Smbat VIII Bagratuni.

About Smbat VIII Bagratuni

Smbat VIII Bagratuni, also known as Smbat the Confessor and in Arabic sources as Ablabas was the Prince of Armenia (852–855) and the Sparapet of Armenia (824–855). He was the son of Ashot Msaker and a member of the Bagratuni royal dynasty. He was the father of Ashot I, Abas, Smbat, and Shapuh the Historian. Smbat is particularly famous for his steadfastness during his captivity in Samarra following the events of 850–855, where he refused to renounce his Christian faith and was subsequently executed. Because of his unyielding faith, Armenian historians bestowed upon him the epithet "the Confessor" (Khostovanogh).