Armenian nobility

Source: Wikipedia. Pages: 26. Chapters: House of Hasan-Jalalyan, Artabanes, Gregory Pakourianos, Sempad the Constable, Israel Ori, Valerian Madatov, Oshin of Lampron, Theodore Rshtuni, David Bek, Arshak II, Callinicus, Mariam of Vaspurakan, Pahlavuni, Vasili Bebutov, Azat, David Saharuni, Sisak, Vahram Pahlavouni, Szymon Szymonowic, Meruzhan Artsruni, Ripsimia of Armenia, Khosrovidukht, Isabella of Armenia, Princess of Tyre, Manuel Mamikonian, Constantine of Baberon, Thoros of Marash, Tiran of Armenia, Kir Fard, Kamsarakan, Ashot bin Shavur I, Musel Mamikonian, Vassak Mamikonian, Varazhnuni, Apokapes, Bagdasarian, Teruni. Excerpt: Armenian nobility has a long history with many interruptions, most notable of which were the Ottoman and Russian occupations of Armenia. Members of the upper class of medieval Armenian society were known as nakharars and azats, (also aznvakans). Translated from contemporary Armenian the word azat literally means "the one who is free", a "freeman." The word ``Azat" is derived from the Middle Persian word "azat" and equivalent to modern Persian "âzâd". The lower-aristocratic portion Sassanid Persian society was dominated by the Azatan, who guarded their status as descendants of ancient Aryan conquerors. The Azatan were low-level administrators, mostly living on small estates. This knightly caste - which would later serve as the predecessor to the Medieval European Order of Knights - provided the cavalry backbone of the Sassanid army. Many - if not the majority - of the ancient Armenian noble clans traced their origins back to the gods of the old Armenian religion - most of which were based on the Persian Zoroastrian faith - or to the heroes and patriarchs of the Armenian people. For example, the noble houses of Vahevuni and Mehnuni were believed to be offspring of Vahagn and Mihr, ancient Armenian deities of fire and war, and heavenly light and justice respectively. The House of Artzruni traced its origins to Sanasar, son of Mher from the Armenian epos Sasna Tzrer, i.e. to the same Persian deity Mihr. According to the Armenian aristocratic tradition, the princely houses of Khorkhoruni, Bznuni, Mandakuni, Rshtuni, Manavazian, Angelea (Angegh tun), Varajnuni, Ohanian, Cartozian, Apahuni, Arran tun and some others, are all believed to be direct descendants of Nahapet (Patriarch) Hayk, whose epithet was Dyutsazn (from Ancient Greek ¿e¿¿, meaning "divine"), or of Hayk's descendants. It is quite common in all parts of the world for members of the nobility to purport to trace their ancestry back to gods, or legendary heroes. The historians mention various numbers of the Arme