Administrative division of Armenia
During
History
Edic
Baghdasarian
From his
book` History of the Armenian army
There is
not much information about adminis-trative division of prehistoric Armenian
highland at the time of Aratta, Mitani, Hayasa-Azzi, Nairi, Uratri,
Arme-Shupria, Urartu (Van kingdom).
Aratta
Hayassa,
Mitanni
Kingdom of Van (Urartu)
Achaemenid
king Darius (522-484 BC) managed 5 battles in 551-550 BC agains Armenians to
occupy Armenia. At that time Iran was divided into 20 Satrapies and Armenia was
included in two of them 13th and 18th. Satrapy 13
included eastern regions Armenia[1]
and Hayasa-Azzi and other small areas. Armenia stretched to upper Tigris and
Aradsani areas, corresponding with Sophene and Aghdzenik provinces, it is
possible that many other small regions were also included in Armenia, beside
them, regions near Pontus sea (Black sea) were also covered by Satrapy 13.
Yervandunian (Orontid) Armenia
According to Herodotus
(484-425 BC) satrapy
18 consisted of landas of
Matieni, Saspiri and Alarodii[2]
(Armenians[3]).
Anabasis of Xenophon (430-354 BC) is the most important
source for Armenia under Achaemenid rule. His information relates to “The March
of the Ten Thousand” and the route through Armenia, according to it, we can
have some information about geography of Armenian at that time. According to
him Armenia was divided into two Eastern Armenia and Western Armenia[4]
Satrapies for administration included in Achaemenid Persia.
Route
of Cyrus the
Younger, Xenophon and
the Ten Thousand.
Unfortunately He does not
describe the exact borders of Armenia.
Achaemenid
Empire
During Seleucid reign
(312-63 BC) only a portion of Armenia was under their rule. At that time
Armenia consisted of three major parts: Armenia Minor (Lesser Armenia), Sophene
and Armenia Major (Greater Armenia). Northern parts of Armenia Minor and
Armenia Major were independent and ruled by regional kings.
Seleucid Empire
After the battle of Magnesia
in 190 BC between Romans, led by the consul Lucius
Cornelius Scipio and the Roman ally Eumenes II of
Pergamum,
and the army of Antiochus III the
Great of
the Seleucid Empire, Artashes and Zareh governors
of Greater Armenia and Shphene, respectively, declare independence and
established Armenian kingdoms, while
Armenia Minor had already achieved independence. We get clearer idiea
about the territories the Armenian kings were able to take under their control
through information reached us by Strabo.According to him King Artashes had
captured Caspian land (Paytakaran), Vaspurakan, (Strabo mentions Basoropeda),
Pavnitis (?), which is considered to be Syunik, Tayk, Khordzene, Gugark,
(Gogarine), Karin (Karenties), Derjan (Derksene), and Tmorik[5]. Strabo also gives us description of
mountains, plateaus, valleys, etc[6].
Zareh had captured lands at Antitaurus and Yegeghiats canton[7].
So Main Armenia (East of Euphrates) i.e Greater Armenia and
Sophene at the time of Artashes I (189-160 BC) and Zareh consisted of
Paytakaran, Syunik, Vaspurakan, Ayrarat. Gugark, Tayk, most of Upper Armenia,
Turuberan, Fourth Armenia, Aghdzenik, Mogk, most of Kortchayk, Utik and
Artsakh, which means 14 out of 15 province of future Arshakunian Armenia.
Strabo mentions that the population of all captured lands spoke in Armenian[8].
In Tte same time (2nd century BC), Lesser Armenia
was enlarged west of Euphrates, which occupied west of mountains Paryadres[9]
(Parkharian) and noth-eastern shores of Pontus.
The largest of all three Armenian kingdoms was the Greater
Armenia under Artashes I.
Historians especially have reported more details starting
from Tigran II the Great (95-55 BC) of Artashesian Dynasty. After ascending the
thrown, he liberated “70 valleys” from Persia. They were
a part of Armenia at the time of Artashes I and were surrendered to Persians as
a price to get Tigran’s freedom. Tigran had been a hostage until the age of 45
at the court of King Mithridates II of Parthia after the
Armenian defeat in 105 BC. According to many researches, this region
corresmoded with future Parskahayk province.
Tigran the
Great's Armenian Empire: Countries, composing parts of the Empire
Under
his reign, the Armenian kingdom expanded beyond its traditional boundaries,
allowing Tigranes to claim the title Great King, and involving Armenia in many
battles against opponents such as the Parthian and Seleucid empires, and the Roman Republic.
Then
he annexed (in 94 BC) Sophene, all lands except Pontus until Cappadocia. These
lands later on became a part of Armenia, but other lands such as Aturpatkan
(Iranian Azerbaijan), Great Medes, Adiabene, Osroyene, Migdonia, Commagene,
Assyria and some other locations were a
part of Armenia for short time until his battle against Pompey (65 BC), So
political borders of Armenia matched approximately with Armenian Highland. So
when using the term “Ancient Armenia”, we should not consider the Armenian
Empire borders created by Tigran the Great, but we should consider the borders
of Armenia as Greater Armenia at the time of Artashes plus the lands joined by
Tigran II (Sophene, Eastern part of Lesser Armenia, Kortduk and Shirakan, which
was called Parskahayk at a later time).
About Administrative division of
Armenia we do not have much information. Academician H. Manandian mentions
about “Feudal system” for administration of the country[10]. Roman geographer Pliny the Elder
(Gaius Plinius Secundus 23-79 AD) mentions that at his time Armenia was devided
into 120 regions, which he called them “Strategia”[11]. Artashesian kingdom had two
capitals: Artashat built bt Artashes I (About 166 BC) and Tigranakert built by
Tigran the Great (About 77 BC).
As mentioned earlier, according to
“Ashkharatsuyts” of Anania Shirakatsi,
Greater Armenia was devided into 15 provinces[12].
Borders of Armenia reached its
maximum level at the time of Armenian
Arshagunian (Arsacid) kingdom (66-428 AD).According to Shirakatsi 15 provinces
of Greater Armenia had borders with Assyria, Georgia, Caspian sea, Aturpatkan
(Iranian Azerbaijan) and Caucasian Albania[13].
15 provinces of Greater Armenia (Arsacid Armenia).
Arshagunian Armenia had two capitals: Artashat and
Vagharshapat.
Armenian
political borders remained almost unchanges until 387, when during the Byzantine–Sasanian
wars,
Armenia was ultimately partitioned into Byzantine Armenia (Western) and Persian Armenia
(Eastern). According to this big change border provinces of Sophene, Aghdzenik,
Korduk, Parskahayk, Paytakaran, Artsakh, Utik and Gugark were separated from
Armenia and central provinces were devided between two mentioned powers.
Eastern Armenia (Persian)
About 4/5 was under Persian (Eastern Armenia) and 1/5 under
Roman (Weatern Armenia) influence. The border between these two was passing
through Nisibin-Karin line.
Western Armenia (Roman)
Western
Armenia
This
portion of Armenia had three partition from administrative point of view:
1-Autonomous
princedoms or Satrapy Armenia: It
was bounded by lower Aradsani and upper portion of Western Tigris and consisted
of 6 Armenian princedoms: Great Sophene, Angeghtun, Andzit, Shahuniats Sophene,
Hashtiank, Balahovit. Armenian princes had only internal autonomy.
2-Inner
Armenia (Armenia Inferior), It was also called “Great Armenia” by Romans
and Byzantines and consisted of 11 cantons: Khordzian, Paghnatun, Mundzur,
Daranaghi, Yegeghiats, Manabaghi, Derjan, Karin, Shaghgomk, Sper, Aryuds. Inner
Armenia was occupied by Romans at 387. Inner Armenia corresponded with Upper
Armenia[14].
3-Lesser
Armenia.It corresponded with ancient Hayasa. During collapse of the
Seleucids, Lesser Armenia of Armenia Minor was the first to declare
independence and establish Armenian kingdom. There were 5 regions in Armenia
Minor: Orbalisen, Aytughan, Ayretik, Orsen, Orbisen. After second half of the 4th
century (379-395 )Armenia Minor was divided into two provinces: First Armenia
(Armenia Prima) and Second Armenia (Armenia Secunda).
The
highest authority in Armenia Inferior was called “Comes Armeniae”. In the
satrapy Armenia Armenian princes were ruling without any higher state
officials.
Lesser
Armenia was autonomous in internal affairs but for foreign affairs was dependent on the Roman
Emperor.
In
535 and 536, the emperor Justinian I reorganized the provincial
administration, and Armenian lands were divided into four provinces: First
Armenia, Second Armenia, Third Armenia and Fourth Armenia.
The
borders of the Byzantine part of Armenia were expanded in 591 into Parskahayk
of Persarmenia, but the region was the focus of decades of warfare between the
Byzantines and the Persians (the Byzantine-Sassanid
Wars)
until the Arab conquest of
Armenia in
640.
Eastern
Armenia
EastenArmenia
was also called of Marzpanate Armenia or Persian Armenia, although these latter
names were not acceptable, since the name of a country can not be taken from
the Rulers titles. After Armenia partitioned in 387, Western portion was
annexed to Roman epire, but Eastern Armenia preserved its kingdom until 428.
In
the 6th century Sasanian Iran was devided into four regions or
“Kustaks” or “Kusts”: eastern (Kusti Khorasan), western (Kusti Korbaran),
northern (Kapkoh) and southern (Kusti Nemroj). Each Kustak had two authorities
one was called “Padgospan” for administration and the second one was “Sepahbod”
or army general or commander for military affairs. Armenia, Aturpatkan, Georgia
and Albania were included in the northern kustak. Each kustak was also divided
to smaller administrative areas called “Shahr” or “Marz” or province. Northern kustak had 13 provinces. Marspan or governor of Armenia was
appointed by Sasanian kings, there were also two high-rank officials Sparapet
or commander-in-chief of army and Hazaapet (Hezarbod) was responsible for
economy, culture and internal development.
According to treaty of Nvarsak in 484 between Vahan
Mamikonian and Persian court, Marzpanate Armenia was called “Tanutirakan
country” and Marzpan was “Armenian Tanuter”.
2 1 4 3
Armenia (527-591)
1-
Armenian Marzpanate
2-
Roman Armenia
3-
Georigian marzpanate
4-
Albanian Marzpanate
Teritorry
of Eastern Armenia under the rule of Marzpan (429-640) was significantly
smaller than Arshakuni era’s Armenia. These regions were taken off from
Armenia: Gugark, Utik, Artsakh, Paytakaran, Parskahayk, Kortchek, and
Aghdzenik.
7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Armenia just before Arab invasion
1-First
Armenia,2-Second Armenia,3-Third Armenia, 4-Fourth Armenia, 5-Armenian
Marzpanate, 6-Albanian Marzpanate, 7-Georgian Marzpamnate
Two superpowers of the time, Roman and Persian Empires,
partitioned Armenia for the second time in 591, from that time until Arab
invasions significant changes did not happen in the former Eastern Armenia’s
internal life and affairs.
Armenia
in 7-9 centuries
Three destructive Arab invasions to Armenia happened in
640-650., despite of that, Armenia could preserve internal independence until
the end of the 7th century, while was enjoying full independence
from time to time. But soon after, Arabic Caliphate made fundamental changes to
political, administrative and military system of Armenia, According to them,
Armenia, Georgia and Albania were included in one administrative unit called
“Arminiya” (Arabic pronunciation of Armenia), which bordered with Cacausian
mounts to the north, Eastern Tigris to the south, Caspian sea to the east and
Black sea, Tchorokh and Euphrates to the west.
Arminiya in. 750-885
Arminiya population
consisted of Armenians, Georgians, Albanians, and some other ethnicities. It
was divided into four administrative areas:
1-Albania,
2-Georgia, 3and 4-Armenia. Dvin was capital of caliph’s appointed Emir
(Armenians called him Vostican) in Armaniya. That is why Armenia under the rule
of Arabs was also called Vostikanate or Ostikanate of Arminiya.
During
7-9 centuries Western Armenia remained as it was under Byzantine empire, but
Arabs took major part of Fourth Armenia
and Karin canton, the latter was soon taken back by Byzantines.
Armenia
in 9-11 centuries
Armenia
achieved its full independence from Arabic caliphate in 885 by Armenian
Bagratuni dynasty. At that time there were many Armenian princedoms under
princes or great feudal-lords (with their own administration, army, etc). But
very soon in 908 the integrity of Bagratuni kingdom was changed and some subordinate states were formed under
Bagratuni Kingdom. The main part of the
kingdom was that of Ani-Shirak (885-1045). These states were: kingdoms of
Vaspurakan (Ardseruni dynasty 908-1021), Vanand or Kars (Bagratuni, 963-1065),
Syunik or Kapan (970-1170), Tashir-Dzoraget or Lori (Korikian, 966-1113), Tayk
(962-1001), Andzevatiats princedom, Mogk,Taron (Bagratuni, 826-967), Artsakh
(5-10 cc.), Albanian princedom, Hamshen princedom, Georgian princedom
(Bagratuni, 9-19 cc.), Khachen princedom (10-16 cc.), Tchighb princedom,
Kakhet, Kegharj,, Samtskhe, Liparit-Baghvash, Abkhazia, Kaysid emirate,
Aghdzenik emirate, etc[15].
Bagratuni kingdom collapsed in 1045.
Armenia in 11-13 centuries
During this period Armenian administrative-political system
went under fundamental changes. For a short period (1045-71) Armenia was under
Byzantine rule, despite, some of formerly mentioned states were able to
preserve their existence (Taron, Vaspurakan, Ani, etc).
Three destructive Seljuk invasions in
1043, 1049 and 1054 were catastrophic, hundreds of villages and tens of cities
wre destroyed.
Zakarian
Armenia was an Armenian principality between 1201 and 1360, ruled by
the Zakarian dynasty. The city of Ani was the capital of the
princedom. The Zakarids were vassals to the Kingdom of Georgia (Bagratuni
Georgia) until 1236 when they became vassals to the Mongol Empire.Their princedom was
divided into two portions, one was under the rule of Zakare, the other one
under his brother Ivane. Zakarian dynasty had also their vassal pricedoms
(Vachutian, Orbelian, Proshian, Dopian). Their descendants continued to hold
Ani until the 1330s, when they lost it to a succession of Turkish dynasties, including the Kara-Koyunlu, who made Ani their
capital.
Armenia 1080-1236
Zakarian Armenia 1201-1360
Armenia in 13-15 centuries
The first Mongol invasion to Caucasus
happened in 1220-21, but they encountered strong resistance in 1221 at Shamkor
(Battle of Khunan) and were not inclined to conquer the Caucasus at that time
and turned back south to Hamadan. 14 years later, for the second
time they invaded Northern Armenia, and during 1242-1243 occupied the whole
area, and in 1242-43 invaded and occupied Southern and Western Armenia.
Consecuences of these invasions were mass murder of population, destruction of
settlements, emprisoning, plunder, etc.
Mongol Empire before 1259
Mongol empire was divided into uluses at
the time of Momgke khan (1251-1259), Armenia was included in the fourth ulus
(1236-1335).
Armenia in Mongol empire
Armenian semi-independent and autonomous
states gradually lost their political power and influence under Mongol
administration. The most stable among them, at the time of Hulagu ilkhanate
until invasions of Tamelane, was princedom of
Orbelian dynasty in Syunik. Mongol khans were assisting Orbelians
against Zakarian rulers. After Syunik other Armenian relatively enduring
princedoms were Ardsrunis of Mahkanaberd, small principalities of Sasun and
Aghtamar. Other princedoms such as Zakarians, Vachutians, Vahramians, Dopians,
Proshians, Jalalians (a branch of Orbelians) lost their previous importance and
political position at the second half of 13th century.
2 10 8 7 9 6 3 5 4 2 1
1-Zakarian,
2-Orbelian, 3-Vakhtangian, Jalalian, Shirjanshank, 4-Dopian, 5-Kyurikian, 6-Ardseruni,
7-Vahramian, 8-Ardserunik, 9- Vachutian, 10-Proshian
The
Armenian kingdom and principalities of Cilicia (1080-1515) was formed by
refugees and migrants from Greater Armenia. Located outside of the Armenian Highland and distinct
from the Armenian Kingdom of antiquity, it was centered in
the Cilicia region
northwest of the Gulf of Alexandretta, which was called
Armenian Gulf at its time.
Armenian kingdom of Cilicia
Tamerlane (1370-1405) invaded Armenia
in 1386, 1387, 1394 and 1400, destroyed
settlements, murdered population and plundered, etc. He created a vast empire from Aral lake to Persian gulf
and from Pamir to Mediterranean shores at Asian Minor. In 1395-96 almost whole
Armenian highland and local emirates were under his rule. Like Mongols, he
devided his empire into vast portions and appointed his reliable persons as
governors of these lands. According to new division, Armenia and Aturpatkan
(Iranian Azerbaijan, south of Araks river) were included in one administrative
unit, the governor was called great Emir. Tamerlane preserved the Armenian
Orbelians (Syunik), Dopians (Dsar), Proshians (Vayots-Dzor, Sahapunik),
principlalities of Artsakh, Gegharkunik, etc.
Armenia, late 14 early 16 centuries
After death of Tamerlane (Timur) his
empire was divided by local emirs and lords, before that time new foreigners,
Kara-Koyunlu (1375-1469) and Ak-Koyunlu (1378-1501) tribes had already
established in the area and soon took power in Iran and Caucasus and
neighboring areas.
Kara Koyunlu state 1407-1469
Ak-Koyunlu Jahanshah (1437-1467) ruled
over large portion of Armenia, in order to confront with his Persian and
Turkish enemies, he supported local Armenian principalities which could
preserve their existence, So he granted special privilege to them as
Meliks.Armenian meliks were mainly residing in “Geghama land”, Vayots-Dzor,
Syunik, Artsakh and Gugark. Such principalities existed also in Vaspurakan,
Reshtunik and Mogk.Only principality of Aghtamar has some power at southern
Armenia. Jahanshah made Ararat a separate province with Yerevan capital.
Ak-Koyulu state achieved its maximum
enlargement at the time of Uzun Hasan (1467-1477), at that time his territory
stretched from Halis to heart of Persia
included parts of Middle East and Near East. Not very long after his death, his
state collapse and new powers emerged, Ottoman Sultanate and Safavid Persia,
that made Armenia their battlefield.
Ak-Koyunlu state
Armenia
in 16-18 centuries
After collapse of Ak-Koyunlu power, two
large states, Ottoman Turkey and Safavid Persia were established in two
portions of Armenia in the 16th century. These superpowers of the
region had a few battles. These battles ended in 1555 with a peace treaty,
according to it Armenia was divided between them for the first time, Large part
of Vaspurakan, Bayazit and Alashkert regions were passed to the Turks, though
Turkey had already occupied other provinces of Western Armenia, beside Armenia,
Turks occupied also Western Georgia. The peace did not last long and war was
restarted in 70s and ended in 1639. For the second time Armenia was divided
between Turkey and Persia.
Divided Armenia 17-18 centuries
Safavid Persia created a few khanates in
Eastern Armenia and Caucasus (Shaki, Shirvan,Ghuba, Ganja, Nakhijevan, Yerevan,
Baku, Gharabagh). These khanates were divided ito Mahals (Places).
Map of Armenia, 1720.
Mahals were administered by administrators
who were appointed by khans and were called Beg, Melik, Nayib, Mirboluk etc.
Political, administrative and judicial power was in khan’s hand. Most of
Armenian population in Eastern Armenia were settled in Yerevan ( roughly
19,500 km2), Gharabagh (24,000 km2) and Nakhijevan khanates ( 7,000 km2), Gandzak (Ganja, 5,000 km2).
2 3 1
Khanate
of 1-Yerevan, 2- Khanate of Gharabagh,
3-Khanate
of Nakhijevan
Eastern Armenia was
divided into Yerevan Khanate (1747-1828), Nakhijevan Khanate (1747-1828),
Gharabagh Khanate (1747-1822), Gandzak (Ganja) Khanate (1747-1804).
Gharabagh (Karabagh) khanate
Armenian
Melikdoms and principalities in Eastern Armenia were established since 15th
centuey and Jahanshah of Kara-Koyunlu supported them against Turks, but when
the area got under Safavid rule in 16th centuey, they disregarded
and weakened them, but in 17th
century Persians changed their policy and resumed the support of Armenian
melikdoms, so that they could be a barrier against Ottoman invasions.
Gharabagh (Karabagh) melikdoms
Each one of the meliks had 1000-2000 soldiers. There
were a series of melikdoms in Eastern
Armenia, but “The Five Melikdoms
of Karabakh” (Gulistan, Jraberd, Khachen, Varanda, Dizak) were more
famous. (See Melikdoms of Karabagh).
Other melikdoms were: Gegharkunik, Gardman, Dsar, Ghapan,
Angeghakot.
Armenian
struggle for independence was going to come true as a result of the wars in
Syunik, Leader of the movement was Davit Beg (1669-1728), հe created an
independent state in 1722 which could endure for 9 years until 1730. It was
called Independent state of Ghapan.
Independent state of Ghapan
After
division of Armenia between Ottoman Turkey and Safavid Persia in 1555 and 1639,
Western Armenia went under Turkish rule and the administrative condition was
not much different from Eastern Armenia.
Western Armenia
Western Armenia at the beginning was in one administrative
unit called “Ermenistan” (Capital Erzrum), which was soon change to Vilayet of
Arzrum. At a later time it was divided to vilayets of Kars, Van, Ezrum,
Diarbekir, Sivas.
Famous
Armenian independence activist, Israel Ori Prepared a plan for independence of
Armenia and presented to Peter the Great emperor of Russia in 1701 and attached
the following map:
H.
Arghutian, one of the actvists for liberatin of Armenia prepared a plan for
liberation of Armenia and presented to Russian officials in 1783, according to
it, Armenia would have kingdom system under Russian support:
Armenian kingdom planned to be created under Russian support
(second half 18th c.)
Another
plan was to created Autonomous Armenian kingdom in Russian Empire:
Armenian kingdom planned to be created inside Russian empire
(1827)
Armenia
in 19-21 centuries
After
the last two wars between Russia and Persia (1804-1813, 1826-28) the Caucasus
including Eastern Armenia was occupied by Russian Empire. In 1829 Caucasus was
divided into the following units:
1-Georgian
mainland (6 cantons).
2-Five
regions: Borchalu, Ghazakh, Shamshadin, Pambak, Shoragial.
3-Seven
provinces: Gharabagh, Shaki, Shirvan, Baku, Kuban, Derbend, Akhaltskha.
4-Four
oblasts: Imereti, Mingrelia, Guria and Armenian.
5-Talish
Khanate
6-Teritorries
of mountainous peoples.
Armenian Oblast (1828-1840)
Future
Armenian republic borders were gradually getting formed as the following
geographical pictures :
-Armenian
oblast: 1828-1840
-Armenian
oblast together with Lori and Javakhk regions included in Gerorgia-Imeretia
governorate (1840-1848)
-
Yerevan Province : 1849-1918
Yerevan province had an area of 28,000km2
, which is almost equal to Soviet Armenia (29,900 km2). During
1860-70s and after that Province of Yerevan had 5 cities (Yerevan, Alexandopol
or Gyumri, New Bayazet, Nakhijevan, Ordubad). Zangezur, Lori and some other
regions, which were undisputable part of Eastern Armenia were included in
Provinces of Tiflis and Elizabetpol. After Russo-Turkish war of 1877-78, some
regions such as Kars, Sarighamish, Kaghezvan, Olti, etc were annexed to Russia,
which were included in Province of Kars by Russian government. Kars province
was as large as Yerevan province (excluding Lake Sevan).
7 6 3 5 4 2 1
Western
and Eastern Armenia, 1830-1878
1-Vilayet
of Ermenistan, 2-Vilayet of Diyarbekir – 3-Kars Province 4- Yerevan province,
5-Elizabetpol Province, 6- Tiflis Province, 7 Baku province
After the Ottoman-Persian War (1623–1639), Western Armenia became
decisively part of the Ottoman Empire. Since the Russo-Turkish War, 1828–1829, the term "Western Armenia" has referred
to the Armenian-populated historical regions of
the Ottoman Empire that remained under Ottoman rule after the eastern part of Armenia was ceded to the Russian Empire by the Qajar Persians following the outcome of
the Russo-Persian War (1804–1813) and Russo-Persian War (1826–1828).
1914
International Borders
Western
(Ottoman) Armenia consisted of six vilayets (provinces) :
6 3 2 1 4 5
Vilayets of : 1-Erzurum, 2-Van,3-Bitlis,
4-Diyarbekir, 5-Kharput, 6-Sivas.
The Republic of Armenia
After Russian revolution of 1917, Russian-controlled Eastern Armenia, Georgia, and Azerbaijan attempted to bond together
in the Transcaucasian Democratic Federative Republic. This federation, however,
lasted from only February to May 1918, when all three parties decided to
dissolve it. As a result of that and the Battles of May 1920 between Armenian forces and Turkish Army, during wich
Armenians won great victory, Eastern Armenia declared its independence on 28
May as the First Republic of Armenia.
In 1920
(November 29) Republic of Armenia was sovietized by Armenian communists with
the help of Red army and Armenain Soviet republic was formed, which endured
unti 1991. After collaps of Soviet Union Armenia declared its separation from
Soviet Union and was recognized as Independent Republic of Armenia (Third).
First Republic was about 12,000km2 (after Batumi treaty, June, 4th
1918)[16],
but after WWI was ended in November 1918, Turkey as loser of the war was pushed
by England to withdraw Caucasus and return to international borders of 1914, so
Armenian forces took over the areas and borders of Republic expanded from late
1918 to April-May of 1919 and included also Lori-Pambak, Alexadrapol, areas of
Echmidzin, Surmalu, Sharur, Nakhijevan, Kars province, etc. In summer of 1920
official borders of Republic of Armenia stretched up to Olti coalmines
including Gharabagh having area about 70,000 km2.
2 1
1-First Republic of Armenia 2-Western Armenia as per Treaty of Sevres
(Wilsonian)
Republic of Armenia was divided
into four administrative provinces: 1-Araratian, 2- Vanand, 3-Shirak, 4-Syunik.
These provinces were also divided ito cantons[17].
According to Treaty of Sevres, (10 Aug. 1920), 4 vilayets of Western
Armenia (Erzrum, Trabzon, Van, Bitlis
provinces) were supposed to be annexed to the Republic of Armenia, total 90,000
km2 plus Eastern Armenia 71,330 km2 United independent and free Armenia would be created with a
total area of 161,330 km2.. W. Wilson president
of US was assigned to identify the border between Armenian Republic and Turkey.
Accordingly the areas of Republic of
Armenia would be as follows[18]:
1-Yerevam: 3,140 km2.
2-Echmiadzin: 3,750 km2.
3-Leninakan (Gymri): 3,300 km2.
4-Lori-Pambak:
5,000 km2.
5-Ghazakh-Ijevan: 4,000 km2.
6-New Bayazet:
4,790 km2.
7-Daralagiaz:
2,000 km2.
8-Zangezur:
6,000 km2.
9-
Surmalu: 3,650 km2
10-Sharur-Nakhijevan:
5,600
11-Akhalkalak:
2,800 km2
12-Gharabagh:
10,000 km2
13-Kars:
5,800 km2
14-Kaghezvan:
4,450
15-Ardahan:
4,000 km2
16-Olti:
3,000 km2
Total 71,330
km2
Western
Armenia as per W. Wilson:
1- Van
province: 20,000 out of 39,300 km2.
2- Erzrum:
40,000 out of 49,700 km2.
3- Baghesh
(Bitlis): 15,000 out of 27,100 km2.
4- Trabizon:
15,000 out of 32,700 km2.
5- Total: 90,000 km2
Grand
total: 71,330 plus 90,000 equals 161,330 km2
When Mustafa Kemal succeeded in his fight for Turkish independence and forced the former wartime Allies to
return to the negotiating table, as a result, Treaty of Sevres was archived and
forgotton till today and Armenian struggle to creat United Armenia of 161,330
km2 did not end up as expected.
The Turkish national movement developed its own international relations
by the Treaty of Moscow with the Soviet Union on 16 March 1921, the Accord of Ankara with France putting an end to the Franco-Turkish War, and the Treaty of Alexandrapol with the Armenians and the Treaty of Kars fixing the eastern borders.
By Treaty of Alexandrapol between First Republic of Armenia and Turkey, Armenia
not only did not achieve western Armenia, but also lost more than 40,000 km2 of its 71,330 km2 and left 29,713
km2 for Soviet Armenia (November 29, 1920- September 21 1991).
*
*Armenian Soviet Socualist Republic (1920-1991)
Armenian Soviet Socualist Republic
Government of Soviet Armenia decided on Dec. 26. 1920 to change the
administrative division of the republic and on Dec. 29 temporarily considered 6
cantons for the republic: Daragiaz, Dilijan, Gharakilisa, New Bayazet,, Yerevan
and Echmiadzin. On July 20, 1921 by Government order Armenian Soviet Socialist
Republic was divided into 8 cantons: Yerevan, Echmiadzin, Alxandrapol,
Gharakilsa,, Lori, Ijevan, New Bayazet. Daralagiaz and 33 regions. On August of
the same year Zangezur canon was formed including Goris, Tegh, Tatev, Sisian,
Ghapan, Meghri. In 1922 Soviet Armenia consisted of 10 cantons: Yerevan,
Alexandrapol, Echmiadzin, New Bayazet, Dilijan, Zangezur, Lori, Daralagiaz
(Vayots Dzor), Gharakilisa, Meghri.
This status was in effect until 1929, when the Republic was considered
to have 5 cantons: Yerevan, Leninakan, Lori, Sevan. Zangezur, and 33 regions and two cities (Yerevan, Leninakan).
But on September 9, 1930 another change was made instead of
village/region/canton new model of village/region was applied, which was in
effect until the las year of Soviet Armenia, Accordingly Republic was divided
into 25+1 regions. In 1937, 11 new
regions were added.
As of
September 1, 1987 Soviet Armenia had 37 rural and 10 urban regions, 22 republic
and 5 regional cities, 31 townships ad
479 villages[19].
10
provinces (Marz) of the Third Republic of Armenia Since
1991
After
Collapse of Soviet Union, Republic of Armenia declared its independence on
September 21, 1991.The third Republic of Armenia consists of 10 provinces
(Marz), 48 cities, 953 villages, 932 communities (871 rural and 61 urban).
Provinces are:
|
Province |
Capital |
Area
(km²) |
|
2,756 |
||
|
2,090 |
||
|
1,242 |
||
|
5,349 |
||
|
2,086 |
||
|
3,799 |
||
|
2,680 |
||
|
4,506 |
||
|
2,704 |
||
|
2,308 |
||
|
Yerevan Capital) |
– |
223 |
In February 20th 1988, within the context of Mikhail Gorbachev's glasnost and perestroika
policies, the Supreme Soviet of the Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast (NKAO) voted to unite
itself with Armenia. By the summer of 1989 the Armenian-populated areas of
the NKAO were under blockade by Azerbaijan as a response to Armenia's blockade
against Nakhichevan, cutting road and rail links to the outside world.
On July 12 the Nagorno-Karabakh AO Supreme Soviet voted to secede from
Azerbaijan. Soviet authorities in Moscow then placed the region under its
direct rule, installing a special commission to govern the region. In November
1989 the Kremlin returned the oblast to Azerbaijani control. The local
government in the region of Shahumian also declared its independence from the Azerbaijan SSR in 1991. On
September 2nd, 1991, the Armenian representatives in the local
government of the NKAO proclaimed the region a republic, independent from
Azerbaijan as Republic of Artsakh
(Gharbagh).
Two Armenian
Republics: Republic of Armenia
& Artsakh Republic Artsakh
Republic
of Artsakh has total area of 11,458 km2 and eight administrative
divisions:
|
# |
Divisions of Artsakh Republic |
|
1 |
|
|
2 |
|
|
3 |
|
|
4 |
|
|
5 |
|
|
6 |
|
|
7 |
|
|
8 |