Armenian Names from the History of the Nation of Archers

Copyright ©2004-2008 by Heather Daveno

This index is a list of names from The History of the Nation of the Archers by Grigor of Akanc, written in 1271 in Cilicia at Akanc' and preserved at the Armenian Convent of St. James at Jerusalem.

The Armenian text was, translated by Robert D. Blake and Richard N. Frye. I located this work in the Harvard Journal of Asiatic Studies, Vol. 2, No. 3-4, published by the Harvard-Yenching Institute in December 1949.

These names and nouns are in alphabetical order, and are denoted by gender (m/f) or as a noun (n). Page numbers are provided as reference. The default language is Armenian. If the name has a translation or language equivelant, that is also noted, followed by the page number of that reference.

Other notes of interest from this text:

Khans were killed by strangulation by bowstring. It was against Mongolian law to shed royal blood.

Iarlax was a gold tablet granted by the khan, exempting the bearer from a specific number of crimes.

Legend has it that the Yassa, the laws govering the Mongols, were handed down to Chinghis Khan by a golden eagle. For the scope and content of the Yassa, see the Harvard Journal of Asiatic Studies Number 3, 1938.

Name

M

F

N

Page #

Language

Translation

A

Abaga

x

 

 

103

Mongolian

Uncle on pg 135

Angurag

 

 

 

35

 

 

Aq Buga

 

 

x

119

Turkish

White Bull,  spelled Agbuga on pg. 135-6

Aradamur

 

 

x

138

Turkish

Iron Man

Argun

x

 

 

57

Turkish

 

Asakert

 

 

x

 

 

Student

Asar

x

 

 

35

Mongolian

 

Asut'u

x

 

 

35, 141

 

 

Awgawt'ay

x

 

 

35

 

Ogodei may be the Mongolian equivalent pg. 141

Aylt'ana

 

x

 

33

 

Altani (Crimson) Ai Altan (Crimson Gold) are the Mongolian equivalents pg. 142

B

Bač'u Nuin

x

 

 

35, 119

Turkish

Baiju Noyan is the Mongolian equivalent pg. 143

Nuin / Noyan means Prince, the Armenian reference is on pg. 137

Bahatur

 

 

x

121

 

Hero or Champion. Also Bagatur (Mongolian), Batur (Turkish), Goratbipb (Russian), Bahadur (modern Persian), Baxtawor (Armenian)

Berk'ē

 

 

x

148

 

Bärkä (Turkish / Mongolian for a hostage), Berke (Mongolian for difficult)

Balaxē

x

 

 

59

 

Bulgai is the Mongolian equivalent pg.146

Bawragan

x

 

 

59

 

Boragan (The Little Brown) is the Mongolian equivalent pg. 147

Bawra

x

 

 

51

 

Bora (The Brown Face) is the Mongolian equivalent pg. 146

Benal

x

 

 

29

 

Bainal is the Mongolian equivalent, possibly Nestorian pg. 148

C

C'agatay

x

 

 

35

 

Having White. Kagatai (The White One) is the Mongolian equivalent pg. 149-150

C'awrmagan

 

 

 

151

 

Cormagan is the Mongolian equivalent, I suspect it may be the female equivalent for C'awman / Corman

C'awrman

x

 

 

29

 

Corman is the Mongolian equivalent pg. 152

E

Elci

 

 

x

121

 

Messenger

H

Hulawu

x

 

 

59, 151

 

Hulegu is the Mongolian equivalent pg. 154

J

Jam

 

 

x

121

 

Postal Relay (i.e. Pony Express)

Jarguci

 

 

x

121

 

Judge

K

Kesig

 

 

x

121

 

Mongolian (The Guard of the Sovereign). Also Kazik (Turkish), Tacik (Armenian)

K'ēsikt'oyk

 

 

x

77

 

Palace guards armored with sword and bow.

Kesigtu is the Mongolian equivalent for Imperial Guard.

K'it'buga

x

 

 

81, 154-5

Turkish

 

M

Mal

 

 

x

171

 

A tax of 20 silver coins

Manku

x

 

 

57

 

Mangu qan (Turkish) pg 155. Manggu is the Turkish equivalent, Möngke is the Mongolian pg. 120, Mongke Qagan is also Mongolian according to this text, though typically you see K rather than Q spellings in Mongolian. Qagan, Qan, are equivalents to the Mongolian Khan or Khagan.

Migan

x

 

 

63

 

Migan (flesh, meat) is the Mongolian equivalent pg. 155