Gardman

Gardman (Armenian: Գարդման) was one of the eight cantons of the ancient province of Utik in the Kingdom of Armenia and simultaneously, together with the canton of Tuchkatak, an Armenian principality. In the Early Middle Ages a feudal state of Gardman emerged on the area of Caucasian Albania. It roughly corresponded within the modern Qazakh, Shamkir or Gadabay raions of Azerbaijan.

History

In prehistoric times Gardman was homeland of the Armenized tribe Gardman, with a possible Georgian connection. Contemporary Armenian authors referred to the historical area of Gardman as Northern Artsakh. During the reign of the Arshakuni kings of Armenia (66-428 A.D.), Gardman was the seat of the nakharars of Utik' (and for this, it was sometimes called "Gardmantsvots ishkhanutyun", or the principality of Gardman). After the collapse of the Armenian royal dynasty Gardman was acquired by Caucasian Albania in 387. In the seventh century the local house of Gardman was replaced by the Mihranid family (of Persian or Parthian origin), which later became the ruling dynasty in the region of Arran.