New version of the Armenian History Timeline

The new version of the Armenian History timeline is based on the timeline on this page. However, it has a more interactive and visual interface. You can scroll though the time line and click on the event to see a pop-up summary. You can also search or color filter by a keyword on the displayed strip of the timeline. The timeline starts at 5000 BC - "Metsamor Castle". The project is still in progress. All the sources used are listed and cited. If you have any comments or questions, contact us at contact@myonearmenia.org or go to Contact page.

B.C.

• 2492 Hayk
• 2400 Armens
• 1500 Nairi Confederation on Armenian plateau
• 1000 Iron works in Armenia
• 870-590 Urartian Kingdom dominates Armenia
• 800 (approx.) King Ara the Beautiful, legendary king of Armenia
• 782 Founding of Erebuni Fortress, foundation of Yerevan.
• 550 Founding of Van.
• 520 Armenia mentioned as country in Behestun Stone.
• 402-401 Retreat of Xenophon across Armenia.
• 401 King Yervand I of Armenia is crowned. First Armenian dynasty.
• 330 Alexander the Great in Armenia
• 330-300 Reign of King Yervand II
• 220-201 Reign of King Yervand the Last
• 201 Fall of Yervandian dynasty.
• 189-160 Reign of King Artashes I. Start of Artashesian dynasty
• 170 Founding of Artashat, capital of Armenia
• 160-95 Reigns of King Artavasd I, King Tiran(Diran) I, and King Tigran I
• 95-55 Armenian Empire reaches greatest size and influence under King Tigran the Great
• 69 Battle of Tigranakert
• 68 Battle of Aratsani. Tigran the Great defeats Roman troops led by Lucculus
• 66 Treaty of Artashat between Pompei and Tigran the Great
• 55-34 Reign of King Artavasd II, who wrote plays in Greek
• 53 Performance of The Bacchae at Artashat.
• 35 Invasion of Armenia by Marc Anthony and capture of King Artavasd II.
• 34 Roman commander Antonius captures Armenian King Artavazd II
• 30 Romans conquer Armenian Empire
• 30 - 20 Restoration of Kingdom of Armenia under King Artashes II

A.D.

1 - 499

• 2 Fall of Ardashesian dynasty
• 30 Abkar of Edessa, first Christian convert in Armenia
• 48-49 Apostles Thaddeus and Bartholomew introduce Christianity to Armenia
• 63-88 Reign of King Trdat I, Arghaguni dynasty established
• 66 Construction of Fortress and Temple of Garni
• 117-140 Reign of King Vagharsh I. Building of Vagharshapat
• 144-186 Reign of King Sohimos
• 186-198 Reign of King Vagharsh II
• 198-215 Reign of King Khosrov I
• 253 Sassanids of Persia occupy Armenia
• 293-330 Reign of King Trdat III (aka Tiridates III). The treaty of Nisibin between Rome and Persia and restoration of Armenian Kingdom's independence
• 301 (or more likely 310) Trdat III accepts Christianity for the Armenian people
• 303 Construction of Ejmiatsin Cathedral started
• 325 Council of Nicea, adoption of Nicean Creed. St. Aristakes (who is St. Gregory the Illuminators son) participates as one of the 318 founders of the Christian Church
• 350-368 Reign of Arshak II, ends with his arrest by Persian King Shapuh II
• 353-372 Catholicos Nerses the Great
• 374-378 Reign of Varastad, participant in Olympic Games
• 378-397 Reign of Arshag II
• 395-405 Creation of Armenian Alphabet by Mesrob Mashdots
• 5th-7th centuries - First golden age of Armenian culture
• 400 Birth of historian Agathangelos
• 422-428 Reign of Ardashes III
• 425 Bible translated into Armenian
• 450-451 Armenian revolt against Zoroastrianism
• 451 Battle of Avarayr (Vartanantz) led by Vardan Mamikonian
• 451 Council of Chalcedon
• 482 Movses Khorenatsi, historian
• 484 Treaty of Nuarsag between Armenians and Persians
• 491 Armenian rejection of Chalcedon decisions

500 - 999

• 572 Revolt of Armenians against Persians
• 591 Second partition of Armenia between Byzantium and Persia
• 595 Revolt against Byzantium and Persia
• 610-641 Heraclius, first Armenian Emperor of Byzantium
• 610-685 Anania of Shirak, astronomer and mathematician
• 618-630 Construction of Hripsime Church and Gayane Church begun
• 637 Armenian Patriarchate established in Jerusalem
• 640 First Arab invasion of Armenia
• 643-652 Construction of Zvartnots Cathedral
• 653 Byzantine Empire cedes Armenia to Arabs
• 774-775 Armenian revolt against Arabs
• 785-809 Harun-al-Rashid, Abassid Caliph
• 9th-10th centuries
• 806 Arabs install Bagratid family to govern Armenia
• 813 Armenian prince Ashot I begins 1,000 years of rule in Georgia by Bagratid Dynasty.
• 862-977 Second golden age of Armenian culture, under Ashot I and Ashot III
• 884-890 Reign of Ashot I, Bagratuni dynasty
• 890-914 Reign of Smbat I
• 914-929 Reign of Ashot II
• 916 Cathedral of Aghtamar constructed
• 950-1000 Grigor Narekatsi, mystical poet and theologian
• 961 Founding of Ani, capital of Armenia
• 970-990 Reign of Smbat II

1000 - 1499

• 985-1001 Construction of Ani Cathedral
• 990-1020 Reign of Gagik I
• 11th-14th centuries Byzantine Greeks invade Armenia from west, Seljuk Turks from east.
• 1041-1048 Seljuk invasion of Armenia
• 1042-1080 Armenian migration to Cilicia
• 1045 Fall of Bagratuni dynasty
• 1071 Battle of Manzikert, Seljuk occupation of Armenia
• 1080 Rupenian Principality established in Cilicia
• 1098-1099 Cilician Armenians assists First Crusade
• 1101-1173 Nerses Shnorhali - poet, clergyman, composer of sharagans
• 1113 Catholicosate established at Aghtamar
• 1124, 1174 Revolts of the population of Ani against foreign rule
• 1130-1213 Mkhitar Gosh, compiler of Armenian code of laws
• 1149 Catholicosate of Ejmiatsin relocated to Hromgla in Cilicia
• 1153-1198 Nerses Lambronatsi, theologian and diplomat
• 1184 Mkhitar Heratsi, clergyman, author of medical encyclopedia
• 1189-1192 Third Crusade passes through Cilician Armenia
• 1198-1219 Reign of Levon II
• 1206-1207 Liberation of Kars
• 1219-1250 Reign of Zabel, Queen of Armenia
• 1226-1270 Reign of Hetum I
• 1230-1300 Frik, Armenian poet, prisoner of Mongols
• 1250-1288 Toros Roslin, master artist of illuminated manuscripts
• 1253-1256 Hetum I visits Mangu Khan at Karakorum
• 1266 Mameluk invasion of Cilicia
• 1270-1289 Reign of Levon III
• 1271 Marco Polo travels through Armenia
• 1280 Medieval universities of Gladzor and Tatev established
• 1289-1305 Reign of Hetum II
• 1307 Levon IV killed by Mongols
• 1307-1320 Reign of Oshin
• 1320-1342 Reign of Levon V
• 1345-1363 Reign of Constantine IV
• 1374-1375 Levon VI defeated by Mongols
• 1375 Cilician Armenia conquered by Mamluk Turks
• 1376-1424 Rule of Prince Constantine in mountainous Cilicia
• 1402-1405 Mass migration of Armenians from Cilicia
• 1402 Last invasion of Armenia by Timur the Lame (Tamerlane)
• 1405-1502 Invasions by Black Sheep and White Sheep Turkomans
• 1441 Reestablishment of Holy Seat at Ejmiatsin
• 1453 Fall of Constantinople, end of Byzantine Empire
• 1461 Armenian Patriarchate of Constantinople established
• 1478 Armneian migration to Bruges, Belgium
• 1489-1588 Sinan, greatest architect of Ottoman Empire
• 15th century - Most of modern Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia become part of Ottoman Empire

1500 - 1799

• 1501-1722 Ottoman-Safavid conflicts
• 1512 Printing of first Armenian books
• 1519 Decree of King Sigismund I that Armenians in Poland by governed under code of laws by Mkhitar Gosh; Fables by Mkhitar Gosh in Armenian
• 1547-1575 Secret Church meetings to seek ways to help Armenia
• 1555 Ottoman-Persian partition of Armenia
• 1567 Establishment of Armenian printing press in Constantinople
• 1587-1629 Reign of Shah Abbas in Persia
• 1612 Peace treaty between Ottoman Empire and Persia
• 1619 Testimony of Martin the Armenian in Virginia court case
• 1637 Theological seminary established at Ejmiatsin
• 1637-1695 Eremia Kiumurjian, historian, poet, musician
• 1648 Major earthquake in Van
• 1658-1711 Israel Ori, voyager throughout Europe in search of aid for Armenia
• 1666 First printing of Armenian Bible
• 1667 Commercial treaty between Russia and Isfahan Armenians
• 1676-1749 Mkhitar of Sepastia, founder of Catholic Mkhitarist order
• 1677 Secret meeting called by Catholicos Hagop Jughaetsi
• 1682-1725 Reign of Peter the Great in Russia
• 1695 Printing of Armenian books in Amsterdam
• 1709-1784 Zacharia Shehrimanian, well known Armenian merchant of the Shehrimanian family
• 1712-1795 Sayat Nova, renowned Armenian poet, troubadour
• 1722-1730 Exploits of David Beg
• 1723-1797 Shahamir Shahamirian, political philosopher
• 1759 Arrival of Hovsep Emin in Armenia
• 1778 Establishment of Nor Nakhichevan
• 1784- 1788 Publication of Mikael Chamchian's three Volumes work History of the Armenians
• 1794 Publication of Aztarar in Madras India

1800 - 1849

• 1809-1848 Khachatur Abovian, novelist poet, playwright
• 1810,1818 Zeitountsi revolts
• 1811 Mkhitarist order of Vienna founded
• 1813 Treaty of Gulistan
• 1815 Lazarian Institute in Moscow founded
• 1816-1817 Lord Byron at San Lazarro
• 1817-1900 Hovhannes (Ivan) Aivazovsky, seascape painter
• 1820-1901 Ghevond Alishan, Mkhitarist scholar
• 1820-1907 Mkrtich Khrimian Hairik, Pathriarch and Catholicos
• 1821 Establishment of Armenian Academy (Jemaran) in India
• 1824 Founding of Nersessian Academy in Tiflis
• 1826-1858 Nickolas Balian, architect in Constantinople
• 1827 Occupation of Yerevan, (Capital of Armenia) by Russian forces
• 1828 Treaty of Turkmanchay awards Nakhichevan and area around Erevan to Russia, strengthening Russian control of Transcaucasia and beginning period of modernization and security.
• 1828-1840 Creation of Armenia Oblast in Russian Empire
• 1828-1868 Mkrtich Beshiktashian, poet
• 1829-1866 Mikayel Nalbandian, patriotic poet
• 1830-1892 Kamar Katiba, nationalist poet
• 1835-1888 Raffi, renowned novelist
• 1836 Murad Raphaelian School opened in Venice
• 1836-1898 Tigran Chouhajian, opera composer
• 1840-1892 Karekin Srvantsdian, compiler of David of Sassoun legend
• 1841-1891 Hakob Paronian, palywright, satirist
• 1842-1901 Srpouhi Dussap, feminist writer
• 1842-1918 Abdul Hamid II, the bloody Sultan
• Publication of Pazmaveb begun at San Lazzaro
• 1846-1909 Ashough Jivan, troubadour
• 1848 First Armenian Protestant Church in Constantinople
• 1848-1921 Mkrtich Portugalian, journalist, political activist

1850 - 1899

• 1850 First girl school opened in Yerevan
• 1851-1872 Petros Durian, romantic poet
• 1851-1930 Boghos Nubar Pasha, one of the founders of AGBU
• 1856-1946 Henry Morgenthau, US Ambassador to Turkey
• 1859-1937 Diana Abkar, Armenian Ambassador to Japan
• 1860-1932 Loe, historian
• 1861-1915 Krigor Zohrab, essayist
• 1861-1930 Fridtjof Nansen, Norwegian statesman, helped Genocide victims
• 1863 Adoption of Armenian Constitution
• 1863-1934 Sybil, novelist, poet
• 1863-1945 Mihran Damadian, writer, political leader
• 1864-1934 Toros Toromanian, architect
• 1865-1927 Andranik Ozanian, leader of Armenian volunteer forces
• 1866-1948 Avetis Aharonian, author, political leader
• 1869-1923 Hovhannes Tumanyan, poet, author of epics and folk tales
• 1869-1935 Komitas Vardapet, compiler of Armenian folk music
• 1869-1951 Levon Shant, editor, writer
• 1870-1907 Gevorg Chavoush, leader liberation movement
• 1871-1928 Alexander Spendarian, classical composer
• 1874-1945 Alexander Khatisian, Prime Minister of first Republic of Armenia
• 1875-1957 Avetik Isahakian, poet
• 1876-1953 Hrachia Ajarian, linguist
• 1878 Treaty of San Stefano
• 1878 Hagop Serobian, first Armenian in Fresno
• 1878 "Armenian question" emerges at Congress of Berlin; disposition of Armenia becomes ongoing European issue.
• 1878-1915 Siamanto, poet
• 1878-1918 Stepan Shahumian, Bolshevik leader in Baku
• 1878-1936 Alexander Tamanian, architect of Yerevan
• 1878-1943 Zabel Yessaian, novelsit, educator
• 1878-1945 Vahan Tekeyan, poet, political leader
• 1879-1919 Aram Manukian, leader of defense of Van
• 1879-1950 Armen Tigranian, opera composer
• 1880-1972 Martiros Sarian, painter of Armenian life
• 1881 First Armenian Protestant Church in The US
• 1882-1950 Ruben Ter-Minasian, leader of defense of Sassoun
• 1882-1969 Simon Vratsian, Prime Minister of first Republic of Armenia, writer
• 1883-1948 Hagop Oshakan, novelist, literary critic
• 1884-1915 Daniel Varoujan, lyric poet
• 1885 Armenagan party founded
• 1886-1908 Misak Medzarents, lyric poet
• 1887 Hnchakian party founded
• 1890 Armenian Revolutionary Federation (Dashnaktsutiun) founded
• 1890-1945 Franz Werfel, author of Forty Days of Musa Dagh
• 1891 First Armenian revolutionary party formed
• 1891 First Armenian Apostolic Church in the US
• 1895 Massacre of 300,000 Armenian subjects by Ottoman Turks
• 1895-1971 Gregory Peter Agajanian, first Armenian Cardinal
• 1896 Occupation of the Ottoman Bank
• 1897 Khanasor expedition
• 1897-1937 Yeghishe Charents, poet
• 1899 Publication of Hairenik begun
• 1899-1987 Rouben Mamoulian, pioneer movie director

1900 - 1920

• 1910-1978 Margaret Mead, anthropologist
• 1903-1978 Aram Khachatourian, composer of classical music
• 1904-1948 Arshile Gorky, abstract painter
• 1906 AGBU founded in Cairo
• 1908 Young Turks take over government of Ottoman Empire with reform agenda, supported by Armenian population.
• 1908-1981 William Saroyan, Armenian-American writer
• 1908-1996 Victor Hambardzumian, astrophysicist
• 1909 Massacres in Cilicia
• 1910 Armenian Relief Society established
• 1911 Alan Hovhannes, composer of classical music
• 1914-1980 Hovhannes Shiraz, nationalistic poet
• 1915 Defense of Musa Dagh
• 1915-1918 Armenian Genocide - 1,500,000 Armenians perish at hands of Turks
• 1917 Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia form independent Transcaucasian federation. Tsar Nicholas II abdicates Russian throne. Bolsheviks take power in Russia
• AMAA established
• 1918 Independent Armenian, Azerbaijani, and Georgian states emerge from defeat of Ottoman Empire in World War I
• 1919 Woodrow Wilson at the Paris Peace Conference
• 1920 Red Army invades Azerbaijan and forces Armenia to accept communist-dominated government
• 1920 Treaty of Sevres (text of Treaty of Sevres)
• 1920 November 29 - Sovietization of Armenia

1921 - 1987

• 1921 Ramkavar party founded
• 1921 Assassination of Talaat Pasha
• 1922 Burning of Smyrna by Turks
• 1922 Transcaucasian Soviet Federated Socialist Republic combines Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia as single republic within Soviet Union
• 1923 Treaty of Lausanne
• 1924-1971 Paruyr Sevak, gifted Armenian poet (Paruyr Sevak in Armenian)
• 1930 Transfer of Holy Seat of Cilicia to Antelias
• 1936 Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia become separate republics within Soviet Union.
• 1936-37 Purges under political commissar Lavrenti Beria reach their peak in Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia
• 1943 Armenian Academy of Sciences established in Yerevan
• mid 1940s to 1950s A couple of hundred thousand Diasporan Armenians repatriated to Soviet Armenia under Stalins encouragement, especially from the mid-east
• 1948-51 Stalin orders over 100,000 Azerbaijanis moved from Armenian SSR to Azerbaijan SSR
• 1964 First Armenian day school in the US
• 1964-1965 Anastas Mikoyan, Secretary of State of USSR during the Stalin and Khrushchev years
• 1967 Armenian Martyrs Memorial Monument erected in Montebello
• 196 Tsitsernakaberd Genocide Monument built in Yerevan
• 1974 Moscow installs regime of Karen Demirchian in Armenia to end party corruption, regime later removed for corruption
• 1983-1991 George Deukmejian, Governor of California
• Late 1980s Mikhail Gorbachev initiates policies of glasnost and perestroika throughout Soviet Union

1988 - 1991

• 1988 Armenian nationalist movement revived by Karabakh and corruption concerns
• 1988 February 20 - Nagorno-Karabakh government votes to unify that autonomous region of Azerbaijan with Armenia
• 1988 February 27-28 Sumgait Pogram in Azerbaijan targets Armenians
• 1988 December 7 - Disastrous earthquake in northern Armenia, epicentered in Spitak, levels that town and heavily damages city of Leninakan (now Gyumri)
• 1989 Spring - Mass demonstrations in Armenia achieve release of Karabakh Committee arrested by Soviets to quell nationalist movement
• 1989 September - Azerbaijan begins blockade of Armenian fuel and supply lines over Karabakh issue
• 1989 Fall - Azerbaijani opposition parties lead mass protests against Soviet rule; national sovereignty officially proclaimed
• 1989 November - Nagorno-Karabakh National Council declares unification of Nagorno-Karabakh with Armenia
• 1990 January - Armenians in Baku attacked by mobs. Moscow sends troops to Azerbaijan, nominally to stem violence against Armenians over Karabakh.
• 1990 Spring - Levon Ter Petrosian of Armenian Pannational Movement chosen chairman of Armenian Supreme Soviet
• 1991 January - Georgian forces invade South Ossetia in response to independence movement there, fighting continues all year. Soviet troops invade Azerbaijan ostensibly to halt anti-Armenian pogroms.
• 1991 September 21 - Armenian voters approve national independence
• 1991 October - Azerbaijani referendum declares Azerbaijan independent of Soviet Union. Levon Ter Petrosian elected president of Armenia.
• 1991 December - Armenians in Nagorno-Karabakh declare independent state as fighting there continues. Soviet Union officially dissolved.

1992 - 1999

• 1992 May 9 - Armenian forces take control over Shushi
• 1992 Spring - Armenian forces occupy Lachin corridor linking Nagorno-Karabakh to Armenia.
• 1992 June - Abulfaz Elchibey elected president of Azerbaijan and forms first post communist government there.
• 1992 June - Military coup deposes Elchibey in Azerbaijan. Aliyev returns to power.
• 1992 Fall - Multilateral negotiations seek settlement of Karabakh conflict, without result. Fighting, blockade, and international negotiation continue into 1994.
• 1992 October - Aliyev elected president of Azerbaijan
• 1992 Karabakh declaration of Independence
• 1992 Armenia admitted to the United Nations