Karbi, Armenia
Encyclopedia
Karbi is a village in the Aragatsotn Province of Armenia
situated near the town of Ashtarak
. Within the area is a triple-nave
basilica of S. Astvatsatsin
dated to 1691-93 with an unattached adjacent belfry
of 1338. In the village are also S. Gevorg or S. Kiraki church of the 11th to 13th centuries, Tsiranavor, a Tukh Manuk shrine, and "Zargarents Jam" chapel built between the 11th to 13th centuries.
The history of Karbi has been one marked by invasions, destruction and plundering. In the manuscripts (late 14th c. to mid 15th c.) written by Thomas of Metsoph
, he left an account of the invasions of Timur
Lenk in the 14th century and stated that, "Next [Timur] came to the Araratean country and Karbi and the Kotayk country." During this time, development in the village was suspended.
In the first half of the 17th century, Karbi was severely damaged in the Perso-Turkish wars. After the period of peace ensuing in 1639, restoration of the buildings began and trade broadened.
In 1724, the Ottoman
military commanders Güç Ali and Yalguz Hasan were dispatched under the orders of Abdullah Pasha
to advance and lay siege
to Karbi, and plunder the village and enslave its inhabitants. Each of the leaders originally had under thir command approximately 1,800 soldiers, and had suffered high casualties during their advance on the city of Yerevan
at a battle near Yeghvard
in March of 1724.
The residents of Karbi learned of the advancing armies and began to fortify their settlement to help defend against the Ottoman army. Village elders sent a messenger to Khan Mehr Ali of Yerevan with word that, "The Ottoman army has arrived and laid siege to Karbi. If you are willing to send troops, we are ready to defend our town with our lives. We shall attack the enemy and shall drive them out." The Khan of Yerevan did not respond to their urgent plea, nor did he send his troops.
The residents of the village decided to stand firm and defend their land from the invading forces, and successfully did so for forty days. Abdullah Pasha came with his troops to support his two military commanders, but did not attack Karbi. He instead sent word and asked that the village return to being subject to the Ottoman Empire, and in return he would leave troops behind to protect them. The elders asked for ten days to convince the other defenders to submit to the Pasha. He agreed to their request.
During these ten days, the elders secretly sent a message to Khan Mehr Ali of Yerevan and said, "Besieged by Ottoman forces, we were forced to give our word to the Ottoman commander that we would surrender Karbi in ten days, for we cannot withstand such a large army. Tell us what we should do." The Khan gave a response that he would send gunpowder as well as small cannons, and ordered for them not to surrender but instead to keep fighting as they have. He added that, "Your Catholicos, Asdvadzadur
, has gone to see Shah Tahmasp to seek advice on this dangerous conflict which is upon us. Have patience, therefore, until we hear some news of assistance from them."
The elders decided after the end of the ten days to return control of Karbi to Abdullah Pasha's army. The Ottoman's sent word to "Prepare to submit and surrender your arms." When asked how many residents were living in the confines of the village, the elders responded that "There are some six thousand individuals." The residents did as was asked of them and surrendered their weapons to the Ottoman army. The Pasha gave each of the high elders a kalat which are robes of honor made of fine material, and also ordered that six companies of troops stay behind to guard the village. He then went on with the rest of his troops to lay siege to Yerevan.
Karbi is known to have had a brief visit during October 1734 by Abraham Kretatsi
during the time while he was serving the Catholicos Abraham II. He wrote, "The next day, at my request, we went to Parpi
and from there to Karbi, where we spent the night at the residences of Paron Khachatur and Paron Ohazar."
Armenia
Armenia , officially the Republic of Armenia , is a landlocked mountainous country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia...
situated near the town of Ashtarak
Ashtarak
Ashtarak is an industrial city in Armenia, on the left bank of Kasagh River along the gorge, approximately 20 km north-west of the capital Yerevan, at a height of 1110 meters above sea level. It is the administrative capital of Aragatsotn province...
. Within the area is a triple-nave
Nave
In Romanesque and Gothic Christian abbey, cathedral basilica and church architecture, the nave is the central approach to the high altar, the main body of the church. "Nave" was probably suggested by the keel shape of its vaulting...
basilica of S. Astvatsatsin
Surb Astvatsatsin Church of Karbi
The church of Surb Astvatsatsin is located just off the main highway through the village of Karbi in the Aragatsotn Province of Armenia. The basilica was completed between the years of 1691-1693, while the belfry was built in the year 1338....
dated to 1691-93 with an unattached adjacent belfry
Bell tower
A bell tower is a tower which contains one or more bells, or which is designed to hold bells, even if it has none. In the European tradition, such a tower most commonly serves as part of a church and contains church bells. When attached to a city hall or other civic building, especially in...
of 1338. In the village are also S. Gevorg or S. Kiraki church of the 11th to 13th centuries, Tsiranavor, a Tukh Manuk shrine, and "Zargarents Jam" chapel built between the 11th to 13th centuries.
History
Karbi was recorded in manuscripts as early as the 13th century and is also mentioned in an inscription of the same period upon the southern wall of the Katoghike Church of the Astvatsnkal Monastery built between the 5th-13th c. It reads,The history of Karbi has been one marked by invasions, destruction and plundering. In the manuscripts (late 14th c. to mid 15th c.) written by Thomas of Metsoph
Thomas of Metsoph
Thomas of Metsoph was an Armenian churchman and chronicler who left an account of Timur’s invasions of the Caucasus . What we know of Thomas’s life comes from a biography written by his own student Kirakos Banaser as well as a number of 15th-century colophons.Born in Aghiovit, north of Lake Van,...
, he left an account of the invasions of Timur
Timur
Timur , historically known as Tamerlane in English , was a 14th-century conqueror of West, South and Central Asia, and the founder of the Timurid dynasty in Central Asia, and great-great-grandfather of Babur, the founder of the Mughal Dynasty, which survived as the Mughal Empire in India until...
Lenk in the 14th century and stated that, "Next [Timur] came to the Araratean country and Karbi and the Kotayk country." During this time, development in the village was suspended.
In the first half of the 17th century, Karbi was severely damaged in the Perso-Turkish wars. After the period of peace ensuing in 1639, restoration of the buildings began and trade broadened.
In 1724, the Ottoman
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
military commanders Güç Ali and Yalguz Hasan were dispatched under the orders of Abdullah Pasha
Abdullah Pasha
Abdullah Pasha or Abdullah Kölemen was an Ottoman general in the First Balkan War, notable as the Ottoman commander in the Battle of Kirk Kilisse in 1912, the Battle of Lule Burgas, and the Battle of Adrianople in which the Ottoman forces were defeated by the Bulgarians.-External links:* * * * *...
to advance and lay siege
Siege
A siege is a military blockade of a city or fortress with the intent of conquering by attrition or assault. The term derives from sedere, Latin for "to sit". Generally speaking, siege warfare is a form of constant, low intensity conflict characterized by one party holding a strong, static...
to Karbi, and plunder the village and enslave its inhabitants. Each of the leaders originally had under thir command approximately 1,800 soldiers, and had suffered high casualties during their advance on the city of Yerevan
Yerevan
Yerevan is the capital and largest city of Armenia and one of the world's oldest continuously-inhabited cities. Situated along the Hrazdan River, Yerevan is the administrative, cultural, and industrial center of the country...
at a battle near Yeghvard
Yeghvard
Yeghvard is a city in the Kotayk Province of Armenia. Yeghvard is one of the oldest settlements, it is full of different periods and types of valuable architectural monuments. There are three churches in the city...
in March of 1724.
The residents of Karbi learned of the advancing armies and began to fortify their settlement to help defend against the Ottoman army. Village elders sent a messenger to Khan Mehr Ali of Yerevan with word that, "The Ottoman army has arrived and laid siege to Karbi. If you are willing to send troops, we are ready to defend our town with our lives. We shall attack the enemy and shall drive them out." The Khan of Yerevan did not respond to their urgent plea, nor did he send his troops.
The residents of the village decided to stand firm and defend their land from the invading forces, and successfully did so for forty days. Abdullah Pasha came with his troops to support his two military commanders, but did not attack Karbi. He instead sent word and asked that the village return to being subject to the Ottoman Empire, and in return he would leave troops behind to protect them. The elders asked for ten days to convince the other defenders to submit to the Pasha. He agreed to their request.
During these ten days, the elders secretly sent a message to Khan Mehr Ali of Yerevan and said, "Besieged by Ottoman forces, we were forced to give our word to the Ottoman commander that we would surrender Karbi in ten days, for we cannot withstand such a large army. Tell us what we should do." The Khan gave a response that he would send gunpowder as well as small cannons, and ordered for them not to surrender but instead to keep fighting as they have. He added that, "Your Catholicos, Asdvadzadur
Asdvadzadur of Armenia
Catholicos Asdvadzadur was the Catholicos of the Armenian Apostolic Church between 1715 and 1725.As Catholicos, he secured an alliance with Christian Peter the Great of Russia for aid against the expansionist Muslim powers of the Ottoman Empire and Persia prior to the Russo-Persian War.He is buried...
, has gone to see Shah Tahmasp to seek advice on this dangerous conflict which is upon us. Have patience, therefore, until we hear some news of assistance from them."
The elders decided after the end of the ten days to return control of Karbi to Abdullah Pasha's army. The Ottoman's sent word to "Prepare to submit and surrender your arms." When asked how many residents were living in the confines of the village, the elders responded that "There are some six thousand individuals." The residents did as was asked of them and surrendered their weapons to the Ottoman army. The Pasha gave each of the high elders a kalat which are robes of honor made of fine material, and also ordered that six companies of troops stay behind to guard the village. He then went on with the rest of his troops to lay siege to Yerevan.
Karbi is known to have had a brief visit during October 1734 by Abraham Kretatsi
Abraham III of Armenia
Catholicos Abraham III was the Catholicos of the Armenian Apostolic Church between 1734 and 1737. Born in Heraklion, Crete, to a Greek mother, he was bishop of Rodosto, Thrace and then Armenian prelate of Thrace from 1708-1734...
during the time while he was serving the Catholicos Abraham II. He wrote, "The next day, at my request, we went to Parpi
Parpi
Parpi is a village in the Aragatsotn Province of Armenia. Within the village is a 5th century church. The 5th to 6th century Armenian chronicler and historian Ghazar Parpetsi was born at Parpi...
and from there to Karbi, where we spent the night at the residences of Paron Khachatur and Paron Ohazar."