Family
 Hripsime of ArmeniaNotes: See Nicholas of Bulgaria. Hripsime (or Rhipsimia) is likely to be of Armenian ancestry. The name was a popular female name in Armenia - in reference to an Armenian martyr of the third century, who was made a saint. Hripsime is not a daughter of Ashot II. Married/ Related to:  Nicholas of Bulgaria, CountNotes: The Bitola building inscription, a copy of which is now found at the National Historical Museum of Bulgaria, Nicholas and Ripsime are identified as grandparents of Ivan Vladislav, the son of Aron. This provides the best primary evidence for these early generations. Komes ("count") Nicholas was a local ruler in Bulgaria, probably of Armenian origin, and progenitor of the Cometopuli ("the sons of the count") dynasty. According to the Armenian chronicler Stephen of Taron, the family originated in the Armenian region of Derdjan. Attempts to make Nicholas a son of preceding Bulgarian dynasties are not supported by evidence. Child: 1. Aron of BulgariaDied 14 Jun 988 Notes: See Nicholas of Bulgaria. Aron was a Bulgarian noble, brother of Emperor Samuel of Bulgaria and third son of komes Nicholas. After the fall of the eastern parts of the country under Byzantine occupation in 971, he and his three brothers David, Moses and Samuel continued the resistance to the west. They were called Cometopuli and ruled the country together, as the rightful heirs to the throne, Boris II and Roman were imprisoned in Constantinople. The residence of Aron was Serdica (modern-day Sofia), situated on the main road between Constantinople and Western Europe. He had to defend the area from enemy invasions and attack the Byzantine territories in Thrace. | |||