Latest / The Story of Armenia: Survival Through Empires and Genocide — Fexingo History / Dvin: Armenia's Medieval Capital Under Arab Rule
Transcript
- Lucas: So we've talked a lot about Armenia's religious and architectural landmarks—Etchmiadzin, Garni, Zvartnots—but today I want to take us to a city that was once the beating heart of Armenia under foreign rule: Dvin. Or Duin, as it's sometimes called. Luna: Dvin—I've heard that name, but I don't know much about it. Lucas: It's one of those places that doesn't get the spotlight Ani does, but for centuries it was the capital of Armenia—first under the Sassanid Persians, then under the Arab caliphate. Founded by King Khosrov III in the 4th century, around 335 AD, after the old capital Artaxata was abandoned. Lucas: Its location was strategic: right in the Ararat plain, near the Araxes River, on trade routes connecting Persia, Byzantium, and the Caucasus. And it became the seat of the Armenian Catholicos—the head of the Armenian Church—from the 5th century onward, which gave it immense religious importance. Luna: Wait, so the Catholicos moved from Etchmiadzin to Dvin? Lucas: Exactly. After the fall of the Arshakuni dynasty in 428, Armenia was divided between the Byzantine and Sassanid empires. The Sassanids controlled the eastern part, and they allowed the Armenian Church to function, but they moved the Catholicosate to Dvin to keep it under their watch. So Dvin became the religious center, even though Etchmiadzin remained the spiritual heart. Lucas: Under the Sassanids, Dvin was the capital of the Marzbanate—a Persian governorate. And later, when the Arabs conquered in the 7th century, they made it the capital of the province of Arminiya. So for about 600 years, Dvin was Armenia's political and ecclesiastical hub. Luna: That's a long time. What was the city like? Lucas: It was a bustling, cosmopolitan city. The Arab geographers wrote about its prosperity: its markets, its textile production, its famous carpets. The population was mixed—Armenians, Persians, Arabs, Jews. There was a large Christian community, but also a Muslim quarter. The cathedral of Dvin was one of the largest in Armenia—built on the model of Zvartnots, actually, with a circular plan. Lucas: And it was in Dvin that some crucial church councils took place. The most famous is the Council of Dvin in 555, which rejected the Chalcedonian definition of Christ's nature. That solidified the Armenian Church's position as Miaphysite—in opposition to both Byzantine Orthodoxy and the Oriental Orthodox churches that accepted Chalcedon. Luna: So Dvin was where the Armenian Church defined its identity? Lucas: In large part, yes. The council was convened by Catholicos Nerses II. It wasn't just about theology—it was also a political move to resist Byzantine influence. The Armenians wanted to maintain their independence, and theological differences were a way to assert that. So Dvin became a symbol of Armenian defiance, even under foreign rule. Lucas: But the city wasn't just about religion. It was also a center of learning. The Matenadaran—the manuscript library—was originally in Dvin before it moved to Etchmiadzin. Scholars translated Greek and Syriac works into Armenian there. Luna: What happened to Dvin? It's not a major city today. Lucas: A series of disasters. The first big blow was an earthquake in 893—devastating. It killed thousands and destroyed much of the city. They rebuilt, but then came the Seljuk Turks in the 11th century. They sacked the city in 1064. After that, it never fully recovered. By the 13th century, it was a shadow of its former self. Today it's just a village near the ruins. Luna: Are the ruins still there? Can you visit? Lucas: You can. The site is an archaeological park. You can see the foundations of the cathedral, the citadel, the market area. Excavations have uncovered beautiful mosaics and inscriptions. It's not as famous as Garni or Zvartnots, but it's incredibly evocative—you can feel the history. Lucas: One thing that always strikes me is how Dvin represents Armenian resilience. For centuries, it was the capital under foreign masters—Persians, Arabs, later Seljuks—but the Armenians kept their church, their language, their identity. Dvin was the crucible where that identity was forged. Luna: It sounds like a city that deserves more attention. Lucas: Absolutely. And it's a reminder that Armenian history isn't just about kingdoms and battles—it's also about cities that were centers of culture and faith, even when they weren't politically independent. Luna: So after Dvin declined, did the Catholicosate move back to Etchmiadzin? Lucas: It did, but not immediately. After the Seljuk conquest, the Catholicosate moved around—first to Ani, then to Hromkla in Cilicia, and finally back to Etchmiadzin in the 15th century. So Dvin's legacy lived on in the institutions that survived it. Lucas: If you ever visit Armenia, make a point to stop at Dvin. It's not as polished as some other sites, but it's authentic. You're walking through layers of history—Sassanid, Arab, Armenian—all in one place. Luna: I'll add it to my list. Thanks, Lucas.