Senekerim-Hovhannes was the youngest son of
Abusahl-Hamazasp. He had two older brothers,
Ashot-Sahak and
Gurgen-Khachik. On the death of Abusahl in 968, the kingdom was divided among his three sons, and Ashot, as the eldest, retained the royal title and the suzerainty over his younger brothers. On his death, royal power was usurped by the second son, Gurgen, who reigned as king until his own death in 1003. In 1000, when the
Byzantine emperor Basil II visited the East and annexed the principality of
Tao, both Senekerim and his brother Gurgen visited him and paid him homage, receiving rich gifts in return. According to
Stephen of Taron, Basil also sent letters to the neighbouring Muslim potentates declaring that Vaspurakan was under his protection, and warning them to stop their raids.
Matthew of Edessa on the other hand reports that Basil concluded a treaty of alliance with the two brothers. Following Gurgen's death in 1003, Senekerim also withheld power from his nephews and crowned himself king. Throughout his reign, his position on the throne remained insecure, partly due to his usurpation, and partly due to the ever mounting raids of various
Turkmen groups. As a result he approached Basil, along with his relative, the Artsruni ruler of
Andzevatsi, offering to surrender their realms to the Empire in exchange for large domains in eastern
Asia Minor. Mounting Turkish pressure, and especially a devastating raid in 1018/19, in which the Armenian army proved unable to counter the Turkish horse archers, eventually led to the cession of Vaspurakan being realized in the winter of 1021/22. The entire realm, comprising 72 fortresses and 3,000 to 4,400 villages, according to contemporary accounts, was annexed by the Byzantines and became the new
theme (province) of Asprakania or Upper
Media.
Basil Argyros became the new province's first governor. In recompense, Senekerim received the title of
patrikios and the post of
strategos of the theme of
Cappadocia, as well as possession of the cities of
Sebasteia,
Larissa, Abara and many other settlements. He was followed west by his family and 14,000 retainers. Several of Senekerim's relatives likewise received titles and gifts from the Emperor. Senekerim died in 1025 or 1027, although Matthew of Edessa erroneously places his death in 1029/30. He was succeeded by his eldest son
David. == Family ==