[2][3] The father of Kogh Vasil was the brigand leader Łazarik (Ghazar, i.e. Lazarus), called the "red-haired dog", who was first mentioned in an epistle of Grigor Magistros to the Syrian Patriarch in 1058.
[5] Philaretos Brachamios, the ruler of an Armenian principality centered around Antioch, Edessa and Marash, gave Kogh Vasil the fortress of Kaisun.
[7] Although Kogh seems to have been from humble origins, he claimed the heritage and authority of the Armenian kingdom through his wife, who according to Matthew of Edessa was descendent from the Kamsarakan family.
[8] Finally, he also became a protector of the Pahlavuni Armenian Patriarchs and Grigor II took up residence in Kaisun at some time before he died in 1106.
[9] Kogh's brother was Bagrat who influenced Baldwin of Boulogne to depart from the army of the First Crusade and venture into the Armenian controlled lands.