Armenian nobility

The Armenian nobility (Armenian: Հայ ազնվականություն) was a class of persons which enjoyed certain privileges relative to other members of society under the laws and customs of various regimes of what is now Armenia, also Russia, Iran and Turkey until the beginning of the 20th century. Governments which recognized or conferred nobility were the Orontid Armenia (570-331 B.C.), Great Armenia (331 B.C.-428 A.D.), Bagratid Armenia (885-1045) and the Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia (1198-1375). Armenian nobility was also recognized by the Sassanid Empire (Marzpanate Armenia, 428-642), the Byzantine Empire (Byzantine Armenia, 387-650), the Arab caliphate (Arminiya 654-884), the Seljuk Empire (Armenian Kingdoms of Vanand, 963-1065, Syunik, 987-1170, and Lori, 978-1113), the Mongol Empire (Zakarid Armenia, 13th century), the Kara Koyunly and Ak Koyunlu (14-15th centuries), the Ottoman Empire, Safavid Iran, and the Russian Empire.