After the 7th-century Arab conquest of Armenia, members of the Bagratuni house often held the title of "ishkhan" (prince) of Armenia, although they were subordinate to a Muslim governor or "ostikan" appointed by the caliphs. The period of Arab rule in Armenia saw the decline of the power of the Mamikonians at the same time as the Bagratunis gained in prominence, as the latter were favored by the Muslim governors. During the collapse of Umayyad rule in 748, the Bagratuni "ishkhan" Ashot III reluctantly joined with the other Armenian nobles in a revolt against Arab rule. Ashot was blinded on the orders of Grigor Mamikonian after trying to withdraw from the rebellion, which failed after Grigor's death in 749. Ashot "the Blind" was restored to nominal rule as "ishkhan" after the Abbasids reestablished Arab rule of Armenia in 750. In 774-775, "sparapet" Smbat VII Bagratuni led the Armenian nobility in an unsuccessful revolt against the Abbasid Caliphate, although part of the Bagratuni house opposed the rebellion. Smbat was killed at the Battle of Bagrevand along with Mushegh Mamikonian and many other Armenian nobles. After the failed rebellion, the Bagratunis lost control of their domains of Tmorik, Kogovit and their possessions in Vaspurakan, although their losses were less severe than those of the other Armenian noble families.