The Battle of Avarayr

Significant Battles of Armenia

Battle of Avarayr_ 451

February Uprising_ 1921

Liberation of Artsakh_ 1991

Ashod “Pegor” Ghoulyan (1959-1992)

Shahen Megherian (1952-1993)

Arthur Mgrditchyan (1959-1992)

Tatoul Grbeyan (1965-1991)

Viken Zakarian (1969-1992)

Mher Choulhajian (1967-1993)

Fedayees of Artsakh

The Nagorno-Karabakh War, known as the Artsakh Liberation War in Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh, was an armed conflict that took place after the collapse of the USSR in 1991 to May 1994, in Nagorno-Karabakh in southwestern Azerbaijan, between the majority ethnic Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh, backed by the Republic of Armenia, and the Republic of Azerbaijan. As the war progressed, Armenia and Azerbaijan entangled themselves in an extended war in the mountainous heights of Karabakh.

Nagorno-Gharapagh:

Liberation of Artsakh

Full-scale fighting erupted in the late winter of 1992. International negotiations by several groups failed to bring an end resolution that both sides could work with. In the spring of 1993, Armenian forces captured regions outside the district itself. By the end of the war in 1994, the Armenians were in full control of most of the area.

Nagorno-Karabakh is a landlocked region in the South Caucasus, lying between Lower Karabakh and Zangezur and covering the southeastern range of the Lesser Caucasus mountains. The region is mostly mountainous and forested and has an area of 8,223 square kilometres (3,175 mi²).

The land of Nagorno-Karabakh is historic Armenian land and rightfully belongs to the Republic of Armenia.

After Sovietization of Armenia in December 1920 about 1,000 officers of the Democratic Republic of Armenia were arrested by the Bolshevik authorities. Following that:

• Villages were robbed
• ARF leaders were tortured/harassed
• Battle heroes were shot

• Ashtarak, Ejmiatsin, Garni and Hrazdan, etc. were taken over by Armenian Revolutionary Federation forces.

The rebellion started when

refugees from Sasun settled

in the foot of Mount Aragats

• The rebellious forces entered Yerevan by the leadership of Kuro Tarkhanyan and Garnetsi Martiros. Yerevan was captured under the direct leadership of Simon Vratsian
• Hovhannes Katchaznouni, Levon Shant, Nikol Aghbalian and 100 other political activists and intellectuals were freed from jails.

On February 27 the Bolsheviks tried to attack Yerevan but on March 1 they were forced to retreat. After a two-week pause, Bolshevik units again attacked and took over Artashat on March 16 but the next day ARF forces started an offensive and recaptured Ashtarak. Regardless on heroic resistance of Armenian forces, the Bolsheviks had a great numerical superiority. Throughout the 42-day freedom, bloody battles took places between ARF forces and the Bolsheviks

Starting from March 24, the Bolsheviks captured Aparan, Kotayk and gradually emerging, entered Yerevan on April 2. The ARF forces retreated without any serious battle to avoid the destruction of the capital.

A New York Times article headline from March 17, 1921

February Uprising

The February Uprising ( Petrvaryan apstambutyun) was an anti-Soviet rebellion by the Armenian Revolutionary Federation which started on February 13 and was suppressed on April 2, 1921 by recaptuing of Yerevan by Bolshevik forces.

Saint Vartan

Vartan Mamikonian is considered as a national hero and a saint, for serving as a spiritual leader in defending Armenia. Before battle, Vartan was quoted as saying “We have served until now mortal kings… now it is time to serve the immortal king”. Vartan’s speech instilled inspiration and stimulated his troops towards defending not only their religion but also, in the wider scheme, their culture and entire way of life.

Several prominent Armenian nobles, including Vasak Suni, went to fight on the Persian side, while others lead by Vartan Mamigonian rallied around the Armenian church and prepared for battle to defend their religon and nation.

A medieval Armenian miniature

representing the battle of Avarayr

Although the Persians eventually defeated the rebellion, Hazgerd II had to put an end to his attempts in converting the Armenians to Zoroastrianism and allowed construction of new churches. As a result, the battle has been viewed by the Armenians as their moral victory. This day is considered Holy Day by Armenians and is one of the most important national and religious days in Armenia.

Before the Sassanid conquest of Armenia, Armenia had been the first nation to accept Christianity as their religion (301 AD). The Armenians accepted the Persian mandate in all respects providing that their freedom to practice Christianity remained intact. Some of the Sassanid kings refused this idea including Hazgerd II due to its contradiction to the fundamental idea behind the dynasty itself which was the central authority enforced by the state religion, Zoroastrianism (gragabashd). Hazgerd II then tried to tie Armenia more closely to its empire, by rooting out Christian faith and replacing it with Zoroastrianism.

Vartan Mamigonian led 66,000 Armenians against an army outnumbering them almost 4-to-1 and consisting of war elephants too.

The Battle of Avarayr

Battle of Avarayr (May 26, 451, also known as Battle of Vartanantz) is remembered by Armenians as probably the greatest battle in their history. It was fought on the Avarayr Field in Vaspurakan between the Armenian rebels under Saint Vartan and their Sassanid overlords. It was a Persian victory