Causes and beginning of the uprising of 850-852
In 850, Caliph al-Mutawakkil (847–861), seeking to restore central authority weakened by internal unrest in Samarra and ensure full tax collection, sent a new governor to Armenia, Abu Said Muhammad al-Marwazi . His task was to tour the Armenian provinces in person and collect the maximum amount of taxes, without shying away from even the harshest measures.
Upon learning of this, Bagarat Bagratuni, the "Prince of Princes," sent a delegation of princes bearing valuable gifts to meet him, requesting that he advance no further. Abu Said, assessing the danger, retreated, leaving behind two officials to handle tax collection: Musa ibn Zurara (Bagarat's son-in-law), who was appointed deputy governor and chief tax collector in Diyar Bakr, and Ala ibn Ahmad as-Sawafi (referred to as Tsovatsi in Armenian sources), who was tasked with collecting taxes in Vaspurakan.
Ala began plundering the villages of Vaspurakan, selling their inhabitants into slavery. Ashot Artsruni, the Prince of Vaspurakan, issued a warning to him, but Ala ignored it. Ashot then defeated the Arabs near the village of Archuch, killing Ala's brother. Subsequently, Ashot Artsruni joined forces with Bagarat Bagratuni, and together they achieved a brilliant victory against Musa ibn Zurara in Taron. These Armenian successes sparked panic in the Caliphate's capital, Samarra .
Upon returning to Samarra, Abu Said reported the situation in Armenia to the caliph, emphasizing that Bagarat was demanding the governorship of all Arminiya. The caliph dispatched Abu Said once more with new troops, but he died en route. He was succeeded by his son, Yusuf, who received orders to destroy the princely houses of Southern Armenia—the Bagratunis and the Artsrunis. In 851, Yusuf invaded Armenia from the direction of Atropatene. He summoned Ashot Artsruni under false pretenses; however, Ashot was forewarned and fortified himself in Mardastan. Ashot then appeased Yusuf with valuable gifts, prompting him to retreat. Yusuf subsequently moved westward and invited Bagarat Bagratuni to meet him in Khlat, promising to hand over the governorship of Arminiya to him on the pretext that he was unaccustomed to the northern climate. Bagarat, who had long sought this position, traveled to Khlat without suspicion. Upon arrival, however, he was immediately arrested and sent to Samarra in iron chains.
Bagarat's capture sparked widespread outrage across Armenia, particularly in its southern regions. His sons, Ashot and Davit, escaped and organized resistance after fortifying themselves in the mountainous regions of the Armenian Taurus. They were joined by Hovnan Khutetsi (Yunan ibn Tornik), who raised units from among the warlike highlanders of Sasun and Khut. The rebels descended from the mountains into the Plain of Mush, encircled the city, and routed the Arabs, liberating the Artsruni hostages. Terrified, Yusuf sought refuge in a tall church, but an Armenian soldier pierced and killed him there with a spear. According to the Arab historian al-Tabari, this occurred in February–March 852 (Ramadan, 237 AH). Following Yusuf's assassination, the wave of rebellion swept across numerous regions of Armenia. Reports reached the caliph that Armenia was in full revolt.
