320 TIGRAN MIKAYELYAN Researcher of the Institute of Oriental Studies, RA e-mail: mtigran2002@yahoo.com PERSIAN AS A LANGUAGE OF MEDIEVAL EPIGRAPHIC INSCRIPTIONS OF ARMENIA 1 As known, from the 8th century, Armenia fell under the rule of the Arab caliphate (7-9 th centuries) and together with the neighboring countries formed the province with name Arminia. Arminia was ruled by the appointees of the Arab caliphs. At the beginning of the 9th century, the power of the Arabs in Armenia was abolished and the independence of Armenia was restored. Later, from the 11th century to the 19th century, Armenia was incorporated in the states of various Muslim rulers (Shaddadids, Ilkhanids, Seljuks, Kara-Koyunlu, Ak-Koyunlu, Iranian dynasties, etc.), although in some parts of the country, Armenian princes managed to maintain their principalities up to 15-16 centuries (Orbelians in Syunik, Proshyans in Vayots Dzor, Vachutians in Aragatsotn, etc.). The conquest of Armenia by the Muslim rulers was often accompanied by the infiltration of Arabs, Kurds, Persians, and mostly Turkic-speaking nomadic tribes especially after the mass deportation of the Armenians to Iran by Shah Abbas in 1604. 1 This study covers the territory of the modern Republic of Armenia (most of Eastern Armenia) and not the historical Armenia. DOI: 10.56813/2953-786X-2022.2-320