Syunik
Encyclopedia
Syunik is the southernmost province (marz
) of Armenia
. It borders the Vayots Dzor
marz to the north, Azerbaijan
's Nakhchivan exclave to the west, Karabakh
to the east, and Iran
to the south. Its capital is Kapan
. Other important cities and towns include Goris
, Sisian
, Meghri
, Agarak, and Dastakert
. The National Statistical Service of the Republic of Armenia
(ARMSTAT) reported its population was 152,900 in 2010, up from 152,684 at the 2001 census.
Historically, Syunik was one of the 15 provinces of the Kingdom of Armenia. At various times, the region of present-day Syunik has also been known by other names such as Syunia, Sisakan, and Zangezur. The area's many Armenian cultural sites (such as the Tatev monastery
) testify to its rich history.
, and Vorotan. Summertime temperatures can reach more than 40°C, although the average temperature is around 22°C. Its border with Nakhchivan to the west is defined by the Zangezur Mountains
.
, Kapan
, Agarak) as well as the largest tailing dams (at Artzvanik, Voghtchi, Darazami, Geghanoush). The prospect of a uranium
mine being exploited by the Russian State Nuclear Energy Corporation (Rosatom) in the village of Lernadzor has environmentalists and locals concerned.
attributed to the same king (King Artashes I) confirm that in the 2nd century B.C. the District of Syunik constituted part of the Ancient Armenia.
Syunik was occupied by the Persian Empire, c. 369. In 379, King Babik, son of Andok, was re-established as ruler by the Mamikonian
s. His sister, Pharantzem, was married to Gnel, nephew of Arshak II
, King of Armenia. This lasted for less than ten years and by about 386 or 387, King Dara was deposed by the Persians.
King Valinak (c. 400-409) was followed by Vasak (409-452). Vasak had two sons, Bagben and Bakur, and a daughter who married Vasak's successor, Varazvahan (452-472). His son Gelehon ruled from 470 to 477 and died in 483. Babik (Bagben) the brother of Varazvahan, became the new king in 477. Hadz, brother of Gelehon, died on September 25, 482.
Syunik was later ruled by other kings: Vahan
c. 570, Philipo c. 580, Stephanos c. 590-597, Sahak c. 597, and Grigor
until 640.
, with minor vassal princes from one or more previous dynasties, perhaps of Persian origin. Vasak III (c. 800) suffered an assault from the emir
of Manazkert
, Sevada. He established a garrison in Chalat, in the district of Dzoluk. He then called for help from the Persian revolutionary chief Babak Khorramdin
, who married a daughter of the king.
After Vasak III (821) died, Babak inherited the country, which revolted against him. Babak suppressed the revolt, but was harassed by both Muslims and Armenians
. Finally, he abdicated and the children of Vasak, Philipo, and Sahak regained power. Philipo governed Eastern Syunik, with the districts of Vayots Dzor
and Balq (Goucha). Sahak governed in Western Syunik, also known as Gelarquniq, with capital in Khoth. These local dynasties disappeared during the ephemeral domination from Babak.
In 826, Sahak allied with his ancient enemy - Sevada, the Qaisite emir of Manazkert - against the governor of Caliph
, but he was defeated and died in Kavakert. His son Grigor-Sufan succeeded him as prince of Western Syunik. In the Eastern region, Philipo died on August 10, 848. He was succeeded by three children (Babgen, Vasak-Ichkhanik and Achot) that ruled jointly. Babgen fought with Grigor-Sufan and killed him (sometime in 849-851) but Babgen died shortly after (851) and Vasak-Ichkhanik (Vasak IV) followed him. Vasak-Ichkhanik had peaceful relations with Vasak-Gabor, who had ascended to the throne of Western Syunik, replacing his father Grigor-Sufan. Nerseh, brother of Babgen, directed (851?) an expedition to Aghuania
defeating and killing the prince Varaz-Terdat (of the Persian dynasty Mihrakane of Aghuania) in Morgog. A general sent by the Caliph
, Bogha al-Kabir, destroyed Armenia and Aghuania in these years, and sent a detachment to Eastern Syunik where was governing Vasak IV with his brother Achot. The people of Syunik were sheltered in the fortress of Balq, but Vasak fled to Kotaiq, and was pursued to the region of Gardman
on the eastern border of Lake Sevan
. Gardman's prince (ichkhan) Ketridj or Ketritchn betrayed him and delivered him to Bogha (859). Achot was also seized (859). But Bogha invaded Gardman and imprisoned Kertridj. He then went to Outi where he captured the prince of Sevordiq, Stephannos Kun.
The Caliphate
tried to control all these regions, and for this reason Bogha decided to repopulate the city of Chamkor in the Kura
river with Muslims. Chamkor, being near Barda
and Ganja, was intended to act as a regional monitoring post. By order of the new Caliph in 862, the imprisoned princes were to be released and allowed to return to their former domains on the condition of becoming Muslim. (However, they all abandoned Islam after their return.)
The prince of Western Syunik, Vasak-Gabor, was married to a daughter of the Bagratid prince Ashot the Great named Miriam, and received the title of Ichkhan from the Syunik people - delivered to him by Ashot in name of the Caliph. His successor was his son, Grigor-Sufan II (887-909). The prince of Eastern Syunik, Vasak IV, died around 887, and was followed by his brother Achot who died c. 906.
The son of Vasak IV, Sembat, that received the fiefdom
from Vayots Dzor. Chahaponk (Jahuk) governed from 887 until sometime after 920. He revolted in 903 against the Bagratid Sembat I, refusing to pay him taxes. Because of this, he was assaulted by the prince of Vaspurakan
, Sargis-Ashot. Sembat submitted, was forgiven and married to the sister of the prince of Vaspurakan, receiving the city and district of Nakhchivan, which in 902 was upset with the Kaysites
or Qaisids.
A few years later, the prince allied with the emir of Sadjid, Yusuf, against Eastern Syunik, which they invaded together. Sembat was sheltered in the fortress of Erendchak (today Alindja, northeast of Nakhchivan) and Yusuf remained owner of Eastern Syunik. Sembat requested refuge from his brother-in-law Khatchik-Gagik, which was granted. In the same year (909), the prince of Western Syunik, Grigor Sufan II, submitted to the emir Yusuf in Dwin. Only Byzantine
movements and the withdrawal of the Sadjids permitted him to recover the throne some time later. Sembat, with his three brothers Sahak, Babgen, and Vasak, governed again. Also in Western Syunik, Sahak, Ashot and Vasak, brothers of Grigor-Sufan II, were governing the country. After them the dynasty of Western Syunik became extinct and the territory was subsumed by the Muslims.
The eastern part remained divided: Sembat, which had the main title, governed the western part of the Eastern Syunik with the Vayots Dzor, bordered by Vaspurakan. Sahak governed the eastern part until the river Hakar. Babgen governed the district of the Balq, and Vasak (who died in 922) an indeterminate territory. Nasr, the emir of Azerbaijan
, captured territory through perfidy
against Babgen and Sahak in Dwin. After the invasion, Sembat unseated Nasr and obtained the freedom of his brothers. Sembat was followed by his son Vasak, and Sahak in turn by his son Sembat. Vasak received the royal title from the Muslims at the end of his reign, which lasted until 963.
The throne was inherited by his nephew Sembat (963-998) who was recognized as king by the emirs of Tauris and of Arran
. He was married to the princess of Aghuania, Chahandoukht. At his death, he was followed by Vasak (c. 998-1019). Vasak was succeeded by two nephews (the children of his sister and a Prince Achot) called Sembat and Grigor (1019–1084). The latter was married with the princess Chahandoukht, daughter of Sevada of Aghuania. The only successor to the two princes, was a daughter of Grigor's called Chahandoukht. Rule passed to the prince of Aghuania, Seneqerim Ioan who governed both territories from 1084 until his death in 1105. Seneqerim Ioan was followed by his son Grigor of Syunik and Aghuania, who governed until 1166, when the country was conquered by the Seljucids Turks.
Later, the Orbelian Dynasty
, one of whose members wrote an important history of the country, governed Syunik in times of Timur
(Tamerlan) as vassals. Between mid-17th c and early 19th c, the region was part of the Karabakh khanate
of the Safavid Empire
. It was during this period in the region's history that David Bek
headed an armed struggled against the Safavids and the Ottoman Empire
, both of which were fighting for control of the area.
, Syunik passed into Imperial Russian
possession by the Treaty of Gulistan in 1813 together with the rest of the Karabakh khanate. The khanate was abolished by the Russian government in 1822. The region was first divided under the Erivan Governorate
and the Shemakha Governorate, after 1859 the Erivan Governorate and the Baku Governorate
. When the Elisabethpol Governorate
was established in 1868, the region became the Zangezur uyezd, with its seat of administration in Geryusy
.
According to imperial census in 1897 total population of Zangezur uyezd constituted 137 971 people. 51.6 % of them were Azerbaijanis and 46,1 % were Armenians.
The beginning of 20th century saw an outbreak in ethnic tensions between the Armenian and Azerbaijani populations in the Caucasus, culminating in the Armenian-Tatar massacres
. Clashes occurred in Nakhichevan and Sharur-Daralgez uyezdy of the Erevan gubernia and in Zangezur, Shusha and Javanshir uezdy of Elizavetpol gubernia in 1905. According to Armenian sources 128 Armenian and 158 Azerbaijanian villages were "pillaged or destroyed" while the overall estimates of lives lost vary widely, ranging from 3,000 to 10,000, with Muslims suffering higher losses. During these events, the Armenians of Syunik were massacred "without distinction of sex or age" by Azeri forces.
Tensions were accelerated with the collapse of the Russian Empire
. The region fell under the authority of the Special Transcaucasian Committee of the Russian Provisional Government
and subsequently the short-lived Transcaucasian Democratic Federative Republic
. When the TDFR was dissolved in May 1918, Zangezur, Nakhchivan, and Nagorno-Karabakh
became heavily contested between the newly formed and short-lived states of the Democratic Republic of Armenia
(DRA) and the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic
(ADR). At the time, Syunik had an Armenian majority of 350,000 and a Muslim population of 180,000. According to Thomas de Waal
, the dispute over Syunik resulted in the ethnic cleansing of region's local Azeri minority through direct military action by Armenian guerilla commander Andranik
.
s, successful in the Russian Civil War
, pushed deep into the Caucasus. Syunik was one of the last major holdouts of the DRA whose leaders were eventually expelled by incoming Soviet authorities to Iran. During Sovietization
, Syunik became part of Soviet Armenia, while the two other disputed territories, Nakhchivan and Nagorno-Karabakh became part of Soviet Azerbaijan. It then became part of Armenia under the Transcaucasian SFSR
and part of the Armenian SSR
in 1936. Under Soviet rule, Syunik suffered a devastating earthquake in April 1931, leaving 80% of its villages destroyed. A subsequent earthquake hit the region in May during the same year, destroying 27 of 38 villages in the Sisian
district.
Despite the region's troubled early years in the Soviet Union
, it gradually began to recover with much of the area's infrastructure rebuilt and improved. During the Soviet era, Syunik was noted as a source of metal and ore production. However, the region was shook by the renewal of the conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh with neighboring Azerbaijan. In 1987-1989, the remaining Azeri inhabitants fled the region as a result of interethnic violence. This exodus of Azeri population made Syunik and Armenia in general more homogeneous.
has been opened that is "projected to supply Armenia with up to 1.1 billion cubic meters (bcm) of gas per year until 2019, when that supply target is expected to rise to 2.3 bcm annually." The new pipeline has attracted Armenia's northern neighbor, Georgia which seeks to lessen its dependence on energy from Russia. Also, 2 tombs and a cemetery were found between villages of Kornidzor and Khndzoresk in Goris region. These were built by Armenian architects during Kara Koyunlu
rule and were found by researchers of the Preservation Committee for Historical and Cultural Monuments of the Armenian Republic in 2000.
, the administrative subdivisions of Armenia before 1995.
Administrative divisions of Armenia
Armenia is subdivided into eleven administrative divisions. Of these, ten are provinces, known as marzer or in the singular form marz in Armenian....
) of Armenia
Armenia
Armenia , officially the Republic of Armenia , is a landlocked mountainous country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia...
. It borders the Vayots Dzor
Vayots Dzor
Vayots Dzor is a province of Armenia. It lies in the south-east of the country, bordering the Nakhichevan exclave of Azerbaijan in the west and the Azerbaijan in the east. It covers an area of 2,308 km². With a population of only 53,230 , it is the most sparsely populated province in the country...
marz to the north, 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 to the west, Karabakh
Karabakh
The Karabakh horse , also known as Karabakh, is a mountain-steppe racing and riding horse. It is named after the geographic region where the horse was originally developed, Karabakh in the Southern Caucasus, an area that is de jure part of Azerbaijan but the highland part of which is currently...
to the east, 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...
to the south. Its capital is Kapan
Kapan
-Notable landmarks:*Vahanavank monastery*Baghaberd and Halidzor Fortresses.*Tatev Monastery - This monastery, situated northwest of Kapan was founded in the ninth century in the place of an ancient tabernacle well-known in ancient times...
. Other important cities and towns include Goris
Goris
Goris is a city in the Syunik Marz of Armenia. Located in the valley of river Goris , it is about 240 km away from the Armenian capital Yerevan and 70 km from the Syunik Marz center Kapan. Goris forms an urban community...
, Sisian
Sisian
Sisian formerly also known as Sisakan, Sisavan and later Garakilse, is a city in the southern province of Syunik, Armenia. Located on both banks of Vorotan River, 6 km south of the Yerevan-Meghri highway, at a distance of 217 km from Yerevan and 115 km from Kapan. Sisian forms an urban...
, Meghri
Meghri
Meghri is a city in southern Armenia, located in the Syunik province, near the border with Iran. The city's economy is based on the food industry, and contains a bread-baking factory, canneries and a winery. Meghri has a significantly milder climate than the rest of the cities in Armenia, and...
, Agarak, and Dastakert
Dastakert
Dastakert is a town in the Syunik Province of Armenia. It is located on a distance of 236 km south to the capital Yerevan and 127 km north-west to the city of Kapan. Dastakert was known as a town since 1951. The town is situated on the foot of the mountain Airy, at the root of the river...
. The National Statistical Service of the Republic of Armenia
National Statistical Service of the Republic of Armenia
National Statistical Service of Republic of Armenia is the national statistical agency of Armenia.The statistical institution started its main activity from January 7, 1922 and was called Statistical Department of Soviet Socialist Republic of Armenia...
(ARMSTAT) reported its population was 152,900 in 2010, up from 152,684 at the 2001 census.
Historically, Syunik was one of the 15 provinces of the Kingdom of Armenia. At various times, the region of present-day Syunik has also been known by other names such as Syunia, Sisakan, and Zangezur. The area's many Armenian cultural sites (such as the Tatev monastery
Tatev
The Monastery of Tatev is a 9th century Armenian monastery located in the Tatev village in Syunik Province in southern Armenia. The term "Tatev" usually refers to the monastery. It stands on a plateau on the edge of the deep gorge of the Orotan River...
) testify to its rich history.
Geography
Syunik is a green but mountainous area. The high-water major rivers are the Meghri, VoghdjiVoghdji River
Voghdji is a river on the south slopes of the Lesser Caucasus range, and is a left tributary of Araks River. It flows over the territory of Armenia and Azerbaijan....
, and Vorotan. Summertime temperatures can reach more than 40°C, although the average temperature is around 22°C. Its border with Nakhchivan to the west is defined by the Zangezur Mountains
Zangezur Mountains
The Zangezur Mountains comprise a mountain range that defines the border between Armenia's southern province of Syunik and Azerbaijan's Nakhichevan Autonomous Republic. The second largest tracts of forests in Armenia are located in the Zangezur Mountains where they cover more than 20% of the...
.
Economy
Syunik is home to many of Armenia's largest mining operations (at KajaranKajaran
Qajaran is a city in the south of Armenia in the province of Syunik. The name translates from Armenian as "the place of the brave". It is located 356 km away from Yerevan, 25 km away from Kapan, the regional center, and 50 km from the border of Armenia and Iran. Qajaran forms an...
, Kapan
Kapan
-Notable landmarks:*Vahanavank monastery*Baghaberd and Halidzor Fortresses.*Tatev Monastery - This monastery, situated northwest of Kapan was founded in the ninth century in the place of an ancient tabernacle well-known in ancient times...
, Agarak) as well as the largest tailing dams (at Artzvanik, Voghtchi, Darazami, Geghanoush). The prospect of a uranium
Uranium
Uranium is a silvery-white metallic chemical element in the actinide series of the periodic table, with atomic number 92. It is assigned the chemical symbol U. A uranium atom has 92 protons and 92 electrons, of which 6 are valence electrons...
mine being exploited by the Russian State Nuclear Energy Corporation (Rosatom) in the village of Lernadzor has environmentalists and locals concerned.
History
Inscriptions found in the region around Lake SevanLake Sevan
Lake Sevan is the largest lake in Armenia and the Caucasus region. It is one of the largest high-altitude lakes in the world.Lake Sevan is situated in the central part of the Republic of Armenia, inside the Gegharkunik Province, at the altitude of 1,900m above sea level...
attributed to the same king (King Artashes I) confirm that in the 2nd century B.C. the District of Syunik constituted part of the Ancient Armenia.
Early rulers
The first dynasty to rule Syunik was the Siak, beginning in the 1st century. The first known ruler was Valinak Siak (c. 330). His successor was his brother Andok (c. 340).Syunik was occupied by the Persian Empire, c. 369. In 379, King Babik, son of Andok, was re-established as ruler by the Mamikonian
Mamikonian
Mamikonian, Mamikoneans, or Mamigonian was a noble family which dominated Armenian politics between the 4th and 8th century. They ruled the Armenian regions of Taron, Sasun, Bagrevand and others...
s. His sister, Pharantzem, was married to Gnel, nephew of Arshak II
Arshak II
Arshak II or Arsaces II, was the son of King Tiran and was himself king of Armenia from 350 to 367.- Reign :In the early years of Arshak's reign, he found himself courted by the empires of Rome and Persia, both of which hope to win Armenia to their side in the ongoing conflicts between them...
, King of Armenia. This lasted for less than ten years and by about 386 or 387, King Dara was deposed by the Persians.
King Valinak (c. 400-409) was followed by Vasak (409-452). Vasak had two sons, Bagben and Bakur, and a daughter who married Vasak's successor, Varazvahan (452-472). His son Gelehon ruled from 470 to 477 and died in 483. Babik (Bagben) the brother of Varazvahan, became the new king in 477. Hadz, brother of Gelehon, died on September 25, 482.
Syunik was later ruled by other kings: Vahan
Vahan
Vahan or Vahana is a Sanskrit word meaning 'vehicle.' More specifically it means 'a vehicle of consciousness'.'Vahan' may also refer to:* Vahan, Armenia - a town* VAHAN - an Armenian manufactured assault rifle...
c. 570, Philipo c. 580, Stephanos c. 590-597, Sahak c. 597, and Grigor
Grigor
Grigor may refer to:* Grigor , a masculine given name* Grigor , a surname...
until 640.
Late first millennium
A dynasty was formed, governed by a branch of the BagratuniBagratuni Dynasty
The Bagratuni, Bagratid or alternatively Pakradouni royal dynasty of Armenia was a royal family whose branches formerly ruled many regional polities, including the Armenian lands of Sper|presently Ispir in Tayk Province of the Armenian Kingdom, Bagrevand in Ayrarat Province of the Armenian...
, with minor vassal princes from one or more previous dynasties, perhaps of Persian origin. Vasak III (c. 800) suffered an assault from the emir
Emir
Emir , meaning "commander", "general", or "prince"; also transliterated as Amir, Aamir or Ameer) is a title of high office, used throughout the Muslim world...
of Manazkert
Malazgirt
Malazgirt is a town in Muş Province in eastern Turkey, with a population of 23,697 .-Founding:...
, Sevada. He established a garrison in Chalat, in the district of Dzoluk. He then called for help from the Persian revolutionary chief Babak Khorramdin
Babak Khorramdin
Bābak Khorram-Din was one of the main Persian revolutionary leaders of the Iranian Khorram-Dinān , which was a local freedom movement fighting the Abbasid Caliphate. Khorramdin appears to be a compound analogous to dorustdin and Behdin "Good Religion" , and are considered an offshoot of...
, who married a daughter of the king.
After Vasak III (821) died, Babak inherited the country, which revolted against him. Babak suppressed the revolt, but was harassed by both Muslims and 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....
. Finally, he abdicated and the children of Vasak, Philipo, and Sahak regained power. Philipo governed Eastern Syunik, with the districts of Vayots Dzor
Vayots Dzor
Vayots Dzor is a province of Armenia. It lies in the south-east of the country, bordering the Nakhichevan exclave of Azerbaijan in the west and the Azerbaijan in the east. It covers an area of 2,308 km². With a population of only 53,230 , it is the most sparsely populated province in the country...
and Balq (Goucha). Sahak governed in Western Syunik, also known as Gelarquniq, with capital in Khoth. These local dynasties disappeared during the ephemeral domination from Babak.
In 826, Sahak allied with his ancient enemy - Sevada, the Qaisite emir of Manazkert - against the governor of Caliph
Caliph
The Caliph is the head of state in a Caliphate, and the title for the ruler of the Islamic Ummah, an Islamic community ruled by the Shari'ah. It is a transcribed version of the Arabic word which means "successor" or "representative"...
, but he was defeated and died in Kavakert. His son Grigor-Sufan succeeded him as prince of Western Syunik. In the Eastern region, Philipo died on August 10, 848. He was succeeded by three children (Babgen, Vasak-Ichkhanik and Achot) that ruled jointly. Babgen fought with Grigor-Sufan and killed him (sometime in 849-851) but Babgen died shortly after (851) and Vasak-Ichkhanik (Vasak IV) followed him. Vasak-Ichkhanik had peaceful relations with Vasak-Gabor, who had ascended to the throne of Western Syunik, replacing his father Grigor-Sufan. Nerseh, brother of Babgen, directed (851?) an expedition to Aghuania
Caucasian Albania
Albania is a name for the historical region of the eastern Caucasus, that existed on the territory of present-day republic of...
defeating and killing the prince Varaz-Terdat (of the Persian dynasty Mihrakane of Aghuania) in Morgog. A general sent by the Caliph
Caliph
The Caliph is the head of state in a Caliphate, and the title for the ruler of the Islamic Ummah, an Islamic community ruled by the Shari'ah. It is a transcribed version of the Arabic word which means "successor" or "representative"...
, Bogha al-Kabir, destroyed Armenia and Aghuania in these years, and sent a detachment to Eastern Syunik where was governing Vasak IV with his brother Achot. The people of Syunik were sheltered in the fortress of Balq, but Vasak fled to Kotaiq, and was pursued to the region of Gardman
Gardman
Gardman was one of the eight districts of the ancient province of Utik' in the Kingdom of Armenia and simultaneously, together with the district of Tush, an Armenian principality. In the Early Middle Ages a feudal state of Gardman emerged on the area of Caucasian Albania...
on the eastern border of Lake Sevan
Lake Sevan
Lake Sevan is the largest lake in Armenia and the Caucasus region. It is one of the largest high-altitude lakes in the world.Lake Sevan is situated in the central part of the Republic of Armenia, inside the Gegharkunik Province, at the altitude of 1,900m above sea level...
. Gardman's prince (ichkhan) Ketridj or Ketritchn betrayed him and delivered him to Bogha (859). Achot was also seized (859). But Bogha invaded Gardman and imprisoned Kertridj. He then went to Outi where he captured the prince of Sevordiq, Stephannos Kun.
The Caliphate
Caliphate
The term caliphate, "dominion of a caliph " , refers to the first system of government established in Islam and represented the political unity of the Muslim Ummah...
tried to control all these regions, and for this reason Bogha decided to repopulate the city of Chamkor in the Kura
Kura
Kura may refer to:* Kura River in Turkey, Georgia and Azerbaijan* Kura River, Russia in Russia* Kura Test Range in Kamchatka Krai, Russia, a major ICBM testing site during the Cold War* Kura, Nigeria, a Local Government Area of Kano State...
river with Muslims. Chamkor, being near Barda
Barda, Azerbaijan
Barda is the capital city of the Barda Rayon in Azerbaijan, located south of Yevlax and on the left bank of the Terter river. Once an Armenian town, and later the capital of Caucasian Albania perhaps since the end of the fourth century, Barda became the chief city of the Islamic province of Arran,...
and Ganja, was intended to act as a regional monitoring post. By order of the new Caliph in 862, the imprisoned princes were to be released and allowed to return to their former domains on the condition of becoming Muslim. (However, they all abandoned Islam after their return.)
The prince of Western Syunik, Vasak-Gabor, was married to a daughter of the Bagratid prince Ashot the Great named Miriam, and received the title of Ichkhan from the Syunik people - delivered to him by Ashot in name of the Caliph. His successor was his son, Grigor-Sufan II (887-909). The prince of Eastern Syunik, Vasak IV, died around 887, and was followed by his brother Achot who died c. 906.
The son of Vasak IV, Sembat, that received the fiefdom
Fiefdom
A fee was the central element of feudalism and consisted of heritable lands granted under one of several varieties of feudal tenure by an overlord to a vassal who held it in fealty in return for a form of feudal allegiance and service, usually given by the...
from Vayots Dzor. Chahaponk (Jahuk) governed from 887 until sometime after 920. He revolted in 903 against the Bagratid Sembat I, refusing to pay him taxes. Because of this, he was assaulted by the prince of Vaspurakan
Vaspurakan
Vaspurakan was the first and biggest province of Greater Armenia, which later became an independent kingdom during the Middle Ages, centered around Lake Van...
, Sargis-Ashot. Sembat submitted, was forgiven and married to the sister of the prince of Vaspurakan, receiving the city and district of Nakhchivan, which in 902 was upset with the Kaysites
Kaysites
The Kaysite dynasty was a Muslim Arab dynasty that ruled an amirate centered in Manzikert from c. 860 until 964. Their state was the most powerful Arab amirate in Armenia after the collapse of the ostikanate of Arminiya in the late 9th century.-Origin:...
or Qaisids.
A few years later, the prince allied with the emir of Sadjid, Yusuf, against Eastern Syunik, which they invaded together. Sembat was sheltered in the fortress of Erendchak (today Alindja, northeast of Nakhchivan) and Yusuf remained owner of Eastern Syunik. Sembat requested refuge from his brother-in-law Khatchik-Gagik, which was granted. In the same year (909), the prince of Western Syunik, Grigor Sufan II, submitted to the emir Yusuf in Dwin. Only Byzantine
Byzantine Empire
The Byzantine Empire was the Eastern Roman Empire during the periods of Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages, centred on the capital of Constantinople. Known simply as the Roman Empire or Romania to its inhabitants and neighbours, the Empire was the direct continuation of the Ancient Roman State...
movements and the withdrawal of the Sadjids permitted him to recover the throne some time later. Sembat, with his three brothers Sahak, Babgen, and Vasak, governed again. Also in Western Syunik, Sahak, Ashot and Vasak, brothers of Grigor-Sufan II, were governing the country. After them the dynasty of Western Syunik became extinct and the territory was subsumed by the Muslims.
The eastern part remained divided: Sembat, which had the main title, governed the western part of the Eastern Syunik with the Vayots Dzor, bordered by Vaspurakan. Sahak governed the eastern part until the river Hakar. Babgen governed the district of the Balq, and Vasak (who died in 922) an indeterminate territory. Nasr, the emir of 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...
, captured territory through perfidy
Perfidy
In the context of war, perfidy is a form of deception, in which one side promises to act in good faith with the intention of breaking that promise once the enemy has exposed himself .The practice is specifically prohibited under the 1977 Protocol I Additional to the...
against Babgen and Sahak in Dwin. After the invasion, Sembat unseated Nasr and obtained the freedom of his brothers. Sembat was followed by his son Vasak, and Sahak in turn by his son Sembat. Vasak received the royal title from the Muslims at the end of his reign, which lasted until 963.
The throne was inherited by his nephew Sembat (963-998) who was recognized as king by the emirs of Tauris and of Arran
Arran (Azerbaijan)
Arran , also known as Aran, Ardhan , Al-Ran , Aghvank and Alvank , or Caucasian Albania , was a geographical name used in ancient and medieval times to signify the territory which lies within the triangle of land, lowland in the east and mountainous in the west, formed by the junction of Kura and...
. He was married to the princess of Aghuania, Chahandoukht. At his death, he was followed by Vasak (c. 998-1019). Vasak was succeeded by two nephews (the children of his sister and a Prince Achot) called Sembat and Grigor (1019–1084). The latter was married with the princess Chahandoukht, daughter of Sevada of Aghuania. The only successor to the two princes, was a daughter of Grigor's called Chahandoukht. Rule passed to the prince of Aghuania, Seneqerim Ioan who governed both territories from 1084 until his death in 1105. Seneqerim Ioan was followed by his son Grigor of Syunik and Aghuania, who governed until 1166, when the country was conquered by the Seljucids Turks.
Later, the Orbelian Dynasty
Orbelian Dynasty
The Orbelian lords of Syunik were a noble family, documented in inscriptions throughout Vayots Dzor and Syunik, and recorded by the family bishop Stepanos in his 1297 History of Syunik....
, one of whose members wrote an important history of the country, governed Syunik in times 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...
(Tamerlan) as vassals. Between mid-17th c and early 19th c, the region was part of the Karabakh khanate
Karabakh khanate
The Karabakh khanate was a semi-independent khanate on the territories of modern Azerbaijan and Armenia established in about 1750 under Persian suzerainty in Karabakh and adjacent areas. The Karabakh khanate existed until 1805, when the Russian Empire gained control over it from Persia...
of the Safavid Empire
Safavid dynasty
The Safavid dynasty was one of the most significant ruling dynasties of Iran. They ruled one of the greatest Persian empires since the Muslim conquest of Persia and established the Twelver school of Shi'a Islam as the official religion of their empire, marking one of the most important turning...
. It was during this period in the region's history that 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...
headed an armed struggled against the Safavids 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...
, both of which were fighting for control of the area.
Imperial Russian rule
Following the Russo-Persian War of 1804-1813Russo-Persian War (1804-1813)
The 1804-1813 Russo-Persian War, one of the many wars between the Persian Empire and Imperial Russia, began like many wars as a territorial dispute. The Persian king, Fath Ali Shah Qajar, wanted to consolidate the northernmost reaches of his Qajar dynasty by securing land near the Caspian Sea's...
, Syunik passed into Imperial Russian
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...
possession by the Treaty of Gulistan in 1813 together with the rest of the Karabakh khanate. The khanate was abolished by the Russian government in 1822. The region was first divided under 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...
and the Shemakha Governorate, after 1859 the Erivan Governorate and the Baku Governorate
Baku Governorate
Baku Governorate was one of the guberniyas of the Russian Empire, with its centre in Baku. Area : 34,4000 sq. verstas, population : 789,659. The only foreign border of the governorate was Persia, in the south...
. When the Elisabethpol Governorate
Elisabethpol Governorate
Elisabethpol Governorate or Elizavetpol Governorate was one of the guberniyas of the Russian Empire, with its centre in Elisabethpol . Its area was 44,136 sq. kilometres, and it had 878,415 inhabitants by 1897....
was established in 1868, the region became the Zangezur uyezd, with its seat of administration in Geryusy
Goris
Goris is a city in the Syunik Marz of Armenia. Located in the valley of river Goris , it is about 240 km away from the Armenian capital Yerevan and 70 km from the Syunik Marz center Kapan. Goris forms an urban community...
.
According to imperial census in 1897 total population of Zangezur uyezd constituted 137 971 people. 51.6 % of them were Azerbaijanis and 46,1 % were Armenians.
The beginning of 20th century saw an outbreak in ethnic tensions between the Armenian and Azerbaijani populations in the Caucasus, culminating in the Armenian-Tatar massacres
Armenian-Tatar massacres
The Armenian–Tatar massacres refers to the bloody inter-ethnic confrontation between Armenians and Azerbaijanis throughout the Caucasus in 1905–1907.The massacres started during the Russian Revolution of...
. Clashes occurred in Nakhichevan and Sharur-Daralgez uyezdy of the Erevan gubernia and in Zangezur, Shusha and Javanshir uezdy of Elizavetpol gubernia in 1905. According to Armenian sources 128 Armenian and 158 Azerbaijanian villages were "pillaged or destroyed" while the overall estimates of lives lost vary widely, ranging from 3,000 to 10,000, with Muslims suffering higher losses. During these events, the Armenians of Syunik were massacred "without distinction of sex or age" by Azeri forces.
Tensions were accelerated with the collapse 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...
. The region fell under the authority of the Special Transcaucasian Committee of the Russian Provisional Government
Russian Provisional Government
The Russian Provisional Government was the short-lived administrative body which sought to govern Russia immediately following the abdication of Tsar Nicholas II . On September 14, the State Duma of the Russian Empire was officially dissolved by the newly created Directorate, and the country was...
and subsequently the short-lived Transcaucasian Democratic Federative Republic
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.-...
. When the TDFR was dissolved in May 1918, Zangezur, Nakhchivan, and Nagorno-Karabakh
Nagorno-Karabakh
Nagorno-Karabakh is a landlocked region in the South Caucasus, lying between Lower Karabakh and Zangezur and covering the southeastern range of the Lesser Caucasus mountains...
became heavily contested between the newly formed and short-lived states of the Democratic Republic of Armenia
Democratic Republic of Armenia
The Democratic Republic of Armenia was the first modern establishment of an Armenian state...
(DRA) and the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic
Azerbaijan Democratic Republic
The Azerbaijan Democratic Republic was the first successful attempt to establish a democratic and secular republic in the Muslim world . The ADR was founded on May 28, 1918 after the collapse of the Russian Empire that began with the Russian Revolution of 1917 by Azerbaijani National Council in...
(ADR). At the time, Syunik had an Armenian majority of 350,000 and a Muslim population of 180,000. According to Thomas de Waal
Thomas de Waal
Thomas Patrick Lowndes de Waal , is a British journalist, writer and an expert on the Caucasus. Thomas is the son of Anglican priest Victor de Waal and of writer on religion Esther de Waal, brother of Africa specialist Alex de Waal, John de Waal, barrister and potter and writer Edmund de...
, the dispute over Syunik resulted in the ethnic cleansing of region's local Azeri minority through direct military action by Armenian guerilla commander Andranik
Andranik Toros Ozanian
Andranik Ozanian , Andranik Toros Ozanian , General Andranik , also as Antranik or Antranig was an Armenian general, political and public activist and freedom fighter, greatly admired as a national hero.-Early Age:Antranik Toros Ozanian was born in the church...
.
Soviet Syunik
Armenian forces eventually secured the region but their efforts were in vain when the BolshevikBolshevik
The Bolsheviks, originally also Bolshevists , derived from bol'shinstvo, "majority") were a faction of the Marxist Russian Social Democratic Labour Party which split apart from the Menshevik faction at the Second Party Congress in 1903....
s, successful in the Russian Civil War
Russian Civil War
The Russian Civil War was a multi-party war that occurred within the former Russian Empire after the Russian provisional government collapsed to the Soviets, under the domination of the Bolshevik party. Soviet forces first assumed power in Petrograd The Russian Civil War (1917–1923) was a...
, pushed deep into the Caucasus. Syunik was one of the last major holdouts of the DRA whose leaders were eventually expelled by incoming Soviet authorities to Iran. During Sovietization
Sovietization
Sovietization is term that may be used with two distinct meanings:*the adoption of a political system based on the model of soviets .*the adoption of a way of life and mentality modelled after the Soviet Union....
, Syunik became part of Soviet Armenia, while the two other disputed territories, Nakhchivan and Nagorno-Karabakh became part of Soviet Azerbaijan. It then became part of Armenia under the Transcaucasian SFSR
Transcaucasian SFSR
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...
and part of the Armenian SSR
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...
in 1936. Under Soviet rule, Syunik suffered a devastating earthquake in April 1931, leaving 80% of its villages destroyed. A subsequent earthquake hit the region in May during the same year, destroying 27 of 38 villages in the Sisian
Sisian
Sisian formerly also known as Sisakan, Sisavan and later Garakilse, is a city in the southern province of Syunik, Armenia. Located on both banks of Vorotan River, 6 km south of the Yerevan-Meghri highway, at a distance of 217 km from Yerevan and 115 km from Kapan. Sisian forms an urban...
district.
Despite the region's troubled early years in 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....
, it gradually began to recover with much of the area's infrastructure rebuilt and improved. During the Soviet era, Syunik was noted as a source of metal and ore production. However, the region was shook by the renewal of the conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh with neighboring Azerbaijan. In 1987-1989, the remaining Azeri inhabitants fled the region as a result of interethnic violence. This exodus of Azeri population made Syunik and Armenia in general more homogeneous.
Recent history
Since the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, Syunik has been a constituent part of the Republic of Armenia. The republic's southernmost province, it has become strategically and ecomically important for Armenia, sharing a border with Iran from which vital energy resources are exported. Recently, a new 140-kilometer-long Armenia-Iran pipelineIran-Armenia Natural Gas Pipeline
The Iran–Armenia gas pipeline is a long pipeline from Iran to Armenia. The long Iranian section runs from Tabriz to the Iran–Armenia border. The Armenian section runs from the Meghri region to Sardarian, and another of pipeline is planned to reach the center of the country, where it will link up...
has been opened that is "projected to supply Armenia with up to 1.1 billion cubic meters (bcm) of gas per year until 2019, when that supply target is expected to rise to 2.3 bcm annually." The new pipeline has attracted Armenia's northern neighbor, Georgia which seeks to lessen its dependence on energy from Russia. Also, 2 tombs and a cemetery were found between villages of Kornidzor and Khndzoresk in Goris region. These were built by Armenian architects during Kara Koyunlu
Kara Koyunlu
The Kara Koyunlu or Qara Qoyunlu, also called the Black Sheep Turkomans , were a Shi'ite Oghuz Turkic tribal federation that ruled over the territory comprising the present-day Armenia, Azerbaijan, north-western Iran, eastern Turkey and Iraq from about 1375 to 1468.The Kara Koyunlu Turkomans at one...
rule and were found by researchers of the Preservation Committee for Historical and Cultural Monuments of the Armenian Republic in 2000.
Communities
The province of Syunik consists of the following 109 communities (hamaynkner), of which 7 (bold in the table) are considered urban and 102 are considered rural. The division below is by raionRaion
A raion is a type of administrative unit of several post-Soviet countries. The term, which is from French rayon 'honeycomb, department,' describes both a type of a subnational entity and a division of a city, and is commonly translated in English as "district"...
, the administrative subdivisions of Armenia before 1995.
| Goris | Kapan | Sisian | Meghri |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Aghvani Aghvani is a village and rural community in the Syunik Province of Armenia. The National Statistical Service of the Republic of Armenia reported Agarak's population as 88 in 2010, down from 138 at the 2001 census.... Artsvanik Artsvanik is a village and rural community in the Syunik Province of Armenia. The National Statistical Service of the Republic of Armenia reported its population as 578 in 2010, down from 652 at the 2001 census.... Chakaten Chakaten is a village and rural community in the Syunik Province of Armenia. The National Statistical Service of the Republic of Armenia reported its population as 137 in 2010, down from 190 at the 2001 census.... Chapni Chapni 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 56 in 2010, down from 126 at the 2001 census.... Dzorastan Dzorastan 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 61 in 2010, down from 115 at the 2001 census.... Geghanush Geghanush is a village and rural community in the Syunik Province of Armenia.The community of Geghanush includes the villages of Geghanush and Gomaran. The National Statistical Service of the Republic of Armenia reported the community's population as 286 in 2010, down from 356 at the 2001... Geghi Geghi is a village and rural community in the Syunik Province of Armenia.Geghi community includes the villages of Geghi, Geghavank, Kard, Kitsq , Pirlu , and Qarut... Kaghnut Kaghnut is a village and rural community in the Syunik Province of Armenia. The National Statistical Service of the Republic of Armenia reported its population as 109 in 2010, down from 117 at the 2001 census.... Kapan -Notable landmarks:*Vahanavank monastery*Baghaberd and Halidzor Fortresses.*Tatev Monastery - This monastery, situated northwest of Kapan was founded in the ninth century in the place of an ancient tabernacle well-known in ancient times... Khdrants Khdrants is a village and rural community in the Syunik Province of Armenia. The National Statistical Service of the Republic of Armenia reported its population as 55 in 2010, down from 68 at the 2001 census.... Norashenik Norashenik 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 118 in 2010, down from 158 at the 2001 census.... Okhtar Okhtar 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 87 in 2010, down from 124 at the 2001 census.... Shikahogh Shikahogh is a village and rural community in the Syunik Province of Armenia. The name originated from meaning Red land. The National Statistical Service of the Republic of Armenia reported its population was 189 in 2010, down from 272 at the 2001 census.... Shrvenants Shrvenantz 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 76 in 2010, down from 72 at the 2001 census.... Srashen Srashen 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 91 in 2010, down from 105 at the 2001 census.... Syunik (village) Syunik is a village and rural community in the Syunik Province of Armenia.The community of Syunik contains the villages of Syunik, Bargushat, Ditsmayri, Khordzor, and Sznak. The National Statistical Service of the Republic of Armenia reported that the community's population was 1,294 in 2010,... Tandzaver Tandzaver 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 212 in 2010, down from 263 at the 2001 census.... Tsav, Armenia Tsav is a village and rural community in the Syunik Province of Armenia. It has fishfarm, school and clinic.The community of Tsav includes the villages of Tsav and Shishkert. The National Statistical Service of the Republic of Armenia reported the community's population as 351 in 2010, down... Uzhanis Ujanis 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 87 in 2010, down from 136 at the 2001 census.... Vanek, Armenia Vanek 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 71 in 2010, down from 83 at the 2001 census.... Verin Khotanan Verin Khotanan 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 199 in 2010, down from 295 at the 2001 census.... |
Aghitu Aghitu is a village and rural community in the Syunik Province of Armenia. The National Statistical Service of the Republic of Armenia reported its population as 304 in 2010, up from 209 at the 2001 census.... Akhlatyan Akhlatyan is a village and rural community in the Syunik Province of Armenia. The National Statistical Service of the Republic of Armenia reported its population as 459 in 2010, down from 588 at the 2001 census.... Angeghakot Angeghakot is a village and rural community in the Syunik Province of Armenia. The National Statistical Service of the Republic of Armenia reported its population as 2,057 in 2010, down from 1,860 at the 2001 census. A large reservoir Angeghakot Reservoir, spanning more than the length of the... Arevis Arevis is a village and rural community in the Syunik Province of Armenia. The National Statistical Service of the Republic of Armenia reported its population as 140 in 2010, up from 102 at the 2001 census.... Ashotavan Ashotavan is a village and rural community in the Syunik Province of Armenia. The National Statistical Service of the Republic of Armenia reported its population as 647 in 2010, up from 623 at the 2001 census.... Balak, Armenia Balak is a village and rural community in the Syunik Province of Armenia. The National Statistical Service of the Republic of Armenia reported its population as 213 in 2010, down from 223 at the 2001 census.... Bnunis Bnunis is a village and rural community in the Syunik Province of Armenia. The National Statistical Service of the Republic of Armenia reported its population as 188 in 2010, up from 163 at the 2001 census.... Darbas Darbas is a village and rural community in the Syunik Province of Armenia.The community of Darbas includes the villages of Darbas and Shamb. The National Statistical Service of the Republic of Armenia reported the community's population as 1,234 in 2010, up from 1,141 at the 2001 census.... Dastakert Dastakert is a town in the Syunik Province of Armenia. It is located on a distance of 236 km south to the capital Yerevan and 127 km north-west to the city of Kapan. Dastakert was known as a town since 1951. The town is situated on the foot of the mountain Airy, at the root of the river... Getatagh Getatagh is a village and rural community in the Syunik Province of Armenia. The town's church, Saint Astvatsatsin, dates from 1702. The National Statistical Service of the Republic of Armenia reported its population as 220 in 2010, up from 194 at the 2001 census.... Gorayk Gorayk is a village and rural community in the Syunik Province of Armenia. The National Statistical Service of the Republic of Armenia reported its population as 580 in 2010, down from 632 at the 2001 census. A large reservoir called Spandarian Reservoir lies to the southeast of the village.... Hatsavan, Syunik Hatsavan 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 280 in 2010, up from 262 at the 2001 census.... Lor, Armenia Lor is a village and rural community in the Syunik Province of Armenia. The National Statistical Service of the Republic of Armenia reported its population as 420 in 2010, up from 355 at the 2001 census.... Ltsen Ltsen is a village and rural community in the Syunik Province of Armenia. The National Statistical Service of the Republic of Armenia reported its population as 178 in 2010, up from 157 at the 2001 census.... Mutsk Mutsk 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 375 in 2010, down from 376 at the 2001 census.... Salvard Salvard 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 396 in 2010, down from 418 at the 2001 census.... Shaghat Shaghat 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 1,219 in 2010, up from 1,049 at the 2001 census.... Shaki, Armenia Shaki 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 1,611 in 2010, down from 1,390 at the 2001 census.... Shenatagh Shenatagh 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 422 in 2010, up from 390 at the 2001 census.... Sisian Sisian formerly also known as Sisakan, Sisavan and later Garakilse, is a city in the southern province of Syunik, Armenia. Located on both banks of Vorotan River, 6 km south of the Yerevan-Meghri highway, at a distance of 217 km from Yerevan and 115 km from Kapan. Sisian forms an urban... Spandaryan, Syunik Spandaryan 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 486 in 2010, up from 446 at the 2001 census... Tanahat Tanahat is a village and rural community in the Syunik Province of Armenia. The National Statistical Service of the Republic of Armenia reported its population as 76 in 2010, up from 42 at the 2001 census.... Tasik Tasik is a village and rural community in the Syunik Province of Armenia. The National Statistical Service of the Republic of Armenia reported its population as 291 in 2010, up from 274 at the 2001 census.... Tolors Tolors 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 450 in 2010, up from 406 at the 2001 census.... Torunik Torunik 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 138 in 2010, down from 181 at the 2001 census.... Tsghuk Tsghuk is a village and rural community in the Syunik Province of Armenia. The National Statistical Service of the Republic of Armenia reported its population as 451 in 2010, up from 427 at the 2001 census.... Uyts Uyts 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 586 in 2010, down from 453 at the 2001 census.... Vaghatin Vaghatin ; formerly, Vagudi and Vagudy) 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 756 in 2010, up from 631 at the 2001 census.... Vorotan, Sisian Vorotan 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 282 in 2010, down from 283 at the 2001 census.... |
Gudemnis Gudemnis is a village and rural community in the Syunik Province of Armenia. The National Statistical Service of the Republic of Armenia reported its population as 39 in 2010, down from 66 at the 2001 census.... Karchevan Karchevan 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 292 in 2010, down from 353 at the 2001 census.... Kuris, Armenia Kuris 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 61 in 2010, down from 112 at the 2001 census.... Lehvaz Lehvaz is a village and rural community in the Syunik Province of Armenia. The National Statistical Service of the Republic of Armenia reported its population as 605 in 2010, up from 541 at the 2001 census.... Lichk, Syunik Lichk is a village and rural community in the Syunik Province of Armenia. The National Statistical Service of the Republic of Armenia reported its population as 156 in 2010, down from 201 at the 2001 census.... Meghri Meghri is a city in southern Armenia, located in the Syunik province, near the border with Iran. The city's economy is based on the food industry, and contains a bread-baking factory, canneries and a winery. Meghri has a significantly milder climate than the rest of the cities in Armenia, and... Shvanidzor Shvanidzor is a village and rural community in the South-East of Armenia in Syunik province . It borders with Islamic Republic of Iran. Distance between the community and Yerevan – 410 km, between the community and Kapan regional center – 102 km, between the community and the main... Tashtun Tashtun 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 134 in 2010, down from 170 at the 2001 census.... Vahravar Vahravar 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 47 in 2010, down from 57 at the 2001 census.... Vardanidzor Vardanidzor is a village and rural community in the Syunik Province of Armenia.The community of Vardanidzor consists of the villages of Vardanidzor, Aygedzor, and Tkhkut. The National Statistical Service of the Republic of Armenia reported its population was 292 in 2010, up from 263 at the 2001... |