At first glance, it appears to be the plural of Siwni, the name of the ancient princely dynasty of Syunik (the noble house, like the province, is also alternatively called Sisakan).

While travelling across the province, he (Mashtots) benefited from his great assistance in the realization of the task set before him.There are also available records left by Stephen Orbelian,[30] an historian of Syunik.

During the 451 Battle of Avarayr, Vasak Siwni failed to stand up for the defense of the Armenian troops led by Vardan Mamikonian and took sides with the Persians, his move predetermining the adversary's victory.

[37] With the onset of the Arab invasion in the early 8th century, the Armenian Syunik, along with Eastern Georgia and the territory of the former Sasanian Albania, was integrated into one of the regions of Armaniya, a vicegerency also known as Ostikanate of Arminiya.

[48] An early 10th-century Arab author, Istakhri, referred to the place name Sisijan, which he said was situated on the roadway connecting Bardva with Dvin (the Armenian Highlands, the kingdom of Smbat and Ashot I).

[51] Upon the demand of the Artsrunis, the rulers of Vaspurakan at the time, the Sajid emir, Yusuf, attacked Armenia in 909 and, devastating settlements and fortresses across Syunik, annexed Alinja to his possessions.

[52] Prince Smbat came into possession of Western Syunik (Chaguk) and his brother, Sahak of the eastern part, the region of Balk along the river Akera.

[53] During the reign of King Ashot II, the northern part of Syunik – along Lake Sevan (to the north of Vardenis ridge) – was united to the estates of the Bagratid family.

From 970 until 980 the political center of the province extended to the south of the gavar of Balk, with the rights of the sovereign being bestowed upon Prince Smbat (the grandson of Ashot Siwni).

[56][57] Both before and after the formation of the vassal Kingdom of Syunik, the paramount leaders of the region took part in all the politico-military actions of the Armenian statehood (974,[58] 998,[57] 1003, 1040[59]), remaining true to the Bagratids' allies.

[60] In the early 990s, King Gagik I annexed the sovereign possession of Vayots Dzor while uniting Armenian lands under a centralized authority[61] and a range of other Syunik regions to the Ani Kingdom.

[63][64][65][66] After death of Grigor I (about 1072), the last remaining heir to the throne,[67] Senekerim, became the King of Syunik, his authority being affirmed by Sultan Malik Shah I of the Seljuk Empire.

All the churches of Armenia and Christianity plunged into mourning, Yet, Baghaberd, Geghi, Kakaverd, Shlorut, Karchavavan, Meghri and Krkham remained untouched thanks to the grandsons of Ashot, King Grigor, and Smbat.In 1126, Kapan and the region of Arevik were devastated by the troops of Amir Kharon.

The Orbelians in Syunik traced their ancestral roots to Liparit, Elikum's son, while Vasak[71] descended from the from Khakhbakyan dynasty who came from the neighboring Armenian region of Khachen.

[85] The Proshyans extended their authority mainly to the Gavars of Gegharkunik in the south-west of Lake Sevan, and Vayots Dzor, holding their residence in the small city of Srkghunk.

[73] The lands under Stephen Orbelyan's control extended to the borders of Nakhichivan[9] and those owned by the younger branch of the princedom covered the shore of Sevan.

[71][100] In that period, Syunik fell under the power of Qara Qoyunlus (Black Sheep Turkomans), a united Turkish nomadic tribe who were later replaced by the Aq Qoyunlu rulers.

The invasion of Mongol ilkhans, especially the Qara Koyunlu and Ak Qoyunlu tribes, had severe consequences: with the powerful forces disintegrated, a part of the population was looted and annihilated, and cultural monuments were destroyed.

According to Tovmen Motspatsi, a contemporary historian who served as the main Armenian source of that particular period, the early years of the Qara Qoyunlu rule were relatively peaceful.

[103] However, in 1435, as Shah Rukh launched his third raid against the Qara Qoyunlu; Syunik was devastated, and Beshken, with 6,000 liegemen, had to flee to Georgia, having received the Armenian region of Lori from Alexander, his father-in-law.

The bloodthirsty and ruthless beast, [King Alexan], out of fear - stemming from vain and false suspicions lest all the Armenians head towards his palace in a crowded march eventually leading up to the devastation of all the regions of Iberia (heard especially from the mouths of evil Ishkhans /princes/), gave him poison through an Armenian's husband...Under the next Qara Qoyunlu leader, Jahan Shah (reign: 1436–1467), the feudals of Syunik and Vayots Dzor obtained control over several regions and were even granted permission to use the title ishkhan.

[107] After Jahan Shah's death, the Qara Qoyunlus' possessions passed under the control of their main rivals, the united nomadic tribes identifying themselves as Aq Qoyunlu (White Sheep Turkomans).

[71] Between the 16th and 17th centuries, the Armenian feudal possessions, i.e. the Melikdoms, were preserved in Syunik and the neighboring Nagorno-Karabakh (with their own armed squadrons) despite the Muslim tribes which had settled on the territory of Eastern Armenia.

In 1701, he headed to Moscow to introduce to King Peter I his consideration on the liberation of Armenia (with the engagement of the armed formations of Syunik and Artsakh, as well as Russian support)[115][73] and gain promises of a collaboration.

[120] From the 17th to the 18th centuries, the territory of historical Syunik fell within the boundaries of different territorial-administrative units: the coast of Lake Sevan formed part of Chokhur-e Sa'd.

A historian of Syunik, Bishop Stephen Orbelian, provides the following characterization of its jurisdictions: the boundaries of the parishional regions subject to him were as follows: Syunik, Baghk, Arevik, Ordvat, Argulik, Vanand, Alinja, Nakhichivan, Jugha (up to the boundaries of the river Yeraskh, Chakhuk, Vayots-Dzor, Gegharkunik ... the entire territory of Porakn which provoked many disagreements yet received the Armenian catholicoses' acceptance, albeit highly indignant.

through which the Hakari river runs, stretching to Karavazin ....In 895 a higher education institution under the Tatev Monastery was established, becoming initially famed as a key cultural center of pan-Armenian importance.

[128] The relative political calm in the province in the late 8th and early 14th centuries, increased Syunik's prominence as the main cultural and intellectual center of Armenia at the time.

Among the outstanding students of the institution were Stephen Orbelian, the historian of Syunik and the author of History of the Province of Sisakan, architect Momik, miniature artists Toros Taronetsi and Tiratur Kilikietsi, theologian Mkhitar Sasnetsi and others.

The Monastery of Tatev is also known as an intellectual center of medieval Armenia[132] as it housed a large library and developed the school of Armenian miniature art.