The Battle of Avarayr took place on May 26, 451 AD, in present-day Armenia. It was a significant conflict between the forces of the Armenian nobleman Vardan Mamikonian and the Persian Empire, which sought to impose Zoroastrianism on the Armenian people. The battle was a response to the Persian attempts to suppress Christianity in Armenia. Despite being heavily outnumbered, Vardan and his troops fought valiantly but were ultimately defeated. The battle is remembered as a symbol of Armenian resistance and the struggle for religious freedom, leading to the eventual recognition of Christianity in Armenia as a state religion.