RELIGION AND POLITICAL POWER IN THE CAUCASIAN ALBANIA PRIOR TO AND DURING THE ARAB CONQUESTS

Abstract

This paper examines the impact of 7th century political and military developments in the region on the position of the Caucasian Albanian Church. Holding a weak position among the common people, who preserved ancient traditions, the Caucasian Albanian Church proved unable to maintain its position after the Arab conquest, which created new political conditions. Prior to and during the Arab conquest the struggle between dyophysitism and monophysitism created uncertainty and weakened the status of Christianity in the region. Studies show that the Caucasian Albanian Church was an adherent of monothelitism and maintained close ties with Byzantium and the Georgian Orthodox Church throughout most of the Mihranid dynasty’s reign. However, with the strengthening of the Arab Caliphate during Umayyad rule, the political situation changed and the Armenian Church, holding good relations with the Caliphate, achieved the subordination of the Caucasian Albanian Church. The study reveals a number of reasons for the weakening and subordination of the Albanian Church to the Armenian.