According to the Armenian chronicler Stephen of Taron, the family originated in the Armenian region of Derdjan. He was married to Ripsime or Hripsime, seen as a daughter of King Ashot II of Armenia. However, Ashot ll and his wife Marie of Kachen are not known to have had children. The couple had four sons, David, Moses, Aron, and Samuel, who are collectively known as the Cometopuli (from Greek "Kometopouloi", "sons of the "komes""; Armenian կոմսաձագ "Komsajagk"). Sometime in the 970s—the exact date is unclear and disputed—the brothers launched a successful rebellion against the Byzantine Empire, that had recently subdued Bulgaria; after the early death of his brothers, Samuel remained as the undisputed leader of Bulgaria, ruling as Tsar from 996 until his death in 1014.