Transcaucasian SFSR
Encyclopedia
The Transcaucasian Socialist Federative Soviet Republic , also known as the Transcaucasian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic, the Transcaucasian SFSR and the TSFSR for short, was a short-lived republic of the Soviet Union
, lasting from 1922 to 1936. It consisted of Georgia
, Armenia
, and Azerbaijan
, traditionally known as the Transcaucasian
Republics, being separated from Russia
by the Caucasus Mountains
.
in 1917, during the October Revolution
, when the provinces of the Caucasus
seceded and formed their own federal state called the Transcaucasian Federation
. Competing national interests and war with Turkey
led to the dissolution of the republic half a year later, in April 1918.
The three successor states lasted until the end of the Russian civil war that was being fought across the mountains, when they were made Soviet Republics by the Red Army
, and reorganized as a single republic in March 1922. It was incorporated into the Soviet state in December of that year. In 1936, the republic was dissolved and divided among the Georgian, Armenian
and Azerbaijan
SSRs.
Before 1923, each of Georgia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan issued its own postage stamp
s. The Federation began issuing its own stamps on September 15, 1923, and superseded the separate republics' issues on October 1. The first issues consisted of some of the stamps of Russia and Armenia overprint
ed with a star containing the five-letter acronym of the federation inside the points. Massive inflation
having set in, this was followed by an issue of the Federation's own designs, four values of a view of oil field
s, and four with a montage of Soviet symbols over mountains and oil derricks, values ranging from 40,000 to 500,000 rubles
. The 40,000 руб and 75,000 руб were then surcharged to 700,000 rubles. On October 24, the stamps were re-issued with values from 1 to 18 gold kopecks. Starting in 1924, the Federation used stamps of the Soviet Union
.
Most of the stamps of the Federation are not especially rare today, with 1998 prices in the US$1–2 range, although the overprints on Armenian stamps range up to US$200. As might be expected from a short period of usage, used stamps are less common than unused, and cover
s are not often seen.
Republics of the Soviet Union
The Republics of the Soviet Union or the Union Republics of the Soviet Union were ethnically-based administrative units that were subordinated directly to the Government of the Soviet Union...
, lasting from 1922 to 1936. It consisted of 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...
, Armenia
Armenia
Armenia , officially the Republic of Armenia , is a landlocked mountainous country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia...
, and 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...
, traditionally known as the Transcaucasian
Caucasus
The Caucasus, also Caucas or Caucasia , is a geopolitical region at the border of Europe and Asia, and situated between the Black and the Caspian sea...
Republics, being separated from Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
by the Caucasus Mountains
Caucasus Mountains
The Caucasus Mountains is a mountain system in Eurasia between the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea in the Caucasus region .The Caucasus Mountains includes:* the Greater Caucasus Mountain Range and* the Lesser Caucasus Mountains....
.
History
The republic's roots date back to the dissolution of the Russian EmpireRussian 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...
in 1917, during the October Revolution
October Revolution
The October Revolution , also known as the Great October Socialist Revolution , Red October, the October Uprising or the Bolshevik Revolution, was a political revolution and a part of the Russian Revolution of 1917...
, when the provinces of the Caucasus
Caucasus
The Caucasus, also Caucas or Caucasia , is a geopolitical region at the border of Europe and Asia, and situated between the Black and the Caspian sea...
seceded and formed their own federal state called the Transcaucasian Federation
Transcaucasian Democratic Federative Republic
The Transcaucasian Democratic Federative Republic , was a short-lived state composed of the modern-day countries of Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia in the South Caucasus.-...
. Competing national interests and war with 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...
led to the dissolution of the republic half a year later, in April 1918.
The three successor states lasted until the end of the Russian civil war that was being fought across the mountains, when they were made Soviet Republics by the Red Army
Red Army
The Workers' and Peasants' Red Army started out as the Soviet Union's revolutionary communist combat groups during the Russian Civil War of 1918-1922. It grew into the national army of the Soviet Union. By the 1930s the Red Army was among the largest armies in history.The "Red Army" name refers to...
, and reorganized as a single republic in March 1922. It was incorporated into the Soviet state in December of that year. In 1936, the republic was dissolved and divided among the Georgian, Armenian
Armenian SSR
The Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic The Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic The Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic The Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic The Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic The Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic The Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic The Armenian Soviet...
and Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan SSR
The Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic , also known as the Azerbaijan SSR for short, was one of the republics that made up the former Soviet Union....
SSRs.
Names in the languages of the constituent republics
- Andrkovkasyan Sovetakan Soc‘ialistakan Federativ Hanrapetowt‘yown
- Zaqafqaziya Sovet Federativ Sosialist Respublikası
- Amierk'avk'asiis Sabch'ota Pederatsiuli Sotsialist'uri Resp'ublik'a
Stamps and postal history
Postage stamp
A postage stamp is a small piece of paper that is purchased and displayed on an item of mail as evidence of payment of postage. Typically, stamps are made from special paper, with a national designation and denomination on the face, and a gum adhesive on the reverse side...
s. The Federation began issuing its own stamps on September 15, 1923, and superseded the separate republics' issues on October 1. The first issues consisted of some of the stamps of Russia and Armenia overprint
Overprint
An overprint is an additional layer of text or graphics added to the face of a postage stamp or banknote after it has been printed. Post offices most often use overprints for internal administrative purposes such as accounting but they are also employed in public mail...
ed with a star containing the five-letter acronym of the federation inside the points. Massive inflation
Inflation
In economics, inflation is a rise in the general level of prices of goods and services in an economy over a period of time.When the general price level rises, each unit of currency buys fewer goods and services. Consequently, inflation also reflects an erosion in the purchasing power of money – a...
having set in, this was followed by an issue of the Federation's own designs, four values of a view of oil field
Oil field
An oil field is a region with an abundance of oil wells extracting petroleum from below ground. Because the oil reservoirs typically extend over a large area, possibly several hundred kilometres across, full exploitation entails multiple wells scattered across the area...
s, and four with a montage of Soviet symbols over mountains and oil derricks, values ranging from 40,000 to 500,000 rubles
Russian ruble
The ruble or rouble is the currency of the Russian Federation and the two partially recognized republics of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. Formerly, the ruble was also the currency of the Russian Empire and the Soviet Union prior to their breakups. Belarus and Transnistria also use currencies with...
. The 40,000 руб and 75,000 руб were then surcharged to 700,000 rubles. On October 24, the stamps were re-issued with values from 1 to 18 gold kopecks. Starting in 1924, the Federation used stamps of the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
.
Most of the stamps of the Federation are not especially rare today, with 1998 prices in the US$1–2 range, although the overprints on Armenian stamps range up to US$200. As might be expected from a short period of usage, used stamps are less common than unused, and cover
Cover (philately)
In philately, the term cover pertains to the outside of an envelope or package with an address, typically with postage stamps that have been cancelled and is a term generally used among stamp and postal history collectors. The term does not include the contents of the letter or package, although...
s are not often seen.
Heads of state
| Name | Dates | Party |
|---|---|---|
| Nariman Narimanov Nariman Narimanov Narimanov Nariman Karbalayi Najaf oglu was an Azerbaijani revolutionary, writer, publicist, politician and statesman. In 1920, Narimanov headed the Soviet government of Azerbaijan, the Provisional Military-Revolutionary Committee , replacing Mirza Davud Huseynov, then he was the Chairman of the... |
Mar–Dec 1922 | Communist Party of Azerbaijan |
| Polikarp Mdivani Polikarp Mdivani Polikarp "Budu" Mdivani was a veteran Georgian Bolshevik and Soviet government official energetically involved in the Russian Revolutions and the Civil War. In the 1920s, he played an important role in Sovietization of the Caucasus, but later led Georgian Communist opposition to Joseph Stalin's... |
Mar–Dec 1922 | Communist Party of Georgia Communist Party of Georgia Communist Party of Georgia is a communist political party in Georgia. The party was founded on February 23, 1992 as the Socialist Labour Party. It was registered at the Ministry of Justice on February 27, 1998. In the 1992 elections it won four MPs. During the period 1994-1995 it maintained a... |
| Aleksandr Myasnikyan Aleksandr Myasnikyan Aleksandr Teodorosi Myasnikyan a.k.a. Aleksandr Fyodorovich Myasnikov was a prominent Bolshevik of Armenian descent.... |
Mar–Dec 1922 | Communist Party of Armenia |
| Name | Period | For |
|---|---|---|
| Mikhail Tskhakaya (1st time) | 1922–1927 | Georgia |
| Samad aga Aliyev | 1922–1929 | Azerbaijan |
| Sarkis Ambartsumyan | 1922–1925 | Armenia |
| Sarkis Kasyan Sarkis Kasyan Sarkis Hovhannesi Kasyan or Kasian was a Soviet Armenian statesman, politician and journalist.... |
1927–1931 | Armenia |
| Filipp Makharadze Filipp Makharadze Filipp Makaradze was a Bolshevik revolutionary and government official.-Life:... (1st time) |
1927–1928 | Georgia |
| Mikhail Tskhakaya (2nd time) | 1928–1931 | Georgia |
| Gazanfar Musabekov Gazanfar Musabekov Gazanfar Mahmud oglu Musabekov or Musabeyov was an Azerbaijani Bolshevik revolutionary and Soviet statesman. He was Chairman of the Central Executive Committee of Azerbaijan SSR from 1929 to 1931 and he headed the government of the Transcaucasian SFSR from 1931 to 1936... |
1929–1931 | Azerbaijan |
| Filipp Makharadze (2nd time) | 1931–1935 | Georgia |
| Armenek Ananjan | 1931–1935 | Armenia |
| Sultan Majid Afandiyev Sultan Majid Afandiyev Sultan Majid Afandiyev , also spelled Efendiyev was an Azerbaijani revolutionary and statesman, one of the founders of the Communist Party of Azerbaijan.-Life:... |
1931–1936 | Azerbaijan |
| Sergo Martikiyan | 1935–1936 | Armenia |
| Avel Enukidze Avel Enukidze Avel Safronovich Enukidze - А́вель Сафронович Енуки́дзе - , a prominent "Old Bolshevik" and, at one point, a member of the Soviet Central Committee in Moscow... |
Mar–May 1935 | Georgia |
| Filipp Makharadze (3rd time) | 1935–1936 | Georgia |
See also
- Transcaucasian Democratic Federative RepublicTranscaucasian Democratic Federative RepublicThe Transcaucasian Democratic Federative Republic , was a short-lived state composed of the modern-day countries of Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia in the South Caucasus.-...
- Northern CaucasusMountainous Republic of the Northern CaucasusThe Mountainous Republic of the Northern Caucasus was a short-lived state situated in the Northern Caucasus...
- Litbel
- Far Eastern RepublicFar Eastern RepublicThe Far Eastern Republic , sometimes called the Chita Republic, was a nominally independent state that existed from April 1920 to November 1922 in the easternmost part of the Russian Far East...
- Bavarian S.R.Bavarian Soviet RepublicThe Bavarian Soviet Republic, also known as the Munich Soviet Republic was, as part of the German Revolution of 1918–1919, the short-lived attempt to establish a socialist state in form of a council republic in the Free State of Bavaria. It sought independence from the also recently proclaimed...
- Republics of the Soviet UnionRepublics of the Soviet UnionThe Republics of the Soviet Union or the Union Republics of the Soviet Union were ethnically-based administrative units that were subordinated directly to the Government of the Soviet Union...
- KubanKuban People's RepublicThe Kuban People's Republic was an anti-Bolshevik state that comprised the territory of the Kuban in the modern-day Russian Federation during the Russian Civil War....
- Kars
- KomanczaKomancza RepublicThe Komancza Republic was an association of 30 Lemkos villages, founded in eastern Lemkivshchyna in Komańcza on 4 November 1918. It had a Ukrainiophile orientation, and planned to unite with the West Ukrainian National Republic. It was suppressed by the Polish government on 23 January 1919 during...
- Don Cossack RepublicDon CossacksDon Cossacks were Cossacks who settled along the middle and lower Don.- Etymology and origins :The Don Cossack Host was a frontier military organization from the end of the 16th until the early 20th century....