Tayk

Map showing Tayk of the house of Mamkionians.

In Armenian history writing, the term Tao ([[[wikt:Տայք|Տայք]] Taoʿ] Error: {{Lang-xx}}: text has italic markup (help)) is often used as a pars pro toto for the historic northwest Armenian lands which are now located in north-eastern Turkey. In a narrower sense the term only refers to one province. The Georgian synonym for Tayk are "Tao" ("ტაო") (for the province) and Tao-Klarjeti (for the entire region).

Tayk was a historical province of the Greater Armenia, one of its 15 ashkars (worlds). Tao consisted of 8 cantons: Kogh, Berdats por, Partizats por, Tchakatk, Bokha, Vokaghe, Azordats por and Arsiats por.

The Tao province covered contemporary Turkish districts of Yusufeli (Kiskim) in Artvin Province and Oltu, Olur (Tavusker), Tortum and Çamlıkaya (Hunut) to the north of İspir in Erzurum Province. To its southwest is found the ancient region of Sper. After World War I, Armenia and Georgia had contested the region, with particular conflict over Oltu. As a result, Turkish rule was firmly reestablished.

Sources

• Arutyunova-Fidanyan, Viada A., Some Aspects of the Military-Administrative Districts and Byzantine Administration in Armenia During the 11th Century, REArm 20, 1986-87: 309-20.
• Garsoian, Nina. The Byzantine Annexation of the Armenian Kingdoms in the Eleventh Century, 192 p. In: The Armenian People from Ancient to Modern Times, vol. 1, edited by Richard G. Hovannisian, St. Martin’s Press, New York, 1977.
• Hewsen, Robert. Armenia. A Historical Atlas. The University of Chicago Press, Chicago, 2001, Pp 341.

See also

• List of regions of old Armenia
• Banak Cathedral