Orbelian

The Orbelian were Armenian nobles whose princes ruled Syunik from the late twelfth century. At the Georgian court they held the hereditary office of commander-in-chief and took their name from Orbeti fortress. After Ivane Orbeli backed a failed rebellion in 1177, he was killed and the survivors driven into Armenia.

Queen Tamar pardoned them; Liparit III became viceroy of Syunik, Vayots Dzor and Gegharkunik. In 1236 the princes submitted to the Mongols, keeping their lands by joining their campaigns. In 1337 Syunik was held by Burtel Orbelian, ancestor of the Burtelian branch.

The Turkmen and Timurid invasion of 1385 broke the house: Prince Smbat was besieged in Vorotnaberd and carried to Samarkand, where he was forced to convert to Islam. After Sofyan's defeat in 1437, his descendant Rustam sold the Syunik estates to Tatev monastery and withdrew to Lori.