The medieval Kingdom of Armenia, also known as Bagratid Armenia, is an independent state established by Ashot I Bagratuni in 884 following nearly two centuries of foreign domination of Greater Armenia under Arab Umayyad and Abbasid rule.

With the two contemporary powers in the region, the Abbasids and Byzantines, too preoccupied to concentrate their forces in subjugating the people of the region and the dissipation of several of the Armenian nakharar noble families, Ashot is able to assert himself as the leading figure of a movement to dislodge the Arabs from Armenia.

Ashot's prestige rises as he is courted by both Byzantine and Arab leaders eager to maintain a buffer state near their frontiers.

The Caliphate recognizes Ashot as "prince of princes" in 862 and, later on, king in 884 or 885.

The establishment of the Bagratuni kingdom later leads to the founding of several other Armenian principalities and kingdoms: Taron, Vaspurakan, Kars, Khachen and Syunik.