Medieval Armenian Literature

X–XII centuries

Armenian literature, beginning with the X century, starts to experience a new upsurge, related to political, economic and social changes in Armenia, and, first of all, to the restoration of the Armenian Kingdom. The Armenian Bagratid Kings patronized the development of written culture. In addition to historical prose, new poetic styles take their place. Historians and cultural experts often call the period of the X-XIV centuries the Armenian Renaissance.

After liberation from the Arab yoke in the X century, one after another independent Armenian kingdoms emerged such as Bagratids (with the capital city of Ani), Artsrunis (in Vaspurakan), Rubenids (in Cilicia). Later, Syunik kingdom was formed. The development of cities and anti-feudal movements created the prerequisites for the development of new arts, going beyond the framework of the church canons.

Works of the first great Armenian poet, theologian and musician of the Middle Ages Grigor Narekatsi (the 10th century) are among the most precious masterpieces of the Armenian national literature. Subsequent generations of Armenian poets addressed philosophical and mystical revelations and the artistic discoveries of his poem, «A Book of Mournful Chants», which were absolutely unique for his time.

After the 11th-12th centuries silence in the Armenian literature, caused by the Seljuk invasions, a pleiad of versatile gifted and educated scientists and culture personalities appeared. Grigor Magistros (990-1059) was a scientist, writer, educator, military and political leader. He translated and propagated ancient literature. His poem – « A thousand lines for Manuche», is a poetic exposition of the Holy Scripture. At this time in the literature, new genres are actively developed. Magistros was the first to introduce an epistolary genre - a new phenomenon for the Armenian literature. In his «Letters», written in an artistic- publicistic style, he widely used myths and fables.

Aristakes Lastivertsi is a 11th century historian-writer, who continued the traditions of the 5th century historians. He left a lot of information on the history of Armenia, Byzantium, also on the invasion of the Seljuk Turks in the essay «Narration».

Hovhannes Imastaser (1045 / 50-1129, Hovhan Deacon) was a poet, philosopher. He enjoyed the glory of the «genius scientist». He developed a new system of views for studying the nature, human mind, philosophically comprehended questions of aesthetics, literature (his most famous work is the poem «The Word of Wisdom»).

The poet and theologian, the rhetorician, composer, Catholicos of Cilicia Nerses Shnorali (1101-1173) brought poetic quality of church hymns to a higher level, enriching them with new images. He left several great poems: «The Word of Faith», «Son Jesus» (Hisous Vordi). His lyric-epic poem «Voghb Yedesio» (Lament on Edessa) is of special artistic value. This genre of historical lament was first developed by Shnorali. Nerses Shnorali played a great role in the development of Armenian versification: before him, there was only a mono-rhythm genre, but he introduced various rhymes, first used the method of personification, which was later actively used by Armenian poets in the dimensions of folk poetry.

Religious and secular literature acquired specific features, the latter was brought closer to ordinary people. New genres were developed: fables, odes, stories, talks, biographies. A prominent fabulist and the founder of the Armenian author’s fable was Mkhitar Gosh (1130-1213). In his works, the genre of fable became an independent direction in artistic literature. Gosh is the author of «The Law code», which testifies to the high level of legal and moral consciousness. Mkhitar Gosh’s Lawcode has been used up to the XIX century.

Another Armenian fabulist Vardan Aygektsi - the creator of many fables, combined his works in «Aghvesagirq» (The Fox Book), which later included many other folk and translated fables. Fables, parables, the edifying stories by Aygektsi absorbed people's humor and satire, reflected the social contrasts of the time. As a rule, they ended with a long edification of a religious character.