Burtel Orbelian

Burtel Orbelian, called the Long-Lived, ruled the Orbelian principality of Syunik from about 1300 to 1349, succeeding his father Elikum. He reunited the divided Orbelian lands and served as commander-in-chief of the Armenian and Georgian armies.

Syunik prospered under him: the architect Momik built the churches of Areni and Spitakavor and the Burtelashen mausoleum church at Noravank. In the 1340s the Ilkhanids made him governor-amir of Sultaniya and Tabriz. After his death around 1349, succession strife weakened Syunik.