David Saharuni

David Saharuni (Armenian: Դաւիթ Սահառունի, Dawit' Saharuni) was sparapet, curopalates, ishkhan, and presiding prince of Byzantine-controlled Armenia from 635 to 638.[1]

David was a nakharar from the princely noble House of Saharuni. When the marzpan of Persarmania Varaztirots II Bagratuni was in the Byzantine imperial court in Osroene, he entered into a plot against emperor Heraclius organized by his illegitimate son John Athalarichos. David was also part of this plot. The attempt ultimately failed and Varaztirots was deported to an island near the coast of North Africa. David Saharuni was attacked by the general and ruler of Byzantine Armenia, Mzhezh Gnuni but managed to evade capture and killed Mzhezh Gnuni, with the help of Gnuni's own troops,[2][3] many of whom were Armenians sympathetic to Saharuni. David quickly obtained support from the local feudal lords, as a result, Heraclius was forced to nominate David as curopalates.[4] The historian John Katholikos adds that the Armenians nobles also gave him the title of Ishkhan of Armenia. Three years later the nobility overthrew Saharuni and Theodoros Rshtuni took his place as ruler of Armenia. The most detailed source covering the events of these years is historian Sebeos in his History of Heraclius.

  1. ^ Cyril Toumanoff. Studies in Christian Caucasian History. Washington D.C.: Georgetown University Press, 1963, p. 214.
  2. ^ Walter Emil Kaegi. Heraclius, Emperor of Byzantium. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2003, p. 260.
  3. ^ Sebeos. "Sebeos History:A History of Heraclius". History Workshop. Retrieved October 22, 2009. Chapter 29
  4. ^ J. R. Martindale (editor). The Prosopography of the Later Roman Empire 2 volume set: Volume 3, 527-641 (Vol 3). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1992, p. 389.