 During this time, the city boasted a Muslim Arab population, as well as a substantial Christian community.Barda was even the seat of a Nestorian,(Christian) Bishopric in the 10th century.Referring to events in the late eleventh century, the twelfth-century Armenian historian Matthew of Edessa described Partav as an "Armenian city ["K'aghak'n Hayots'"], which is also called Paytakaran and located near the vast [Caspian] Sea."