Gagik II of Armenia (1025-2 March 1076) was the final king of Bagratid Armenia, succeeding Ashot IV of Armenia. He reigned from 1042 to 1045, when the Byzantine Empire took over.
Biography[]
Gagik was born in 1025, and was the son of Ashot IV of Armenia, a Miaphysite Christian Armenian of the House of Bagrationi. Gagik succeeded his father as king of Bagratid Armenia in 1042. During his reign, Armenia fought off incursions from both the Byzantine Empire and the Seljuks. Although successful in the first years of his reign, in 1045 the Byzantines gained the support of the Armenian nobles, and Gagik being deposed and Armenia becoming part of the Byzantine Empire. The Byzantines disbanded the 50,000 standing Armenian army, leaving Armenia defenseless. Soon after, the Seljuks invaded Armenia during the rule of Alp Arslan in 1067. Gagik died in 1076. His sister Princess Mara of Armenia married Marzoban Shawur of Erivan.