Vaspurakan was elevated to the status of a kingdom in 908 , when Gagik I of Vaspurakan was recognized King of Armenia by the Abbasids and at first was on their side , but soon he regretted and together with Ashot II defeated the Arabs . Soon he was recognized as the King of Vaspurakan by the Bagratuni Ashot II . In 1021 Seneqerim Artsruni gave Vaspurakan to the Byzantine Empire , receiving Sebasteia and its surroundings . Vaspurakan became the Byzantine province ( '' thema '' ) of Vasprakania or Media . In about 1050 Vasprakania was merged with that of Taron , but was conquered by the Saljuq Turks between 1054-1056 . In the 13th century part of Vaspurakan was liberated by Zakarids . But soon was conquered by Mongols , then by Ottoman Turks . Turks several times tried to kill Armenians in Vaspurakan , especially in Van . But Van 's Armenian population always resisted , especially is notable Siege of Van of 1915 , when the Ottoman forces attacked on Van during 1915 's Armenian Genocide
Armenian Genocide
Armenian Genocide
Kingdom of Vaspurakan