ASHOT Bagratuni, son of SMBAT Bagratuni "Khostovanogh/the Confessor" & his wife Hripsime --- (820-890, bur Bagran). Kirakos Ganjaketsi's History of Armenia records that "his son Ashot ruled the kingdom" after the death of "Smbat…the Confessor", recording that held "the sparapetutiwn", then was installed as "prince of princes" and given a crown by "Mahmet", and also received a royal crown from Emperor Basileios I[42]. After his father's capture in 853, Ashot took refuge in Tayk, assuming his father's title and leadership of Armenian resistance in the north. He reconquered Širak and Aršarunik[43]. He was appointed išxanac išxan [Prince of Princes] in Armenia in 862 by the ostikan, representative of the Caliph in Armenia[44]. Ashot further strengthened his position by dynastic marriages with other Armenian princes, and eventually was able to take advantage of the decline of the Abbasid Caliphate's power to re-establish Armenia's political autonomy from the Arabs. His position was confirmed when he was crowned ASHOT I "the Great" King of Armenia at Bagaran by the Caliph's representative 26 Aug 884 with a crown sent by the Caliph. He continued to be referred to, however, as "Prince of Princes" in Arab and Greek sources and appears to have remained tributary to the Caliphate[45]. He was recognised as such by Emperor Leon VI in 887[46]. The Histoire of Jean VI Catholicos records the death "par une chute qu´il fit dans une route sur un rocher appelé Tsieg abarhaji" of "Aschod roi d´Arménie" and his burial "dans le bourg royal de Pagran"[47]. Kirakos Ganjaketsi's History of Armenia records that Ashot ruled for 32 years as Prince of Princes and five years as king of Armenia[48].
m KOTRAMIDE, daughter of --- ([825]-). The primary source which confirms her marriage has not yet been identified.
King Ashot I & his wife had six children