The
Armenian nobility 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.