Mule's Fortress

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Lore & Background

The fortress's name, meaning "fortress of Smbat," is traditionally linked to Prince Smbat of the Syuni dynasty in the 10th century. However, local inhabitants also associate the name with Orbelian ruler Smbat (r. 1251–1273), who is buried nearby in Yeghegis. Scholar Ghevont Alishan viewed the name as purely folkloric, preferring to call it by the nearby monastery of Tsaghats Kar. Historically, Smbataberd formed an "architectural, spiritual, and political unity" with Yeghegis and the Tsaghats Kar monastery during the rule of the Vasakian dynasty. After the fall of the Bagratid Kingdom in 1045, the Orbelians rose to power in the region. In the 970s, following the establishment of the Kingdom of Siunik, one branch of the Syuni family maintained its seat in Yeghegis while another ruled from Kapan. This branch submitted to King Gagik I of the Bagratid Kingdom in either 1002 or 1003.

In Their Own Story

In the early 10th century, Smbataberd successfully withstood a siege by Nasr, a commander of the Sajid dynasty sent by Yusuf ibn Abi'l-Saj. Centuries later, during the reign of Orbelian ruler Smbat (1251–1273), the fortress was reconstructed and fortified to its peak power. Folk tradition recounts that Seljuks eventually captured the stronghold not through direct assault, but by cutting off its water supply; they discovered the source pipeline with the help of a thirsty mule or horse. The fortress features three entrances—northern, eastern, and western—but access is possible only through the main northern gate. Water was supplied via a pipeline connected to springs near Tsaghats Kar monastery. Inside, the site includes two citadels divided by an internal wall: the poorly preserved western citadel with discernible rectangular foundations, and the better-preserved eastern citadel extending semi-circularly along the highest rocky peak.

Reader's Guide

Visitors approach Smbataberd via its main northern gate; the eastern and western entrances are vaulted galleries where guard posts once stood. The fortification walls, constructed from large wedge-shaped basalt stones and unhewn rocks bound with lime mortar, range from 2 to 3 meters in thickness. Semi-circular towers along the perimeter reach heights of 8 to 10 meters. The site is naturally protected on three sides by precipitous cliffs overlooking the Yeghegis River gorge to the southeast and the village of Artabuynk to the northwest. Restoration efforts took place in 2006–2007, followed by cleaning and reinforcement work in 2011 initiated by the Ministry of Culture of Armenia. These projects uncovered traces of additional structures, leading to a halt in restoration. In June 2018, the Armenian government declared Smbataberd a protected historical-cultural reserve.

Did You Know?

• The name Smbataberd is sometimes used to refer to both the fortress and Yeghegis together, despite them being separated by 1–2 kilometers.
• A popular folk tradition claims Seljuks captured the fortress by discovering its water pipeline source using a thirsty mule or horse.
• Scholar Ghevont Alishan considered the name Smbataberd to be purely folkloric and referred to the site as Tsaghats Kar monastery.
• The fortress was divided into northern and southern sections, each possessing its own citadel, with the eastern one being incomparably better preserved than the western.
• Restoration work in 2011 was halted after traces of additional structures were uncovered within the fortress grounds.