The Armenian Contribution to the History of the Byzantine Empire

“…In the 10th century, the Armenian detachments were considered the best units of the Byzantine army.” “The main problems of Byzantine history”, Charles Dil, Moscow, 1947.

“The military power, organization, and talent of the Byzantine Empire, that reliable and firm ground holding the whole splendor of the country, was completely Armenian.” “The Byzantine Empire on the eve of the Crusades”, R. J. H. Jenkins, London, 1953.

“From the middle of the 9th century to the beginning of the 11th century, there were six particularly distinguished generals among the brave and devoted officers of the empire – Basil I, Roman I, Hovhannes-Gurgen (John Kourkouas), Nicephorus II Phokas, Hovhannes Chmshik, and Basil II. It is known that they all had Armenian origins.” “The Byzantine Empire on the eve of the Crusades”, R. J. H. Jenkins, London, 1953.

“In that era (885-1056), the steering wheel was in the hands of the unusually gifted and serious members of the supreme military council, who were mostly Armenians.” “The History of the Byzantine Empire“, G. Geltser.

According to the 6th-century Byzantine historian Procopius of Caesarea, until 474, the Roman emperors “took into account the dignity of the people when selecting their bodyguards and thus preferred the Armenians”.

In the first half of the 9th century, another Byzantine historiographer wrote about another Byzantine army commander Manuel:

“Manuel was a very brave man and was well-known to all his opponents since he was an Armenian.” Thus, it turns out that in the Byzantine Empire, the concepts “Armenian” and “brave” were synonymous.