Page "Armenian nobility" Paragraph 12

According to Khorenatsi, the first actual listing of lords in the shape of Gahnamak was Armenian King Vologases I ( Vagharsh I ).

According to the recorded sources, the classification of Armenian lords ' thrones in the form of Gahnamak existed throughout the reign of Arshakuni ( Arsacid ) dynasty ( the 1st-5th centuries ).

The same system was continued during the Marzpanian period in the history of Armenia ( the 5th-7th centuries ), i. e. during the supremacy of the Sasanian kings of Persia.

There are significant discrepancies and inaccuracies in the data of Gahnamaks of different centuries regarding the number of princely houses and degrees of their thrones.

According to the Gahnamak of the 4th century preserved in " The Deeds of Nerses ", during the reign of king Arsaces II ( Arshak II ) ( c. 350-368 ) the number of the Armenian aristocratic houses reached 400.

However the author of " The Deeds " mentions the family names of only 167 lords, 13 of whom did not have a throne.

The author himself explains that he is incapable of listing all of them.

Armenian historian of the 13th century Stepanos Orbelian also mentions 400 naharar thrones, who had " throne and respect " at the royal court of king Trdat III ( 287-332 ).

Pavstos Buzand mentions 900 princely lords, who carried honorary services at the royal court and who sat on a special throne ( gah ) or cushion ( bardz ).