Bagratides, Or Bagradites, a royal family of Armenia and Georgia, whose founder was Ba-grat or Bagrad, according to tradition the descendants of a Jewish exile of the time of Nebuchadnezzar, who were allowed by Valarsaces, first king of Armenia of Parthian race, about 149 B. C, the privilege of putting the crown upon the head of the Armenian monarchs. About A. D. 300 the family adopted Christianity, and in the 5th and 6th centuries resisted the efforts of the Neo-Persians to bring the Armenians back to the religion of Zoroaster. The Byzantine emperors and afterward the caliphs of Bagdad conferred the dignity of governor of Armenia upon several of the Bagratides. The Bagratide Ashod or Ashot, in the latter half of the 9th century, first assumed the title of shah-in-shah or prince of princes, and subsequently the kingly crown, on the condition of rendering a small tribute. This dynasty reigned in Armenia till 1079, frequently sharing the supremacy with princes of other houses. Another Ashod had ascended the throne of Georgia about 790, and his son Bagrad firmly established the family on it in 841. This dynasty maintained its independence till the occupation of Georgia by the Russians at the beginning of this century.