The Battle of Avarayr, 16th-century miniature

The Battle of Avarayr, or the Vardanants uprising, is one of the largest battles in Armenian history. It took place on 26 May or 2 June 451 on the plain of Avarayr in the Artaz district of the province of Vaspurakan, on the bank of the Tghmut river (now in north-western Iran).

When news spread that the Armenian nakharars had renounced their faith, the Christian clergy roused the people to revolt. The Persians managed to win, but did not achieve their aim: the Armenian people kept their religion. Armenian self-government was restored, the nobility and clergy regained their privileges, and the Armenians kept the right to profess Christianity.

The miniature shows elephants and archers at the top, horsemen on the right and fighting soldiers below.