ABSTRACT
Despite the political fragmentation of medieval Armenia, the Bagratuni successfully maintained the monarchy, ruling from 884 to 1045. Contemporary texts make clear that one of the most important expressions of Bagratuni royal status was the ceremonial bestowal or confirmation of legitimate power. Textual descriptions of ceremonies accorded to and by Bagratuni kings reveal much about the medieval Armenian concept of rulership. The ceremonies also provide important comparanda for other expressions of royal power, such as portraits, of which there are few surviving examples. This chapter examines the evolution of Bagratuni ceremonial and its influence on that used in Vaspurakan, tracing both the influence of Abbasid ceremonial and the development of a distinctly Armenian confirmation of rulership.
