"Msaker" - the meat or man eater.
Kirakos Ganjaketsi's History of Armenia records that "Ashot Msaker" succeeded as marzpan of Armenia after "Smbat" and ruled for 20 years, but does not mention any family relationship between them. The Tables chronologiques of Samuel of Ani record "Achot-Msaker, fils de Sembat, [et] pčre de Sembat le Confesseur" between 780 and 820, adding that he was "du village de Cacaz, canton de Mazaz". After his father's defeat, Ashot took refuge in his mountain domain in north-western Sper from where he carried out guerrilla activity against the Arabs. He was appointed išxan of Armenia by the Caliph in 804. On his death, the Caliphate divided his territories between his two sons.
