Early Armenian Immigrants in the Kingdom of Chirikia, Armenia

In 395 AD, the Roman Empire was divided into two parts, and Chiriki was under the jurisdiction of the Byzantine Empire. In the 6th century AD, Armenians moved to the Byzantine Empire and settled there. Many of them served in the army, and some even became generals.

In the seventh century, the Arab invasion made Chiriki fall into the hands of Muslims. But Muslim control of Anatolia did not last long. In 965, the Byzantine emperor Nikki Fallas II Focas recovered Chiriki. Arab aggression led many Armenians to flee westward to Byzantium. In order to strengthen its control over the eastern territories, the empire adopted a policy of emigrating to these areas: expelling Muslims in Chiriki and encouraging Christians in Syria and Armenia to settle down. Vassili II tried to push south to VasPlaquin and Syria. As a result of a series of military operations, Armenians entered the mountainous areas of Capadocia and Chiriki.

After the demise of Bagration dynasty, Armenians could not rebuild an independent country in Armenian highlands because it was still ruled by foreigners. 1045, Byzantium formally annexed Armenia. The empire tried to further emigrate to the eastern region, so a large number of Armenian immigrants entered Chiriki during this period. Some Armenians served as military and government officials in Byzantium, an important city on the eastern border of Byzantine Empire. The rule of Seljuk Turkey also played an important role in the process of Armenian migration to Chiriki. 1064, Alp Aslan led the Seljuk Turks into Armenia and captured Ani. Seven years later, the Seljuk Turks defeated the troops led by Byzantine Emperor Romanus I diogenes in Man Zickert, north of Fanhu Lake, and won a decisive victory. Malik Shah I, Alp Aslan's successor, further expanded the empire. He imposed high taxes on the Armenians in the country. Martyr Gregory II and Bishop Paseg of Silesia both demanded lower taxes, and Seljuk Turkey also agreed to pardon some taxes. However, Maliksha's successor resumed exorbitant taxes and levies, which led to a large number of Armenians in exile in Byzantium and Chirikia. Some Armenian nobles took the opportunity to stand on their own feet as kings, while others still surrendered to Byzantium, at least in name. One of the most successful Armenian lords was Philaretos Braca Brachamios, who took part in the Battle of Manzkot and was then the general of Emperor Romanu. From 1078 to 1085, Ferrado established a principality, starting from Malattia in the north, Antioch in the south, Chiriqui in the west and Edesa in the east. He absorbed many Armenian nobles and gave them land and castles. But even before his death in 1090, the principality began to disintegrate and was eventually divided up by neighboring countries.