# Battle of Blood Lake

The Battle of Blood lake was a military clash between the Armenian Governorate and the Arab Caliphate that took place in 852 near the village of Tov, at a place called "Blood lake" (in the Vorsirank region of the Korchayk province). The commander of the Armenian side was the prince of Vaspurakan, Gurgen Artsruni, and the commander of the Arab side was Bugha al-Sharabi.

## Bugha's campaign of Armenia

In the middle of the 9th century, a new Armenian uprising broke out against the rule of the Arab Caliphate, which differed from the anti-Arab uprisings of the 8th century in being more organized and achieving results. The national uprising ended with the victory of the Armenians, as a result of which Armenia gained full autonomy.
Caliph Al-Mutawakkil, aiming to put an end to the autonomous state of Armenia, sent the policeman Abuset there in 849, and after the latter's death, his son Yusuf. In 851, Yusuf arrested the prince of the princes of Armenia, Bagrat Bagratuni, and sent him in chains to the Caliph's residence, while the Arab troops continued their raids in various provinces of Armenia. Led by Bagarat's sons Ashot and Davit, as well as Hovnan Khutetsi, the mountaineers of Sasun went out against the Arabs, attacked Mush, and killed the policeman Yusuf.
In order to suppress the Armenian uprising, the Arab Caliphate sent a large army to Armenia in the spring of 852, known for his cruelty, a Turk by nationality, Bugha. He was ordered to send all the princes of Armenia to the palace in chains and seize their property. Bugha first invaded Taron and arrested the leading princes of the uprising, after which he massacred about 30 000 residents of Khut and Sasun, and took Hovnan Khutetsu and many other rebels prisoner. Then Bugha marched across Khlat to Vaspurakan, aiming to besiege and attack the princes of Artsruni. The ruler of Vaspurakan, Ashot Artsruni, not receiving support from the other Armenian princes, was forced to surrender to Bugha. After all this, the Armenian struggle was led by Ashot's younger brother Gurgen, who was able to unite the forces of 900 warriors from the ministries of Gnuni, Gazrikian, Amatuni, Varajnuni, Ovrovuni, Akeatsi, Vahevuni and Andzevatsi. Having united his forces, Gurgen Artsruni fortified himself in the mountains near the village of Tva (Tov) in the Vorsirank province of the Korchayk province, below which the Blood Lake valley spread.
   Բանակեցին Թով գյուղի ետևում, լեռան վրա, նրա հետևում, որ կոչվում է Արյան լիճ, քանզի այնտեղ կա մի մեծ լիճ, մոտիկ այն տեղին, որը Վասպուրականի մեր քաջ իշխանների զորքի արիությունների ու ճակատամարտերի ասպարեզն էր։ Այստեղ էր հավաքվել գաղթականների մեծաթիվ բազմություն` Աղբակ, Զարեհավան և Ակե գավառներից, Աղզո լեռնակողմերից, Առնո ոտնից, Ջողա լեռան և ավելի այն կողմերից։ Անհուն բազմությունը պատել էր լեռան շուրջը, ինչպես մարախը և ծովի ավազն անթիվ։ Ապավինել էին քաջ զորավար Գուրգենին և նրա հետ եղած հայոց զորքին, իբրև մեծ ու ապահով ամրոցի։
   They camped behind the village of Tov, on the mountain, behind it, which is called the Lake of Blood, because there is a large lake there, near the place that was the scene of the bravery and battles of the army of our brave princes of Vaspurakan. A large crowd of refugees had gathered here - from the provinces of Aghbak, Zarehavan and Ake, from the Aghzo mountain ranges, from the foot of Arno, from Mount Jogha and beyond. The endless crowd had surrounded the mountain, like countless locusts and the sand of the sea. They had relied on the brave general Gurgen and the Armenian army with him, as on a large and secure fortress.

## Battle

Those accompanying Gurgen soon notice that the Arab army has already adopted a battle formation, from which it becomes obvious that the Arabs do not intend to negotiate. By summoning the Armenian prince Gurgen to negotiations, the Arabs intended to arrest him and, taking advantage of the panic, defeat the Armenians with a decisive attack. Given the situation, Gurgen Artsruni is forced to also line up his forces in battle formation.
   Ապա յուրաքանչյուր զորական համարձակորեն դիմեց զենքի և հեծնելով ընտիր երիվարներ, մոտեցան իրար, շարվեցին միևնույն տեղում, իրար կպան, ձուլվեցին, ինչպես մեկ մարդ, քարացան ու կարծրացան, ինչպես բլրաձև վեմը և դարձան երկաթի զորությանն անմատչելի։ Եվ ինչպես ադամանդե պարիսպ, իրենց անձերը տվեցին գաղթականների մեծաթիվ բազմության համար, իբրև քաջ հովիվ, հանձն առան մեռնել հոտի համար։
   Then each warrior boldly took up arms and, riding on chosen steeds, they approached each other, lined up in the same place, embraced each other, fused together as one man, hardened and hardened like a hill-shaped rock and became inaccessible to the power of iron. And like a diamond wall, they gave their lives for the vast multitude of refugees, like a brave shepherd, they undertook to die for the flock.
The Armenian order of battle was divided into two parts:
* The command of the left wing was given to Mushegh Artsruni, which probably only had infantry units. Considering that the left wing was weaker, Gurgen took up a position on this wing.
* The command of the right wing was handed over to Apumkdem Artsrunի, in which the cavalry was concentrated.
In the morning, the Armenians attack the Arabs from the heights. This attack continues until late in the evening, after which the Arabs flee the battlefield. After the victory, Gurgen Artsruni organizes a pursuit.
   They formed a line, formed a front... In dense ranks, with a bold attack, they rushed forward, clashed with the (Arab) army, broke through (their) front and turned the foreigners back. They shouted with the voice of dragons, tore like lions, pierced like boars, and delivered them to death and defeat. Each man threw his opponent to the ground and threw himself after the other. From the fierce clash of multi-headed spears, the flash of weapons, the glitter of swords and the whistle of strung bows, lightning flashed like thunder from a cloud, and it seemed as if the mountain was burning with fire.

## Literature

* Tovma Artsruni, "History of house of Artsrunis", 1887, pages 143-148
* History of Armenian people, volume 2, Yerevan, 1984, pages 355-356