Ashot III Bagratuni Աշոտ Գ Ողորմած | |
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Shahanshah King of Armenia King of Ani | |
King of Armenia | |
Reign | 953–77 |
Predecessor | Abas I |
Successor | Smbat II |
Died | January 3/May 20, 977 |
Burial | |
Spouse | Khosrovanuysh |
Issue | Smbat II Gagik I Kiurike I Hripsime |
Dynasty | Bagratuni |
Father | Abas I |
Religion | Armenian Apostolic |
Ashot III (Armenian: Աշոտ Գ, romanized: Ashot G) was a king of Armenia, ruling the medieval kingdom of Bagratid Armenia from 952/53–77. Known as Ashot III the Merciful (Աշոտ Գ Ողորմած) and acknowledged by foreign rulers as the Shahanshah (king of kings) of Mets Hayk' (Greater Armenia), he moved his royal seat of residence to Ani and oversaw its development and of the kingdom as a whole. Armenia reached the height of its golden era during his reign and that of his sons and successors, Smbat II (977–89) and Gagik I (990–1020).[2]