Kirakos Gandzaketsi, a 13th-century Armenian historian, mentions the Kurdish origins of the Zakarids, one of Armenia/Georgia's most significant families during the medieval era. Their resemblance to other Kurdish dynasties is particularly intriguing. Kirakos stresses the Zakarids' institution-building, a common pattern when contrasted to other contemporary Kurdish dynasties, such as the Ayyubids, whose legacy is identical, with the sole distinction of the religion associated with these institutions. Kirakos refers to the friendship between the Ayyubids, Zakarids, and the Georgian Kingdom, which began with Tamta's marriage to Saladin's nephew, al-Awhad, and continued after al-Awhad's death when she married al Ashraf, another Ayyubid ruler:
During the reign of Lewon, king of the Armenians, in the East there were two brothers, sons of the pious prince Sargis, son of Vahram, son of Zak'aria, who had separated from the Kurds of the Babirakan xel.
The name of the first son was Zak'are and the second was Iwane-brave men, rich in authority, honored by the queen of Georgia named T'amar who was the daughter of Georg the brave, son of Demetre. Zak'are was general of the Georgian and Armenian forces that were under the Georgian king. Iwane held the at'abekut'iwn. They displayed bravery in many battles, since they took for themselves from the Iranians and Tachiks much of Armenia which they had held, namely, the districts around the Sea of Geghark'unik', Tashir, Ayrarat, the city of Bjni, and Dwin, Anberd, the city of Ani, Kars, Vayots' Dzor, the land of Siwnik' and the fortresses, cities and districts surrounding it. They also made tributary the sultan of the city of Karin. They looted many districts of Iran and Atrpatakan, and extended their borders in every direction. The other prince named Zak'are did likewise, as did his brother Sargis and the other Sargis, father of Shalue and Iwane, relatives of the great princes; and with their aid they too took from the Iranians many districts and secure fortresses: Gardman, K'arherdz, Ergevank', Tawush, Katsaret', Terunakan and Gag and they placed in difficult straits the city of Shamk'or, which his son later took. This son was named Vahram, father of Aghbugha, grandfather of Vahram, Zak'are and Iwane.
Thus they were aided in their conquests from On High, so much so that their reputation for bravery spread throughout many districts and many peoples were tributary to them, both by reason of friendship and out of fear. They restored many monasteries which for a long time-since the invasions of the Ishmaelites-had been in ruins. They restored the churches once again and the clerical orders shone forth. They also built new churches and monasteries, which from antiquity had not been monasteries, among which the famous monastery called Getik in the district of Kayean, which was constructed by the blessed vardapet Mxit'ar called Gosh. They built a wondrous church with a heavenly dome; and they consecrated the church and anointed it in the name of the blessed Mother of God, a temple of the Lord's glory, and an abode of the rational flock of Christ.
As soon as their authority was so furthered, they attacked the sultan called Shahi Armen.
They wanted to take the charming city of Bznunik', Xlat', [from the Shah Armen]. Assembling their soldiers, they besieged it and were close to taking it. Prince Iwane, brother of the general, rode to examine the city's wall, to divert himself. Wandering aimlessly, his horse's leg stumbled into a hidden pit and threw him to the ground.
Seeing this the men of the city pounced upon him and, binding him, took him inside. And there was great merriment in the city. They immediately informed the sultan about his capture, at which the sultan rejoiced exceedingly, and ordered Iwane brought before him.
When general Zak'aria heard about this he sent threatening words to the citizens, saying: "Release my brother from your city, or I shall destroy it, I will take your soil to Georgia, and destroy your population." Frightened by him, they did not have Iwane sent to the sultans in Damascus and Egypt, named Kuz and Melik' K'eml and Ashrap' (from the line of Saladin, who took Jerusalem). Making peace among themselves, [the residents of Xlat'] requested the daughter of Iwane in marriage. And it came to pass as they requested. They took hostages and released Iwane. When he went to his home, he sent his daughter to them. She became the wife of Kuz and after him, of Ashrap'.
The coming of this woman into the house of the sultans brought about much good, for the lot of the Christians under their domination improved, especially in Taron since the monasteries which were there and had been under taxation, had the rate of their taxes lowered, and half of them had the whole tax discontinued. [The Muslims] ordered those under their domination not to despoil or trouble travellers going to Jerusalem for pilgrimage. The Georgians especially expanded [their influence], for Iwane was misled to the doctrine of Chalcedon (through which the Georgians were lost); for he loved the glory of man more than the glory of God. He became charmed by the queen named T'amar, daughter of Georg, while Zak'are remained true to the orthodox confession of the Armenians. Therefore they honored the Georgians even more, for they were not taxed in all their cities, and in Jerusalem as well. [Iwane's daughter] was named T'amt'a. Thus was friendship and unity achieved between the Georgian kingdom and the sultans' lordship.
After these events, once [the Zak'arids] had secured the land under their sway from any invasion, after the monasteries had multiplied and the worship of the Church shone forth brightly, Zak'are thought to do something else. For he saw that among the Georgian soldiers under his king, each [general] had priests with him, and they performed mass everywhere, while he had no portable church (for such was not the custom of the Armenians for a long time, from after the removal of the grandee princes of Armenia, because of the tyranny of the Iranians and Ishmaelites). The Georgians censured the Armenians for not having a portable church, for not taking communion [on the march], and for not celebrating each of the feasts of the martyrs of God on the day of its occurrence. Therefore, Zak'are was deeply unhappy.
Zak'are asked the great vardapet Mxit'ar called Gosh (builder of the monastery of Getik, who was his father-confessor): "Was there ever among any of our kings or princes, a church suitable for the road-a place for worship and the mass?" He also asked other vardapets, and they told him that there had been a tent and table which circulated in the royal army of the mighty King Trdat, and that the blessed Vardaneans had received baptism and communion in the army. [They cited] the information which the blessed martyrs Hiperik'os and P'ilot'eos wrote to Yakobos the priest: "Take with you the chalice of the mass, and the horn of anointment, and come to us." And they informed him of other similar instances. Then the great general said to them: "Give me the command to take along priests and a tent for mass in my travels." The great vardapet said to him: "We cannot do that without an order from the kat'oghikos of the Armenians, and from King Lewon."
So he wrote a letter and sent ambassadors to the kat'oghikos of the Armenians, Yovhannes, who during that time was in rebellion against King Lewon in Hrhomkla for various reasons. He also wrote to King Lewon and acquainted him with his request. Lewon had seated lord Dawit' as kat'oghikos in place of Yovhannes who was in rebellion against Cilicia in the monastery called Ark'akaghin.
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