Armavir was an old capital of Armenia. It is said to have been founded by King Aramais in 1980 BC King Argishti I of Urartu built a fortress in the area. He named it Argishtikhinili. During Antiquity, Armavir was taken by the Seleucids, Parthians, Roman Empire, Sassanids and Byzantine Empire before it was taken over by the Arabs in 645.