Gahnamak

Early medieval manuscript "Gakhnamaka"

Gakhnamak (in Armenian Գահնամակ , literally “throne letter” ) is an official letter ordering the list of throne seats and bards (“pillows”) occupied by Armenian aristocrats at the royal court of Great Armenia .

The throne of the clan, occupied by its head at court, was determined by the traditional position of the clan ( pative ), as well as its economic and military power (the latter was determined in zoranamak ). Gahnamak was compiled and consolidated by the decision of the king . The thrones of the naharars rarely changed and were inherited. Only in exceptional cases (high treason, cessation, etc.) could the king make some changes in Gahnamak. The sequence and classification of the thrones of Armenian aristocrats has been conducted in Armenia since ancient times.