Quick Facts
Biography
- Not to be confused with Ashot III of Armenia, also known as Ashot the Gracious who ruled as king from 953 to 977
Ashot III Bagratuni also known as Ashot the Blind (Armenian: Աշոտ Կուրացյալ) (c. 690 – 762) was a member of the Bagratuni family who was presiding prince of Armenia as a Prince from 726 and as an ishxan from 732 to 748. He was the nephew of Smbat VI Bagratuni.
He won the favour of the caliphate by defeating one of the emirs who had revolted against Baghdad and attacked Armenia, of the Bagratuni dynasty was a presiding prince of Armenia for the Caliph from 732 to 748. His ascension signaled the coming to power of the Bagratids. He was blinded by the rival nobles of the Mamikonian clan. 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.
He had two sons, Smbat VII Bagratuni and Vasak Bagratuni.