Artsakh (historical province): Difference between revisions
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'''[[Artsakh]]''' (Armenian - Արցախ, Azeri - Ərsak Russian - Арцах) - a province of ancient [[Caucasian Albania]] that mostly covered what is now [[Nagorno-Karabakh]]. The name today is mostly used by Armenians to refer to Nagorno-Karabakh. |
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Little is known about the ancient history of the region, primarily because of the scarcity of historical sources. Today the historical belonging of Artsakh, present-day Nagorno-Karabakh is hotly disputes between [[Azeris]] and [[Armenians]], both of which lay historical claims to this territory. |
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For the first time Artsakh appeared under the name '''"Urtehke"''' or '''"Urtehini"''' as it is mentioned in [[Urartu|Urartianian]] cuneiform writings. |
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For the first time Artsakh appeared under the name '''"Urtehke"''' or '''"Urtehini"''' as it is mentioned in [[Urartu|Urartianian]] cuneiform writings. [[Strabo]] in his "Geography" calls it "Orhistene". |
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In I Millennium BC the population of the area was comprised of [[Gargars]], [[Utis]], [[Saks]], [[Sodes]], which along with other tribes constituted the Albanian tribe union. According to '''[[Strabo]]''', the number of the Albanian tribes reached 26. |
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'''[[Ptolemy|Clavdius Ptolemeus]]''' (Κλαύδιος Πτολεμαίος; c. [[85]] – c. [[165]]) in his "Geography" informs, that "Great Armenia is located from the north to a part of Colchida, Iberia and Albania alone the line, which goes through the river Kir (Kura)" (see: ''Ptolemaios Klaudios'', "Geography", V, XII). |
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In VI-IV c. BC the area, as well as most of the Southern Caucasus region was ruled by the [[Medes]], and by Persian [[Achaemenid_dynasty|Achaemenids]]. |
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'''[[Pliny the Elder|Plinius Secundos]]''' ([[23]]–[[79]] AD, better known as Pliny the Elder) writes, that "the tribe of Albanians settled on the Caucasian mountains, reaches … the river Kir making border of Armenia and Iberia" (see ''Plinius the Second'', "The Natural history ", VI, 39). |
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In II-I cc. the area was conquered by the Armenians. Armenia which according to [[Herodotus]] (V c. BC), was "a small country" on the sources of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, was expanded by the kings Artashes and Zariadrij who created an empire, which is often referred by Armenian historians as [[Greater Armenia]]. |
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'''[[Moses of Chorene|Movses Khorensky]]''' (V century AD) names Artsakh "Small Sunik" (Armenian "Pokr Sunik"). According to Moses, here, in Artsakh, young Grigorius (grandson of [[Gregory the Illuminator]]) was buried after he was killed on the field of Vatnyan (see ''Moves Khorensky'', "History of Armenia", III, chapter 3). |
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[[Strabo]], [[Ptolemy|Clavdius Ptolemeus]] and [[Pliny the Elder|Plinius Secundos]] all write that at this time the border between Albania and Greater Armenian empire was through the river [[Kura]]. |
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Other Armenian historian of V century - '''Egishe''' (Elishe) writes, that after defeat in battle (451 AD) many of the Armenians rising against Persians, ran "in the impassable countries Tmorika and in dense woods of Arstakh" (see ''Egishe'', "The Word about Armenian War", sec 6-th). |
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<!--Strabo wrote: "...Armenia, being a small country before, was enlarged by the warfare carried out by Artaksi (Artashes) and Zariadrij [II c. BC]... Together they expanded their possessions by occupying part of the lands belonging to the surrounding peoples…". (Strabo XI, 14, 5)--> |
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In 66 BC following the defeat of the Armenian king [[Tigranes II]] at the hand of [[Romans]], Armenian empire lost most of its territory. At this time Albanians regained control over the territory. According to the ancient Albanian historian, [[Moses Kalankaytuk]], the author of "History of Aghvank", at this time southern border of Caucasian Albania was along the Araxes river. Thus, referring to the events in I c. AD, he mentions "…someone from the family of Sisakan, one of the descendants of Yafet-Aran who inherited the plains and mountains of Albania beginning from the river Yeraskh (Araxes/Araz) up to the castle of Hunarakert." (II, 21). [[Aran]] was a legendary ancestor and the eponym of the Albanians. Armenian historian[[Moses of Chorene]], who is considered in Armenian historiography "the father of Armenian history", also confirmed that Caucasian Albania's border was along the Araxes in the I century A.D. |
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'''Busand''' (V century BC) tells, that Musheh Mamikonian has restored border between Armenia and Albania on the river Kura (Kir). |
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Little is known about the history of the Artsakh and of Aghbania in general in I-IV c. AD. It is known that Albanians and Armenians switched control over the territory until the early 4th century AD. At this time Albania had close relationships with Sasanid Iran. <!--Albanian king Urnayr was also married to sister of the Sasanid king Shapur.--> In 371 AD Roman and Sasanid armies clashed in the Dzirav field. In this battle Albanians supported Sasanids and Armenians supported Romans. According to Armenian historian Favstos Buzand, following the defeat of the Sasanid and Albanian armies, Armenian king Musheg conquered right bank of the Kura, which included Albanian provinces of Artsakh and Uti and made Kura the border between Armenia and Aghbania. |
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In "The Armenian Geography" (VII cent. AD) Artzakh is mentioned as 9-th of 15 provinces of ''Great Armenia''. |
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However, war between Sasanids and Romans continued and in 387 according to the peace treaty between the two powers, Armenian kingdom was divided between Persians and Romans. Aghbania, as an ally of the Sasanid regained all the right bank of the river Kura up to river Araxes, including Artsakh. |
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Since X century AD in historical works and sources Artzakh is mentioned under the name ''Khachen'' (the named of fortresses, the residence of the Armenian prince Sahla Smbatjan). The Byzantian emperor '''Konstantin Bagrjanorodny''' addressed his letters "to prince of Hachen - to Armenia". |
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In V c. relations between Sasanids and Albanians worsened. Because of the spreading of [[Christianity]] in Aghbania, Sasanids feared increasing rapprochment between Byzantium and Aghbania. In a battle, which took place in 451 AD in the Avarayr field, the allied forces of the Armenian, Albanian and Iberian kings, devoted to Christianity, underwent defeat at the hands of the Sasanid army. Many of the Albanian nobility run to the mountainous regions of Albania, particularly to Artsakh, which became a center for resistance against the Sasanid Iran. The religious center of the Albanian state also moved here. In 498 in the settlement named Aluen (Aguen) (present day Aghdam region of [[Azerbaijan]]), there was held an Albanian church assembly. This assembly adopted the laws strengthening the positions of Christianity in Albania further. |
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The name ''Karabakh'' for the first time is mentioned on XIV century. At this time Artzakh has been broken up to tens Armenian princedoms, with the center in Gandzasar, under the Catholicos ruling. In 1672 Catholicos Pyotr in the letter to Russian tsar Alexey (Mihajlovich) names himself "the Catholicos of all Armenians". |
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In VIII c. Artsakh along with the whole Caucasian Albania was conquered by [[Arabs]]. Arabs put an end to Aghbania's sovereignty and subjugated Albanian church to Armenian church. This historical event played a crucial role in gradual dissolution of the Albanians as a distinct ethnicity. Albanians living in lowlands admitted Islam and came to be later known as Azeris, those living in mountainous areas, especially in Artsakh preserved Christianity but under Armenian church influence began to use Armenian alphabet and Armenian language in church and also, daily life. |
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With dissolution of Caucasian Albania and Albanian ethnicity the name for the area also gradually. In later periods it was called Khachin, named after [[Khachin principality]], then from XIV c. it was called Karabakh. |
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[[ru:Арцах]] |
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Currently, Artsakh is the name that local Armenian population of [[Nagorno-Karabakh]] prefer to call the region. |
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== See also == |
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[[Nagorno-Karabakh]] |
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[[Category:Azerbaijan]] |
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Revision as of 04:33, 3 May 2005
Artsakh (Armenian - Արցախ, Azeri - Ərsak Russian - Арцах) - a province of ancient Caucasian Albania that mostly covered what is now Nagorno-Karabakh. The name today is mostly used by Armenians to refer to Nagorno-Karabakh.
Little is known about the ancient history of the region, primarily because of the scarcity of historical sources. Today the historical belonging of Artsakh, present-day Nagorno-Karabakh is hotly disputes between Azeris and Armenians, both of which lay historical claims to this territory.
For the first time Artsakh appeared under the name "Urtehke" or "Urtehini" as it is mentioned in Urartianian cuneiform writings. Strabo in his "Geography" calls it "Orhistene".
In I Millennium BC the population of the area was comprised of Gargars, Utis, Saks, Sodes, which along with other tribes constituted the Albanian tribe union. According to Strabo, the number of the Albanian tribes reached 26.
In VI-IV c. BC the area, as well as most of the Southern Caucasus region was ruled by the Medes, and by Persian Achaemenids.
In II-I cc. the area was conquered by the Armenians. Armenia which according to Herodotus (V c. BC), was "a small country" on the sources of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, was expanded by the kings Artashes and Zariadrij who created an empire, which is often referred by Armenian historians as Greater Armenia.
Strabo, Clavdius Ptolemeus and Plinius Secundos all write that at this time the border between Albania and Greater Armenian empire was through the river Kura.
In 66 BC following the defeat of the Armenian king Tigranes II at the hand of Romans, Armenian empire lost most of its territory. At this time Albanians regained control over the territory. According to the ancient Albanian historian, Moses Kalankaytuk, the author of "History of Aghvank", at this time southern border of Caucasian Albania was along the Araxes river. Thus, referring to the events in I c. AD, he mentions "…someone from the family of Sisakan, one of the descendants of Yafet-Aran who inherited the plains and mountains of Albania beginning from the river Yeraskh (Araxes/Araz) up to the castle of Hunarakert." (II, 21). Aran was a legendary ancestor and the eponym of the Albanians. Armenian historianMoses of Chorene, who is considered in Armenian historiography "the father of Armenian history", also confirmed that Caucasian Albania's border was along the Araxes in the I century A.D.
Little is known about the history of the Artsakh and of Aghbania in general in I-IV c. AD. It is known that Albanians and Armenians switched control over the territory until the early 4th century AD. At this time Albania had close relationships with Sasanid Iran. In 371 AD Roman and Sasanid armies clashed in the Dzirav field. In this battle Albanians supported Sasanids and Armenians supported Romans. According to Armenian historian Favstos Buzand, following the defeat of the Sasanid and Albanian armies, Armenian king Musheg conquered right bank of the Kura, which included Albanian provinces of Artsakh and Uti and made Kura the border between Armenia and Aghbania.
However, war between Sasanids and Romans continued and in 387 according to the peace treaty between the two powers, Armenian kingdom was divided between Persians and Romans. Aghbania, as an ally of the Sasanid regained all the right bank of the river Kura up to river Araxes, including Artsakh.
In V c. relations between Sasanids and Albanians worsened. Because of the spreading of Christianity in Aghbania, Sasanids feared increasing rapprochment between Byzantium and Aghbania. In a battle, which took place in 451 AD in the Avarayr field, the allied forces of the Armenian, Albanian and Iberian kings, devoted to Christianity, underwent defeat at the hands of the Sasanid army. Many of the Albanian nobility run to the mountainous regions of Albania, particularly to Artsakh, which became a center for resistance against the Sasanid Iran. The religious center of the Albanian state also moved here. In 498 in the settlement named Aluen (Aguen) (present day Aghdam region of Azerbaijan), there was held an Albanian church assembly. This assembly adopted the laws strengthening the positions of Christianity in Albania further.
In VIII c. Artsakh along with the whole Caucasian Albania was conquered by Arabs. Arabs put an end to Aghbania's sovereignty and subjugated Albanian church to Armenian church. This historical event played a crucial role in gradual dissolution of the Albanians as a distinct ethnicity. Albanians living in lowlands admitted Islam and came to be later known as Azeris, those living in mountainous areas, especially in Artsakh preserved Christianity but under Armenian church influence began to use Armenian alphabet and Armenian language in church and also, daily life.
With dissolution of Caucasian Albania and Albanian ethnicity the name for the area also gradually. In later periods it was called Khachin, named after Khachin principality, then from XIV c. it was called Karabakh.
Currently, Artsakh is the name that local Armenian population of Nagorno-Karabakh prefer to call the region.