He was installed as king by Yusuf, the Ostikan of the Caliph in 908. He established the medieval Armenian Kingdom of Vaspurakan in 908 in Anatolia.
He campaigned with Yusuf against Smbat, King of Armenia, in 910. He was patron of the building of the church of Surp Khach (Holy Cross) between 915 and 921 in Lake Van, on the island of Aght’amar, Anatolia.
He was the only Armenian king who offered strength, security, and reliability in the mid 920's. He extended Artsruni power, with his brother Gurgen, northwards towards Mount Ararat and south to the basin of the Bohtan Su. He was granted by Byzantium King Ashot II's title Archon of Archons, the greek equivalent of Prince of Princes, in 925.
