Moses Khorenatsi

Moses Khorenatsi (Horenli Musa; in Western literature Moses Chorenensis) is an Armenian historian whose exact dating is debated, traditionally placed in the 5th century (Vol. 1, p. 76). He is counted among the important Armenian historians who provide rich information on pre-Islamic Kurdish history and geography (Vol. 1, p. 22).

His Place Among Armenian Sources

In the writing of pre-Islamic Kurdish history, Armenian sources are among the primary reference materials. Especially after the fourth century AD, that is, with the development of Armenian historiography parallel to the Sasanian period, these sources have become of great importance for early Kurdish historiography. The Armenians, who produced their first written works in the fourth century AD, laid the foundation of this tradition, and Khorenatsi became one of the leading representatives of this accumulation (Vol. 1, p. 22).

Identity and Historicity

Khorenatsi is considered the "Herodotus" of Armenian historiography, that is, the Father of History (Patmahayr). However, his historical existence is doubtful: the existence of a historian named Moses was not known until the 10th century; furthermore, it is among the strongly defended views that he lived in the eighth century. While these uncertainties are kept in mind, his living in the 5th century is the most widely accepted view. Although Khoren, from which his name originates, is known as his hometown, it is unknown where this place is today; as no place name referred to by this name appears in the sources. Regarding his life, there is no satisfactory information other than the meager details he provides about himself in his work and those conveyed by some Armenian writers in later periods (Vol. 1, p. 76).

Contribution to Median History

His work is also valuable in terms of Med history. Khorenatsi states that a person named Zerdüşt, king and clergyman of the Medes, was left as regent in Asuristan (I. 17) and lists the Med kings mentioned in Eusebius' chronicle in his own work (I. 22). He also states that the Medes were known as Muratsean or Marats'i in his time (II. 8) (Vol. 1, p. 77).

Kurdish Geography and Terminology

His most striking contribution in terms of Kurdish geography is his terminology. Khorenatsi uses the term "Korduats'i" for the region south of Lake Van (II. 8) and refers to a mountainous region south of Lake Van as "Korduk" (II. 36). Khorenatsi, also touching upon the conflicts between I. Ardeşir, the founder of the Sasanian empire, and the Parthians, recounts that Ardeşir pursued/drove a Parthian dignitary who rebelled against him, through Korduk all the way to Azerbaycan (II. 74) (Vol. 1, p. 77).