Kirakos Gandzaketsi

Born 1200; died 1271. Armenian historian; author of The History of Armenia. The first part of the book covers the period from the beginning of the fourth century through 1197, and the second brings the account to 1265. The second part of the book is the more valuable, since it is based on the verbal evidence of contemporaries and the observations of Kirakos Gandzaketsi himself, who was held prisoner by the Mongols for a long time. The book describes in detail the invasion of Jalal-ad-Din, the ruler of Khwarazm, and particularly the invasion of the Mongol-Tatar hordes. The works of Kirakos Gandzaketsi are a most important source for the history of Mongol rule in Armenia and neighboring countries.