Igdir
Encyclopedia
Iğdır (ˈɯɰdɯɾ; , Igdir, also Ցոլակերտ, Tsolakert, after the ancient city nearby; , Idir; , Idir) is the capital of Iğdır Province
in the Eastern Anatolia Region, Turkey
, and borders Armenia
, Azerbaijan
(Nakhchivan) and Iran
. The border with Armenia is formed by the Aras River. Turkey's highest mountain, Ağrı Dağı, (the Biblical Mount Ararat
) is in Iğdır province, but much of the land is a wide plain far below the mountain.
three arrows branch considered to be the 21st of the 24 Oghuz branches. They spread throughout Anatolia
and there are towns and villages named Iğdır in Malatya and other parts of Turkey today.
.Before the first division of Armenia by Roman Empire and Persia Tsolakert was a inside of Chakatk canton of a larger province of Ayrarat
. At the end of XV cen. Turks and Kurds settled in some villages near Tsolakert. And Tsolakert became a target for numerous attacs on it. So this Armenian village was forced to self-defence itself. As a center of a district Tsolakert has a fortress. The traveller R.G. Klavio gives the following description to this fortress "At the year of 1403 I was visiting the Tsolakert fortress and at the time this fortress was ruled by a women". In 1555, the town became a part of Safavid Empire and remained under Persian rule (with brief military occupations by the Ottoman
s between 1578–1605, 1635–36 and 1722-46) until it fell into the hands of the Russians after the Russo-Persian War of 1826-1828.
and became a part of the Armenian Oblast
organized in 1828. Then Igdir became a part of the Georgia-Imeretia Governorate in 1840, of the Surmalu Uyezd of the Erivan Governorate
in 1850.
Under Russian rule, two primary schools, one for boys and the other for girls, and three churches were opened and 100 Armenian families were allowed to move to Igdir. The town's population rose to 10,000 in 1914 and largely busied itself with agriculture and commerce.
.
The Ottoman forces captured Igdir on May 20, 1918. However, the Ottoman forces left Igdir in accordance with the Armistice of Mudros
. After the Ottoman troops evacuated
the town, the Armenian troops took it and controlled the Markara Bridge over the Aras River to isolate Zengibasar. Armenian population suffered heavily during the grueling winter of 1918-19, as famine, disease and the cold swept away the lives of many. In May 1919, its status was elevated to that of city. Based on the boundaries drawn by US State Department in November 1920, Igdir was envisaged to become an integral part of the Armenian republic. But in September 1920, the Government of the Grand National Assembly
of Turkey
led by Mustafa Kemal
launched a war to eliminate the republic and overran Igdir. The Eastern Front
under General Kâzım Karabekir
took Erzurum, Sarıkamış. Kâzım Karabekir ordered the offensives towards Igdir and Shahtahti on October 18, 1920, to support the offensive toward Kars. However, Turkish forces couldn't put Igdir under their control, because of the strong defences of the Armenian forces in the vicinity of Igdir. According to the British document, the Armenian forces were forced out of Igdir on October 20, 1920. According to the Turkish official document, after the defeat in Shahtahti area, the Armenian forces abondaned Igdir. They burned down the Markara Bridge and retreated to the northern bank of the Aras River on November 13, 1920. Then the Turkish forces entered the town of Igdir. Turkey retained Kars and Ardahan, annexed the region of Igdir by the Treaty of Alexandropol
. As Armenia folded away to become a part of Soviet Russia
, the Turks' territorial gains were confirmed in the 1921 Treaty of Kars
.
continental climate
with hot and dry summers and cold and snowy winters. Iğdır is the driest city in Turkey close to the borderline of the arid climate which nevertheless does not exist in Turkey.
known as the "Caravanserai of Zor" is another historical structure near Iğdır.
by Armenians
during World War I and the Turkish–Armenian War during the Turkish War of Independence
. The Turkish argument states that "The expressed for the erection of this monument and this opinion was stated as follows in the final declaration "Resolved, that a monument of martyrs should be erected in Iğdır and a cemetery for martyrs should be established in Oba Village in order to eternalise the memories of more than one million Turks that fell in Eastern Anatolia and to give a similar answer to those declaring the 24th April as the genocide day and to the monuments erected in many places of the world for the genocide alleged to have been perpetrated against the Armenians."
It was opened on October 5, 1999 by Turkish Minister of State Ramazan Mirzaoğlu. Its height from ground level is 43.5 metres. The monument's design contains symbolism related to Turkish self-identity, history, and legends. The upper structure consists of five upright swords, their points touching to resemble Mount Ararat. On the hilt of the swords are a series of reliefs. Beneath the monument are a series of rooms intended to house a museum. The granite for the monument's swords was brought from China and other materials, such as marble, granite, and ceramics, were brought from other regions of Turkey.
Its construction is intended as a counter argument by the Turks that Armenians also perpetrated massacres against Turks and is seen as a part of Turkey's ongoing denial of the Armenian Genocide.
.
The agricultural production has caused the town to be livelier and wealthier than its neighbours in the generally impoverished eastern Turkey. There are many cafes and restaurants. The best-known dish is an oily meat stew called bozbaş.
and Ağrı
, and also neighbours with three countries; Armenia
, Azerbaijan
and Iran
. Despite the fact that it has three strategically important neighbours, the border gate to Armenia is closed and there is no direct access to Iran, therefore this situation diminishes economic possibilities.
About 70% percent of Mount Ararat
's area lies within Iğdır's borders, however the investments for developing tourism in Mt. Ararat is paid to Ağrı Municipality.
(who form the majority) Turks
and Kurds
. The spring festival nevruz
which is native to Iran is widely celebrated in Iğdır.
with:
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...
in the Eastern Anatolia Region, 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 borders Armenia
Armenia
Armenia , officially the Republic of Armenia , is a landlocked mountainous country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia...
, 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...
(Nakhchivan) and Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
. The border with Armenia is formed by the Aras River. Turkey's highest mountain, Ağrı Dağı, (the Biblical Mount Ararat
Mount Ararat
Mount Ararat is a snow-capped, dormant volcanic cone in Turkey. It has two peaks: Greater Ararat and Lesser Ararat .The Ararat massif is about in diameter...
) is in Iğdır province, but much of the land is a wide plain far below the mountain.
Etymology
The area's name came from "Iğdır Bey", the oldest son of Cengiz Alp who was one of six sons of Oghuz Han belonging to internal OghuzOghuz Turks
The Turkomen also known as Oghuz Turks were a historical Turkic tribal confederation in Central Asia during the early medieval Turkic expansion....
three arrows branch considered to be the 21st of the 24 Oghuz branches. They spread throughout Anatolia
Anatolia
Anatolia is a geographic and historical term denoting the westernmost protrusion of Asia, comprising the majority of the Republic of Turkey...
and there are towns and villages named Iğdır in Malatya and other parts of Turkey today.
History
Historians believe that Igdir went by the Armenian name of Tsolakert during the Middle AgesMiddle Ages
The Middle Ages is a periodization of European history from the 5th century to the 15th century. The Middle Ages follows the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 and precedes the Early Modern Era. It is the middle period of a three-period division of Western history: Classic, Medieval and Modern...
.Before the first division of Armenia by Roman Empire and Persia Tsolakert was a inside of Chakatk canton of a larger province of Ayrarat
Ayrarat
Ayrarat was a province of old Armenia . The main city was Oshakan. It is believed that the name Ayrarat is the Armenian equivalent of the toponym Urartu ....
. At the end of XV cen. Turks and Kurds settled in some villages near Tsolakert. And Tsolakert became a target for numerous attacs on it. So this Armenian village was forced to self-defence itself. As a center of a district Tsolakert has a fortress. The traveller R.G. Klavio gives the following description to this fortress "At the year of 1403 I was visiting the Tsolakert fortress and at the time this fortress was ruled by a women". In 1555, the town became a part of Safavid Empire and remained under Persian rule (with brief military occupations by 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...
s between 1578–1605, 1635–36 and 1722-46) until it fell into the hands of the Russians after the Russo-Persian War of 1826-1828.
From Turkmenchay to Brest Litovsk
Igdir was brought under Russian sovereignty by the Treaty of TurkmenchayTreaty 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...
and became a part of the Armenian Oblast
Armenian Oblast
The Armenian Oblast or Armenian Province ) was an oblast 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...
organized in 1828. Then Igdir became a part of the Georgia-Imeretia Governorate in 1840, of the Surmalu Uyezd of 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...
in 1850.
Under Russian rule, two primary schools, one for boys and the other for girls, and three churches were opened and 100 Armenian families were allowed to move to Igdir. The town's population rose to 10,000 in 1914 and largely busied itself with agriculture and commerce.
From Brest Litovsk to Kars
When the Russian Empire collapsed in 1917, the land came under the control of the newly established Democratic Republic of ArmeniaDemocratic Republic of Armenia
The Democratic Republic of Armenia was the first modern establishment of an Armenian state...
.
The Ottoman forces captured Igdir on May 20, 1918. However, the Ottoman forces left Igdir in accordance with the Armistice of Mudros
Armistice of Mudros
The Armistice of Moudros , concluded on 30 October 1918, ended the hostilities in the Middle Eastern theatre between the Ottoman Empire and the Allies of World War I...
. After the Ottoman troops evacuated
the town, the Armenian troops took it and controlled the Markara Bridge over the Aras River to isolate Zengibasar. Armenian population suffered heavily during the grueling winter of 1918-19, as famine, disease and the cold swept away the lives of many. In May 1919, its status was elevated to that of city. Based on the boundaries drawn by US State Department in November 1920, Igdir was envisaged to become an integral part of the Armenian republic. But in September 1920, the Government of the Grand National Assembly
Grand National Assembly of Turkey
The Grand National Assembly of Turkey , usually referred to simply as the Meclis , is the unicameral Turkish legislature. It is the sole body given the legislative prerogatives by the Turkish Constitution. It was founded in Ankara on 23 April 1920 in the midst of the Turkish War of Independence...
of 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 by Mustafa Kemal
Mustafa Kemal Atatürk
Mustafa Kemal Atatürk was an Ottoman and Turkish army officer, revolutionary statesman, writer, and the first President of Turkey. He is credited with being the founder of the Republic of Turkey....
launched a war to eliminate the republic and overran Igdir. The Eastern Front
Eastern Front (Turkey)
The Eastern Front is one of the fronts of the Army of the Grand National Assembly during the Turkish War of Independence. Its commanded all military units in Eastern Region...
under General Kâzım Karabekir
Kazim Karabekir
Musa Kâzım Karabekir was a Turkish general and politician. He was commander of the Eastern Army in the Ottoman Empire at the end of World War I and served as Speaker of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey before his death.-Early years:Karabekir was born in 1882 as the son of an Ottoman General,...
took Erzurum, Sarıkamış. Kâzım Karabekir ordered the offensives towards Igdir and Shahtahti on October 18, 1920, to support the offensive toward Kars. However, Turkish forces couldn't put Igdir under their control, because of the strong defences of the Armenian forces in the vicinity of Igdir. According to the British document, the Armenian forces were forced out of Igdir on October 20, 1920. According to the Turkish official document, after the defeat in Shahtahti area, the Armenian forces abondaned Igdir. They burned down the Markara Bridge and retreated to the northern bank of the Aras River on November 13, 1920. Then the Turkish forces entered the town of Igdir. Turkey retained Kars and Ardahan, annexed the region of Igdir by the Treaty of Alexandropol
Treaty of Alexandropol
The Treaty of Alexandropol was a peace treaty between the Democratic Republic of Armenia and the Grand National Assembly of Turkey ending the Turkish-Armenian War, signed on December 2, 1920, before the declaration of the Republic of Turkey. It was the first treaty signed by Turkish...
. As Armenia folded away to become a part of Soviet Russia
Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic
The Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic , commonly referred to as Soviet Russia, Bolshevik Russia, or simply Russia, was the largest, most populous and economically developed republic in the former Soviet Union....
, the Turks' territorial gains were confirmed in the 1921 Treaty of Kars
Treaty of Kars
The Treaty of Kars was a "friendship" treaty signed in Kars on October 13, 1921 and ratified in Yerevan on September 11 1922.Signatories included representatives from the Grand National Assembly of Turkey, which in 1923 would declare the Republic of Turkey, and also from Soviet Armenia, Soviet...
.
Geography
The city of Iğdır sits on a plain at a lower altitude than most of Turkey's eastern provinces. This allows agricultural production including apples, tomatoes, cucumbers, peaches, pears, sugar beet, watermelons and melons. However, the most famous produces of Iğdır are cotton and apricots.Climate
Iğdır has a semi-aridSemi-arid
A semi-arid climate or steppe climate describes climatic regions that receive precipitation below potential evapotranspiration, but not extremely...
continental climate
Continental climate
Continental climate is a climate characterized by important annual variation in temperature due to the lack of significant bodies of water nearby...
with hot and dry summers and cold and snowy winters. Iğdır is the driest city in Turkey close to the borderline of the arid climate which nevertheless does not exist in Turkey.
Architecture
On a peninsula close to the Armenian border, and currently within a military zone, stands Sürmeli castle, a medieval citadel whose surviving walls dating from 1224. A ruinous thirteenth century Armenian caravanseraiCaravanserai
A caravanserai, or khan, also known as caravansary, caravansera, or caravansara in English was a roadside inn where travelers could rest and recover from the day's journey...
known as the "Caravanserai of Zor" is another historical structure near Iğdır.
The Genocide Monument
In August 1997, construction started on the "Iğdır Soykırım Anıt-Müzesi" (Iğdır Genocide Monument and Museum). Turkish authorities erected the monument to commemorate the alleged massacres of TurksTurkish people
Turkish people, also known as the "Turks" , are an ethnic group primarily living in Turkey and in the former lands of the Ottoman Empire where Turkish minorities had been established in Bulgaria, Cyprus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Greece, Kosovo, Macedonia, and Romania...
by Armenians
Armenians
Armenian people or Armenians are a nation and ethnic group native to the Armenian Highland.The largest concentration is in Armenia having a nearly-homogeneous population with 97.9% or 3,145,354 being ethnic Armenian....
during World War I and the Turkish–Armenian War during the Turkish War of Independence
Turkish War of Independence
The Turkish War of Independence was a war of independence waged by Turkish nationalists against the Allies, after the country was partitioned by the Allies following the Ottoman Empire's defeat in World War I...
. The Turkish argument states that "The expressed for the erection of this monument and this opinion was stated as follows in the final declaration "Resolved, that a monument of martyrs should be erected in Iğdır and a cemetery for martyrs should be established in Oba Village in order to eternalise the memories of more than one million Turks that fell in Eastern Anatolia and to give a similar answer to those declaring the 24th April as the genocide day and to the monuments erected in many places of the world for the genocide alleged to have been perpetrated against the Armenians."
It was opened on October 5, 1999 by Turkish Minister of State Ramazan Mirzaoğlu. Its height from ground level is 43.5 metres. The monument's design contains symbolism related to Turkish self-identity, history, and legends. The upper structure consists of five upright swords, their points touching to resemble Mount Ararat. On the hilt of the swords are a series of reliefs. Beneath the monument are a series of rooms intended to house a museum. The granite for the monument's swords was brought from China and other materials, such as marble, granite, and ceramics, were brought from other regions of Turkey.
Its construction is intended as a counter argument by the Turks that Armenians also perpetrated massacres against Turks and is seen as a part of Turkey's ongoing denial of the Armenian Genocide.
Culture
Iğdır's culture is a subculture of the larger Culture of TurkeyCulture of Turkey
The culture of Turkey combines a largely diverse and heterogeneous set of elements that are derived from the Ottoman, European, Middle Eastern and Central Asian traditions...
.
The agricultural production has caused the town to be livelier and wealthier than its neighbours in the generally impoverished eastern Turkey. There are many cafes and restaurants. The best-known dish is an oily meat stew called bozbaş.
Media
Iğdır has 12 local daily and weekly newspapers. The most prominent of these is Yeşil Iğdır which has been published since 1 September 1955.Economy
The city of Iğdır is located between KarsKars Province
Kars Province is a province of Turkey, located in the northeastern part of the country. It shares part of its border with the Republic of Armenia.The provinces of Ardahan and Iğdır were until the 1990s part of Kars Province.-History:...
and Ağrı
Agri Province
The Ağrı Province is a province in eastern Turkey, bordering Iran to the east, Kars to the North, Erzurum to the Northwest, Muş and Bitlis to the Southwest, Van to the south, and Iğdır to the northeast. Area 11,376 km². Population 542,022 ....
, and also neighbours with three countries; Armenia
Armenia
Armenia , officially the Republic of Armenia , is a landlocked mountainous country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia...
, 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...
and Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
. Despite the fact that it has three strategically important neighbours, the border gate to Armenia is closed and there is no direct access to Iran, therefore this situation diminishes economic possibilities.
About 70% percent of Mount Ararat
Mount Ararat
Mount Ararat is a snow-capped, dormant volcanic cone in Turkey. It has two peaks: Greater Ararat and Lesser Ararat .The Ararat massif is about in diameter...
's area lies within Iğdır's borders, however the investments for developing tourism in Mt. Ararat is paid to Ağrı Municipality.
Demographics
Today, Iğdır has a mixed population of AzerbaijanisAzerbaijani people
The Azerbaijanis are a Turkic-speaking people living mainly in northwestern Iran and the Republic of Azerbaijan, as well as in the neighbourhood states, Georgia, Russia and formerly Armenia. Commonly referred to as Azeris or Azerbaijani Turks , they also live in a wider area from the Caucasus to...
(who form the majority) Turks
Turkish people
Turkish people, also known as the "Turks" , are an ethnic group primarily living in Turkey and in the former lands of the Ottoman Empire where Turkish minorities had been established in Bulgaria, Cyprus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Greece, Kosovo, Macedonia, and Romania...
and Kurds
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...
. The spring festival nevruz
Nowruz
Nowrūz is the name of the Iranian New Year in Iranian calendars and the corresponding traditional celebrations. Nowruz is also widely referred to as the Persian New Year....
which is native to Iran is widely celebrated in Iğdır.
| Iğdır centrum population | |
|---|---|
| 2007 | 75,927 |
| 2000 | 59,880 |
| 1997 | 44,334 |
| 1990 | 35,858 |
| 1985 | 29,460 |
| 1980 | 24,352 |
| 1975 | 29,542 |
| 1970 | 21,420 |
Famous people
- Servet ÇetinServet ÇetinServet Çetin , is a Turkish footballer who is playing for Galatasaray in the centre back position. He received the nickname Ayıboğan which literally means; a man who could choke a bear, due to his height and strength....
, a Turkish-Azeri soccer player - Şahin YakutSahin YakutŞahin "Kaas" Yakut is a Turkish-Dutch kickboxer and mixed martial artist, currently living in Heerhugowaard, Netherlands and training in Gym Alkmaar under Edwin van Os. He is a member of the It's Showtime Team and is a training partner of Gago Drago and Joerie Mes...
, a Turkish kickboxer and MMA Fighter - Avetis Aharonyan, chairman of the Democratic Republic of ArmeniaDemocratic Republic of ArmeniaThe Democratic Republic of Armenia was the first modern establishment of an Armenian state...
- Drastamat KanayanDrastamat KanayanGeneral Drastamat Kanayan , known as General Dro, Դրօ, May 31, 1884 March 8, 1956), was a politician, revolutionary, military commander of Hitler’s Armenian Legion of the Wehrmacht, the armed forces of Nazi Germany, and part of Armenian national liberation movement as a member of the A.R.F...
, an Armenian politician and general - Kawa Nemir, a Kurdish poet and traslator
- Serdar Durdagi, scientist
Twin towns — Sister cities
Iğdır is twinnedTown twinning
Twin towns and sister cities are two of many terms used to describe the cooperative agreements between towns, cities, and even counties in geographically and politically distinct areas to promote cultural and commercial ties.- Terminology :...
with:
-
SharurSharurSharur is an rayon of Azerbaijan in the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic.-History:Sharur formed part of the territory of the Nakhichevan Khanate until its abolition in 1828. In the Russian empire it was made a part of the Armenian Oblast. After the oblast was abolished, it became a part of...
, AzerbaijanAzerbaijanAzerbaijan , 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... - ShamakhiShamakhiShamakhi or Shamakhy is a rayon of the Republic of Azerbaijan, and a town in the rayon. It is the historical center of the region of Shirvan.The town is west of Baku. It has more than 20,000 inhabitants, among them Azerbaijanis and Russians...
, AzerbaijanAzerbaijanAzerbaijan , 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...