Kingdom of Lori, 979-1118 AD

The Kingdom of Lori, also known as Tashir-Dzoraget, was a medieval Armenian state founded in the late 10th century. It was created by a branch of the Bagratuni royal family and ruled the northern Armenian lands between the rivers Debed and Kura. Though smaller than other Armenian kingdoms, Lori played an important political and military role in the region and survived longer than most Armenian states of the time.

The kingdom was established by Kiurik (Gurgen) I, son of Ashot III the Merciful, King of Armenia. After Ashot’s death in 977 AD, his sons divided power. Kiurik was given control over the district of Tashir, which included the areas around Sanahin and Haghpat. In 979, Kiurik was officially titled king, becoming the first ruler of the new state. His rule was peaceful, and he is remembered for supporting monasteries and religious institutions in the region. Later, he retired as a monk at Sanahin and passed the throne to his son, David I Anhoghin (“the Landless”), around 989 AD.

David I was the most powerful king of Lori. He ruled from 989 to 1048 and strengthened the kingdom through military campaigns. He captured the important fortress city of Dmanisi and defeated Muslim rulers in Tiflis and Ganja. These victories made Lori one of the most secure and independent kingdoms in the region. In the 990s, David also founded the fortress-city of Lori, which became the capital. However, in 1001, he lost parts of his territory after a failed rebellion against his uncle, King Gagik I of Ani. David submitted, regained most of his land, and ruled with caution afterward.

The kingdom had close ties with the Byzantine Empire, which was expanding into Armenia during this time. Though Lori remained independent, its kings often used Byzantine titles like kouropalates (caretaker of the palace) and followed Byzantine customs. David also built ties with neighboring Georgia by marrying into the royal family of Kakheti-Hereti. His son Gagik later became king of Kakheti, creating a temporary union between the two kingdoms.

In the early 1040s, David entered Ani with hopes of claiming the Armenian throne after the death of King Hovhannes-Smbat. But instead of taking power, he raided Shirak and took captives. Some sources suggest this was done with Byzantine support, as the empire had its own plans for Ani, which it took over in 1045. After Ani fell, Lori became the last independent Armenian kingdom in the region.

The kingdom’s troubles grew with the rise of Georgia under King Bagrat IV and the arrival of the Seljuk Turks. In 1047, David and his son Kiurik II joined a coalition with the Georgian noble Liparit IV to fight Bagrat IV. They won the battle at Sasireti, but this did not stop Georgian pressure in the long term. David died in 1048, and his son Kiurik II became king.

Kiurik II ruled during one of the most difficult periods for Armenia. In 1064, the Seljuk sultan Alp Arslan captured Ani, and most of Armenia came under Turkish control. Kiurik II was forced to submit to the Seljuks and became their vassal to protect his kingdom. That same year, he was betrayed by King Bagrat IV of Georgia, who captured him and forced him to give up the important fortress of Samshvilde. After losing Samshvilde, the capital was moved to Lori, which remained the kingdom’s center until its fall.

During his reign, Kiurik II issued the only known coin of the kingdom, a copper coin modeled after Byzantine folles. It shows the bust of Christ on the obverse and an Armenian inscription on the reverse that reads: “May the Lord help Kiurik, the kouropalates.” This coin is important in Armenian numismatics as it is the first medieval Armenian coin with an Armenian-language inscription. It also shows the strong cultural influence of Byzantium and the king’s effort to present himself as a legitimate, Christian ruler in difficult times.

After Kiurik II’s death in 1089, the kingdom weakened. His sons, Abas I and David II, ruled parts of the kingdom, but their power was limited. At the same time, King David IV of Georgia was growing stronger and unifying the region. In 1118, the Kingdom of Lori was annexed by Georgia, ending its independence after nearly 140 years of rule by the Kyurikyan dynasty.

Even after the kingdom ended, the Kyurikyan family kept small domains in the Lori and Tavush regions for some time. But eventually, these lands were taken over by the Zakarid princes, vassals of Georgia, by the late 12th century.

Though small, the Kingdom of Lori managed to survive in a dangerous period by balancing between stronger powers like Byzantium, the Seljuks, and Georgia. It preserved Armenian political rule in the north longer than any other Bagratid offshoot. The coin of Kiurik II remains a rare but clear symbol of its sovereignty, making the kingdom especially important in Armenian numismatic history.