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Yet another Arab emir, by the name of Bekr, resumed the plan of Yousef and made a last attempt to tame Armenia. Together with a huge army (consisting of Arab, Turkish, Kurdish, Persian and even some Armenian mercenaries who had converted to Islam) he invaded Armenia. Against this enormous army, which was many times larger than the Armenian army, Ashot II was forced at first to retreat to Lake Sevan. But then the Armenian army, under the leadership of its great heroic Prince Gevork Marzpetouni, launched a counteroffensive and reeked such havoc on the enemy that they fled all the way to the city of Dvin, with Prince Gevork hot on their heels. 35

This incessant war and its battles fortified the independence of Armenia, so that successive kings in the Bagratouni dynasty were able to build a strong country on this stable foundation.

Finally, these wars, which at once reassured the independence of Armenia, also had further reaching consequences. As the English historian, Norman Baynes, notes, the heroic wars of the Bagratouni kings against the Arabs paved the way for the powerful attack from the Byzantine Emperor Nicephorus Phocas and Emperor John Tzimiskes, allowing them to retake Syria and Mesopotamia and for the last time expand the boundaries of the empire to these lands. 38

The Height of the Bagratouni Era, Abas I, Ashot III, Smbat II, Gagik I

Armenia reached the height of its golden era during the reign of the kings Abas I (928-951), Ashot III (952-977), Smbat II (977-989) and Gagik (990-1020), an era which according to Muyldermans "in regard to its brilliance and glory was unique." 39

These four kings, as the emperors in the Antonin dynasty 40, succeeded each other on the Armenian throne, each one offering his country the mightiest governmental power and implementing a just rule over the nation.

Abas I began his reign by annulling the peace treaty with the leaders in the Persian Azerbaijan. These leaders, after various wars which ended in heavy defeat for them, were compelled to recognize a strong and independent Armenia instead of the land which they were accustomed to dividing amongst themselves and plundering as they pleased. After the close of the war the parties exchanged the prisoners of war.

Abas I resumed the work of constructing the country, especially the cities and their suburbs. Among others he rebuilt the city of Kars, constructing several churches in this city and appointing it s the second capital of Armenia. His reign was characterized by peace and tranquillity; the only military campaign which he was forced to carry out was the war against the Abkhazian king (a region in western present-day Georgia, by the Black Sea), since this king had claims on Kars. The Armenian army defeated the Abkhazians on two separate occasions and drove them back to the other side of the Kur River. 43

Abas I's successor, the great king Ashot III, was crowned in 952, and during his reign the country continued to strengthen and develop in all areas. The new power of Armenia had reached such a level that the country, at short notice, could summon an army of 90,000 men, ready to be sent out to battle.