Mkhitar Sparapet
Encyclopedia
Mkhitar Sparapet (?-1730) was an 18th century Armenian national hero and participant in the struggle for preserving the Armenian heritage in the Zangezur
region of Transcaucasia. He was instrumental in David Bek
's victories over the forces of Safavid Iran and the Ottoman Empire
in Armenia's Zangezur
region. Their main headquarters were at the fortress of Halidzor
which also served as the administrative center for Syunik. Mkhitar served as chief aide to Bek and later his successor after his death in 1728.
In 1730, Mkhitar was murdered by Armenian villagers of Khndzoresk
, who had implored him to have his own fortifications destroyed during his conflicts rather than their village. His head was presented to the Ottoman Pasha at Tabriz
, who found this act of treachery detestable and had the murderers decapitated. The tomb of Mkhitar Sparapet is located in a gorge not far from Nerkin Khndzoresk
and Old Khndzoresk.
Zangezur
Zangezur may refer to:* Syunik, alternative name of an Armenian geographic-historic region, nowadays one of the provinces of Armenia* Kapan, former name of a city in Armenia...
region of Transcaucasia. He was instrumental in David Bek
David Bek
David Bek was an Armenian military commander and one of the most prominent military figures of the Armenian liberation movement of the 18th century against the forces of Safavid Iran and the Ottoman Empire...
's victories over the forces of Safavid Iran and the Ottoman Empire
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...
in Armenia's Zangezur
Zangezur
Zangezur may refer to:* Syunik, alternative name of an Armenian geographic-historic region, nowadays one of the provinces of Armenia* Kapan, former name of a city in Armenia...
region. Their main headquarters were at the fortress of Halidzor
Halidzor Fortress
The fortress of Halidzor is located along a hill overlooking the Voghji River to the north, near the village of Kapan in the Syunik Province of Armenia.- History :Halidzor was originally built in the 17th century to serve as a nunnery...
which also served as the administrative center for Syunik. Mkhitar served as chief aide to Bek and later his successor after his death in 1728.
In 1730, Mkhitar was murdered by Armenian villagers of Khndzoresk
Khndzoresk
Khndzoresk is a village and rural community in the South-East of Armenia, in the province of Syunik. The village is located to the right of Goris - Stepanavan highway, on the steep slopes of Khor Dzor , from which, according to tradition, it got its name...
, who had implored him to have his own fortifications destroyed during his conflicts rather than their village. His head was presented to the Ottoman Pasha at Tabriz
Tabriz
Tabriz is the fourth largest city and one of the historical capitals of Iran and the capital of East Azerbaijan Province. Situated at an altitude of 1,350 meters at the junction of the Quri River and Aji River, it was the second largest city in Iran until the late 1960s, one of its former...
, who found this act of treachery detestable and had the murderers decapitated. The tomb of Mkhitar Sparapet is located in a gorge not far from Nerkin Khndzoresk
Nerkin Khndzoresk
Nerqin Khndzoresk is a village and rural community in the Syunik Province of Armenia. The National Statistical Service of the Republic of Armenia reported its population was 321 in 2010, up from 184 at the 2001 census.- Overview :...
and Old Khndzoresk.