Babken H. Harutyunyan
The great historiographer Movses Khorenatsi (Moses of Chorene) became immortal handing down to the verdict of posterity his unique “History of Armenia”, which is known with its three books according to the manuscripts and ends with the author’s “Lament”.
Thought judging by some announcements of Tovma Artsruni, it can be supposed that Movses Khorenatsi’s “History of Armenia” has had the Fourth book, which not only Tovma Artsruni was acquainted with but also some medieval authors.
The historians of blessed memory such as Ghevond Alishan, H. Karenyan, M. Emin, Khoren Stepane, G. Ter-Mkrtchyan, B. Gevorgyan (Tscughuryan) of Vagharshapat, St. Malkhasyants, Hrant Armen, N. Poghosyan, V. Vardanyan, Artashes Matevosyan and others also referred to the question of Movses Khorenatsi’s Fourth book, and one part of them accepts its eistence while the others deny it strictly assuming that it had rather a character of enclosures, the latter idea was assiduously substantiated especially by Artashes Matevosyan.
An attempt to show up the existence of Movses Khorenati’s Fourth book is made in this article, basing on the affirmations of Tovma Artsruni and tohers, and logical thought.