added to the old First Armenia province.2) Third Armenia. Capital Melitene (Malatya). It is the old Second Armenia province. Kayseri Pınarbaşı, Adana Feke, Maraş Göksun and Afşin-Elbistan are included.3) Fore Armenia or Upper Armenia: Its administrative capital is Justinianopolis (Erzincan-Üzümlü), and its military capital is Satala (Kelkit Sadak village). A large part of the old Pontus Polemoniacus province, up to Trabzon and Giresun, was added to this province. The Geography Treatise lists the following districts in this province. Interestingly, no dynasty name is mentioned in any of the districts, and the lords of these districts (if any) did not play a role in historical events.a) Ağün or Arüdz: İliç’s Kuruçay district and the south of Refahiyeb) Taranaği: Kemahc) Mntsur. North of Dersimd) Yegeğyats, Gr. Akilisênê: Erzincan Plaine) Terçan, Gr. Derxênê: North of Tercan, Çayırlıf) Mananaği: South of Tercan, Çatg) Sber, Gr. Syspiritês: İspirh) Şağakomk: Erzurum ‘Georgian Strait’i) Garin, Gr. Karinitês: Erzurum Plain4) Fourth Armenia: In this region, which corresponds to the ancient Sophênê (Gr.) = Dzopk (Arm.) Kingdom, according to the Code, “lords from various tribes bearing the title ‘satrap’, which is a foreign term, rule”. The administrative capital is Martyropolis (Silvan), and the military capital is the fortress-city of Kitharizon on the bank of the Murat River in the east of Bingöl. Shortly after the province was established, it was divided into two; the north (Elazığ, Palu, Kiğı) continues to be called ‘Original’ Fourth Armenia, while the Mesopotamia province will be established in the south (Diyarbakır).a) Tekik and Kovrek: It is known that they are at the western end of the province and on the left of the Euphrates, but their locations are not clear. It could be Çemişgezek and Baskil.b) Original Dzopk, Gr. Sophênê: It is Çarsancak (Tunceli Mazgirt and Pertek), the main homeland of the old Sophene kings.c) Hantsit, Gr. Anzithênê: Elazığ Plaind) Palahovid, Gr. Balabitênê: Palu and Kovancılar. Arşamunik, sometimes recorded as a separate district, should be between Palu and Elazığ, perhaps the Örencik ruins west of Palu.e) Xortsean, Gr. Khorsanênê: Kiğı and Adaklıf) Haşdeank, Gr. Asthianênê: Bingöl center. The Murat River passing through this district forms the border between the two empires. The Gtaric (Gr. Kitharizon) Fortress is on the right bank of the river at the zero point of the border.g) Greater Dzopk, Gr. Sophanênê: It is the province of Diyarbakır or just the northern part, which was conquered by the old Sophênê kings. The Eğil region, which was the old Royal capital, is referred to as Ankeğdun in Armenian histories.h) Nprgerd, Miyafarkin, Martyropolis: The city of Silvan. In the Geography Treatise, it is shown as included in the Ağtsnik province, not the Fourth Armenia. Although it is theoretically the administrative capital of the Byzantine province, it seems that it remained on the Iranian side for a long time.OLD ARMENIAN PROVINCES UNDER IRANIAN RULE1) Kukark, Gr. Gogarênê: The people of this country, which was once subject to the Armenian Kingdom, are Georgian.a) Gğarck, Geo. Klarceti: Ardanuçb) Ardahan2) Dayk, Geo. Tao: While it was once the homeland of the Tao people (probably of Caucasian origin), it was conquered and colonized by the Armenians in a pre-Christian era.a) Arseats Por: Yusufelib) Vokağe or Okağe: Tortumc) Azortats Por: Uzundered) Poğxa: Narmane) Bardizats Por: Oltu and south of Şenkayaf) Pertats Por: North of Şenkayag) Goğ: Göle3) Ayrarad or Ararat. It is the province (satrap) called Armenia during the Old Persian Empire. It is the royal province of the Armenia kingdom established in 190 BC. The Aras Plain, the cities of Gümrü and Yerevan, and the western part of Lake Sevan in the current Republic of Armenia are also included in this province. We are only listing the districts that remain in Turkey:a) Pasean: Pasinler, Köprüköy and Horasanb) Havnunik: South of Köprüköy, Avnik (Güzelhisar) Castle.c) Apeğenk and Kapeğenk: Kötek district to the west of Sarıkamış and Kağızman.d) Arşarunik: East of Kağızman and Digore) Şirag: Both sides of the Arpaçay. Arpaçay district, Akyaka, the eastern part of the central district of Kars, the city of Ani.f) Vanant: Kars center and Selim districts. The people of this district were a Caucasian or ‘Bulgar’ origin, probably a Turkic group.g) Pakrevant: Ağrı center and Eleşkirth) Dzağgodn: Diyadini) Gokovid: Doğubayazıtj) Cagadk: Iğdır center and Tuzlucak) Maseatsodn: Northern plateaus of Mount Ağrı, Aralık4) Duruperan: The lifeblood of this province was the Daron principality, which corresponds to the Muş Plain. The Mamigonyans, who ruled the Daron Principality from the beginning of the 4th century, also brought four old principalities of Urartian origin (Bulanık, Malazgirt, Ahlat, Adilcevaz) in the northeast and a number of marginal districts in the north under their rule.a) Martaği: Tekman. There was a salt mine.b) Varajnunik: Hınıs.c) Dvaradzadap: Karayazıd) Daron: Muş Plain. Probably including Norşen (Güroymak) but excluding the mountainous area south of Muş. Perhaps the south of Solhan and Karlıova were also included, but the fate of these places after the wars of the 4th century is unknown.e) Asbagunik: Şadax or Cevizlidere valley in the south of Muş.f) Hark: Bulanıkg) Abahunik: Malazgirth) Pznunik: Ahlati) Xorxorunik: Adilcevaz5) Vasburagan: It was probably separated from the Armenia province during the time of the Persian Kings and allocated to princes of the ruling dynasty. Its name means “Property of the Prince” in Persian. During the Armenian Kingdom era, powerful principality dynasties, especially in Erciş, Muradiye and Gevaş, frequently clashed with the royalty. Long after the period we are discussing here, a powerful kingdom was established under the rule of the Ardzruni dynasty in the 9th-10th centuries.a) Ağihovid: Erciş or just the northwestern part. Perhaps its east was a separate principality called Kaçperunik.b) Arperani: Muradiye.c) Arcişaghovid: Erçekd) Dosb: The city of Van and its north (Tuşba)e) Yervantunik: Edremit and the northern part of Gürpınar. In later ages, this region is called Hayots Tsor.f) Rşdunik: Gevaşg) Pun Martasdan or “Original Medistan”: Hoşap, the central part of Gürpınarh) Antsevatsik: The south of Gürpınar, namely Norduzi) Ağpag: Başkale6) Ağtsnik or “Edge of Assyria”: It is the country mentioned as Alzi in Assyrian inscriptions. While it was once a separate kingdom, it became subject to the Armenian kings in the 1st century BC, but seceded by rebelling in the 4th century AD. Its ruling dynasty was famous for being descended from the Assyrian kings. The people of Artsn (Erzen, Garzan), the main center of the province, were Assyrian. However, Armenians were also concentrated, especially in the Bitlis region. Sasun was largely an independent entity.a) Artsn. Batman, Beşiri and Kurtalan. The great city of Artsn (Erzn, Anuşirvan Ruins in Kurtalan) was the capital. Much later, the Ğarzan Kurdish lords would continue this name.b) Sasun: It was a mountain principality that prided itself on being the “brother’s child” of the Ağtsnik kings. It is famous for not bowing to Iranian, Byzantine, Abbasid, Ayyubid, Safavid or Ottoman rule in later periods.c) Xuyt: Kavakbaşı district of Mutki. It is said that a primitive tribe devoid of civilization lived there.d) Salnotsor: The city and valley of Bitlis. It was an important passage route. Its people have long been Armenian.e) Aznıvatsor: The Küçüksu Valley, now divided between Bitlis center and Tatvan.f) Dadig: Bölükyazı district of Bitlis center.g) Xerxetk: Siirt. Its people were Assyrian or “Xaldî”. The meaning and scope of the second term are unknown.h) Kzex: Its location is uncertain. Perhaps the central district of Mutki. Hizan in some sources.7) Mogk, Mogs. They were probably a separate tribe in ancient times but became Armenianized. It consisted of the original Mogs (Bahçesaray), consisting of six micro-principalities, and the Çermatsor Valley (Çatak).8) Gorcayk: About ten principalities belonging to the tribe called Gordu/Kordu. Since it was subject to the Armenian Kings for short periods between the 1st century BC and the 4th century AD, it is shown as included in the Armenian country in the Geography Treatise. However, it does not play a significant role in Armenian history, and Armenian sources are extremely vague about the number and location of the principalities that make up the province.The “original” Gordu country (Gr. Gordyênê) is the central district of Şırnak.