The 5th-century Armenian historian Pavstos Buzand claimed that the Georgian Bagrationi family was originated in Speri province which was populated by Georgian Laz tribes. The same idea was shared by many historians like N. Marr, I. Orbeli, E. Takaishvili, S. Janashia, and the assertion of Bagratoinis' Armenian origin is widely neglected. Also according to the Georgian historian Niko Berdzenishvili, the illustrious dynasty of the Bagrationi originates in the most ancient Georgian district – Speri. Through their farsighted, flexible policies, the Bagrationi achieved great influence from the 6th through 8th centuries. One of their branches moved out to Armenia, the other to Iberia, and both won for themselves the dominant position among the other rulers of Transcaucasia".".