Armenian Oblast
Encyclopedia
The Armenian Oblast or Armenian Province ) was an oblast
(province) of the Russian Empire
that existed from 1828 to 1840. It roughly corresponded to most of present-day central Armenia
, the Iğdır Province
of present-day Turkey
, and present-day Azerbaijan
's Nakhchivan exclave. It was created out of the territories of the former Erivan
and Nakhichevan khanates, which were ceded to Russia by the Persian Empire under the Treaty of Turkmenchay
after the Russo-Persian War of 1826-1828. Ivan Paskevich
, the Ukrainian
-born military leader, was made count
of the oblast in the year of its creation.
In 1840 the Oblast was dissolved and its territory incorporated into a larger new province, the Georgia-Imeretia Governorate ("Gruzia-Imeretia"). This new division did not last long – in 1845 a vast new territory called the Caucasian Territory ("Kavkazskii Krai") or Caucasian Viceregency ("Kavkazskoe Namestnichestvo") was created, in which the former Armenian Oblast formed part of a subdivision named the Tiflis Governorate
. In 1849 the Erivan Governorate
was established, separate from the Tiflis Governorate. It included the territory of the former Yerevan and Nakhchivan khanates.
The Russian authorities allowed and encouraged Armenians living in Turkish and Persian territory to migrate into Russian territory - about 49,000 subsequently settled in the Armenian Oblast. Armenian captives who were moved and lived in Iran since 1804 or even as far back as 1795 were permitted to return, which permitted Armenians to regain plurality. These policies contrasted with others imposed by the Russians, such as their attempt to replace the Catholicos at Echmiadzin, the offer to resettle Ganjevi Armenians in Georgia
, or the removal of 250 Armenian families from Karabagh by a Russian detachment shortly after the fall of Ganjeh. Azeri Tatars constituted majority of oblast's population. Armenians had main minority in it. It also had significant Georgian
and Kurdish
minority.
Oblast
Oblast is a type of administrative division in Slavic countries, including some countries of the former Soviet Union. The word "oblast" is a loanword in English, but it is nevertheless often translated as "area", "zone", "province", or "region"...
(province) of the Russian Empire
Russian Empire
The Russian Empire was a state that existed from 1721 until the Russian Revolution of 1917. It was the successor to the Tsardom of Russia and the predecessor of the Soviet Union...
that existed from 1828 to 1840. It roughly corresponded to most of present-day central Armenia
Armenia
Armenia , officially the Republic of Armenia , is a landlocked mountainous country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia...
, the Iğdır Province
Igdir Province
Iğdır Province is a province in eastern Turkey, located along the border with Armenia, Azerbaijan , and Iran. Its adjacent provinces are Kars to the northwest and Ağrı to the west and south...
of present-day Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
, and present-day Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan , officially the Republic of Azerbaijan is the largest country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded by the Caspian Sea to the east, Russia to the north, Georgia to the northwest, Armenia to the west, and Iran to...
's Nakhchivan exclave. It was created out of the territories of the former Erivan
Erivan Khanate
The Khanate of Erivan , was an administrative territory that was established Safavid Persia in the early 17th century. It covered an area of roughly 7,500 square miles, and corresponded to most of present-day central Armenia, most of the Iğdır Province of present-day Turkey, and the Sharur and...
and Nakhichevan khanates, which were ceded to Russia by the Persian Empire under the Treaty of Turkmenchay
Treaty of Turkmenchay
The Treaty of Turkmenchay was a treaty negotiated in Turkmenchay by which the Qajar Empire recognized Russian suzerainty over the Erivan khanate, the Nakhchivan khanate, and the remainder of the Talysh khanate, establishing the Aras River as the common boundary between the empires, after its...
after the Russo-Persian War of 1826-1828. Ivan Paskevich
Ivan Paskevich
Ivan Fyodorovich Paskevich was a Ukrainian-born military leader. For his victories, he was made Count of Erivan in 1828 and Namestnik of the Kingdom of Poland in 1831...
, the Ukrainian
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
-born military leader, was made count
Count
A count or countess is an aristocratic nobleman in European countries. The word count came into English from the French comte, itself from Latin comes—in its accusative comitem—meaning "companion", and later "companion of the emperor, delegate of the emperor". The adjective form of the word is...
of the oblast in the year of its creation.
In 1840 the Oblast was dissolved and its territory incorporated into a larger new province, the Georgia-Imeretia Governorate ("Gruzia-Imeretia"). This new division did not last long – in 1845 a vast new territory called the Caucasian Territory ("Kavkazskii Krai") or Caucasian Viceregency ("Kavkazskoe Namestnichestvo") was created, in which the former Armenian Oblast formed part of a subdivision named the Tiflis Governorate
Tiflis Governorate
Tiflis Governorate was one of the guberniyas of the Russian Empire with its centre in Tiflis . In 1897 it constituted 44,607 sq. kilometres in area and had a population of 1,051,032 inhabitants...
. In 1849 the Erivan Governorate
Erivan Governorate
Erivan Governorate was one of the guberniyas of the Russian Empire, with its centre in Erivan . Its area was 27,830 sq. kilometres. It roughly corresponded to what is now most of central Armenia, the Iğdır Province of Turkey, and Azerbaijan's Nakhchivan exclave...
was established, separate from the Tiflis Governorate. It included the territory of the former Yerevan and Nakhchivan khanates.
The Russian authorities allowed and encouraged Armenians living in Turkish and Persian territory to migrate into Russian territory - about 49,000 subsequently settled in the Armenian Oblast. Armenian captives who were moved and lived in Iran since 1804 or even as far back as 1795 were permitted to return, which permitted Armenians to regain plurality. These policies contrasted with others imposed by the Russians, such as their attempt to replace the Catholicos at Echmiadzin, the offer to resettle Ganjevi Armenians in Georgia
Georgia (country)
Georgia is a sovereign state in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded to the west by the Black Sea, to the north by Russia, to the southwest by Turkey, to the south by Armenia, and to the southeast by Azerbaijan. The capital of...
, or the removal of 250 Armenian families from Karabagh by a Russian detachment shortly after the fall of Ganjeh. Azeri Tatars constituted majority of oblast's population. Armenians had main minority in it. It also had significant Georgian
Georgian people
The Georgians are an ethnic group that have originated in Georgia, where they constitute a majority of the population. Large Georgian communities are also present throughout Russia, European Union, United States, and South America....
and Kurdish
Kurdish people
The Kurdish people, or Kurds , are an Iranian people native to the Middle East, mostly inhabiting a region known as Kurdistan, which includes adjacent parts of Iran, Iraq, Syria, and Turkey...
minority.
See also
- Russian ArmeniaRussian ArmeniaRussian Armenia is the period of Armenia's history under Russian rule beginning from 1829, when Eastern Armenia became part of the Russian Empire to the declaration of the Democratic Republic of Armenia in 1918...
- Erivan GovernorateErivan GovernorateErivan Governorate was one of the guberniyas of the Russian Empire, with its centre in Erivan . Its area was 27,830 sq. kilometres. It roughly corresponded to what is now most of central Armenia, the Iğdır Province of Turkey, and Azerbaijan's Nakhchivan exclave...
- History of the administrative division of RussiaHistory of the administrative division of RussiaThe modern administrative-territorial structure of Russia' is a system of territorial organization which is a product of a centuries-long evolution and reforms.-Early history:...