Page:The History of Armenia - Avdall - Volume 1.djvu/64

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.

HISTORY OF ARMENIA. Page 19

subjects. This prince was the first to raise the Armenian name to any degree of renown; so that contemporary nations, in making mention of the actions performed by his subjects under his personal direction, called them the deeds of the Aramians, or followers of Aram, a name which has been corrupted into Armenians: and the country they inhabited, by universal consent, took the name of Armenia. This is the origin of the denomination which now distinguishes our country among foreigners; and the more ancient one of Haics, which is similar, and indeed is the juster of the two, has sunk into disuse.

Mishak, the governor of Cappadocia, who is called Moshok by Greek historians, founded about this epoch a city in that country, and surrounded it with stone walls. He gave it the name of Mishak, after himself; but the Cappadocians, unable to pronounce it correctly, called it Majak. The name was subsequently changed to Cesarea or Gaysarey. This country being annexed to the dominions of Aram by right of conquest, and being the first acquisition of territory he made, received the name of Armenia in reference to his name: it should be recollected also, that his paternal kingdom, at the period of his father's death, was not known by the name of Armenia; but, as I have before stated, by that