Tovmas Nazarbekian
Encyclopedia
Tovmas Nazarbekian, commonly known as General Nazarbekov ' onMouseout='HidePop("19363")' href="/topics/Tbilisi">Tbilisi
– d. 1931 Tbilisi), was an Armenian general in the Russian Caucasus Army that appointed as the governor of the Administration for Western Armenia
and later promoted to commander-in-chief of Democratic Republic of Armenia
.
He was born to a wealthy Russianized family of Armenian descent. He attended military academy in Moscow
. His early military involvements include the Russo-Turkish War of 1877–78 and the Russo-Japanese War
of 1904–05.
Before the break of World War I
, he was appointed as a general to fight in the Caucasus
, initially at the Persian Campaign
. His military achievements include Battle of Dilman
over Khalil Pasha. He also commanded the forces that took the Bitlis
, in the dead of winter, had taken his army down through the mountains of east Anatolia to the plain of Mush. He engaged with the Ottoman 3rd Army at the Battle of Mush and captured the city Mush
. Later he moved toward Bitlis
. The success in Battle of Bitlis
set the furthermost position into the Anatolia. These military achievements set the wonderment of military critics both in Europe and America. At this position, he supported the British Mesopotamian Army by disturbing the support lines. He established the outposts which made possible the further advance of the British in the Mesopotamian campaign
. Undoubtedly the army would now be beyond Bitlis and in close co-operation with the British General Marshal. General Nazarbekoff, for his wonderful feat, had been decorated by the French Government.
In 1917, the chaos caused by the Russian Revolution put a stop to all Russian military operations and the regular Russian regiments deserted the frontline. In this situation, December 1917, the Armenian volunteer units
realigned themselves under the command of Nazarbekian, with Dro
as a civilian commissioner. Tiflis (Armenian Congress of Eastern Armenians
which united the Armenian National Council
s) collected 50,000 force under Nazarbekoff. On December 5, 1917, the Special Transcaucasian Committee
negotiated with the 3rd Army
the Armistice of Erzincan
, which froze the conflicts till February 7, 1918. Between December to February 7 the regiments of the Armenian Corps were immediately hustled off to the front. With the help of their Christian neighbors, Armenian forces increased its size until they have 150,000 armed men on the border. By the end of January, 1918, Nazarbekian's divisions occupied the major posts from Yerevan to Van and Erzinjan. In the following conflicts, he was driven back to Dilidjan
in May 1918. However, at Battle of Karakilisa he pushed the advancing Ottoman 3rd Army back for a few days, giving the Armenian forces time to prepare for the Battle of Sardarapat
.
During Sovietization of the Republic, he was arrested with other Armenian officers in January 1921, but released four months later. He settled in Tbilisi, where he remained till his death in 1931.
Tbilisi
Tbilisi is the capital and the largest city of Georgia, lying on the banks of the Mt'k'vari River. The name is derived from an early Georgian form T'pilisi and it was officially known as Tiflis until 1936...
– d. 1931 Tbilisi), was an Armenian general in the Russian Caucasus Army that appointed as the governor of the Administration for Western Armenia
Administration for Western Armenia
The Administration for Western Armenia was an temporary Armenian provisional government between 1915 and 1918, with the autonomous region initially set up around Lake Van after the Siege of Van of the Caucasus Campaign, with the leadership of Aram Manukian of Armenian Revolutionary Federation. It...
and later promoted to commander-in-chief of Democratic Republic of Armenia
Democratic Republic of Armenia
The Democratic Republic of Armenia was the first modern establishment of an Armenian state...
.
He was born to a wealthy Russianized family of Armenian descent. He attended military academy in Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
. His early military involvements include the Russo-Turkish War of 1877–78 and the Russo-Japanese War
Russo-Japanese War
The Russo-Japanese War was "the first great war of the 20th century." It grew out of rival imperial ambitions of the Russian Empire and Japanese Empire over Manchuria and Korea...
of 1904–05.
Before the break of World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, he was appointed as a general to fight in 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...
, initially at the Persian Campaign
Persian Campaign
The Persian Campaign or Invasion of Persia was a series of engagements at northern Persian Azerbaijan and western Persia between the British Empire and the Russian Empire against the Ottoman Empire, beginning in December 1914 and ending with the Armistice of Mudros on October 30, 1918 as part of...
. His military achievements include Battle of Dilman
Battle of Dilman
The Battle of Dilman was a battle fought at Dilman between the Russian Empire and the Ottoman Empire which resulted in a Russian victory under Tovmas Nazarbekian. Apart from the Armenian officers who served under Tovmas Nazarbekian's battalions of the Russian Caucasus Army, the Armenians also ran...
over Khalil Pasha. He also commanded the forces that took the Bitlis
Bitlis
Bitlis is a town in eastern Turkey and the capital of Bitlis Province. The town is located at an elevation of 1,400 metres, 15 km from Lake Van, in the steep-sided valley of the Bitlis River, a tributary of the Tigris. The local economy is mainly based on agricultural products which include...
, in the dead of winter, had taken his army down through the mountains of east Anatolia to the plain of Mush. He engaged with the Ottoman 3rd Army at the Battle of Mush and captured the city Mush
Mush
Mush may refer to:*mush , a kind of corn pudding or porridge*mushing , a sport or transport method powered by dogs or a command to a dog team*Muş Province , in eastern Turkey**Muş , the capital of Muş Province...
. Later he moved toward Bitlis
Bitlis
Bitlis is a town in eastern Turkey and the capital of Bitlis Province. The town is located at an elevation of 1,400 metres, 15 km from Lake Van, in the steep-sided valley of the Bitlis River, a tributary of the Tigris. The local economy is mainly based on agricultural products which include...
. The success in Battle of Bitlis
Battle of Bitlis
The Battle of Bitlis refers to a series of engagements in the summer of 1916 for the city of Bitlis and to a lesser extent nearby Muş, between the Russian Imperial forces and their Ottoman counterparts....
set the furthermost position into the Anatolia. These military achievements set the wonderment of military critics both in Europe and America. At this position, he supported the British Mesopotamian Army by disturbing the support lines. He established the outposts which made possible the further advance of the British in the Mesopotamian campaign
Mesopotamian Campaign
The Mesopotamian campaign was a campaign in the Middle Eastern theatre of World War I fought between the Allies represented by the British Empire, mostly troops from the Indian Empire, and the Central Powers, mostly of the Ottoman Empire.- Background :...
. Undoubtedly the army would now be beyond Bitlis and in close co-operation with the British General Marshal. General Nazarbekoff, for his wonderful feat, had been decorated by the French Government.
In 1917, the chaos caused by the Russian Revolution put a stop to all Russian military operations and the regular Russian regiments deserted the frontline. In this situation, December 1917, the Armenian volunteer units
Armenian volunteer units
Armenian volunteer units, also known the Armenian volunteer corps were Armenian battalions in Russian and British armies during the World War I. Majority of these units support the military activities at the Middle Eastern theatre of World War I. The origin of these units were varied. Some units...
realigned themselves under the command of Nazarbekian, with Dro
Drastamat Kanayan
General 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...
as a civilian commissioner. Tiflis (Armenian Congress of Eastern Armenians
Armenian Congress of Eastern Armenians
The Armenian Congress of Eastern Armenians was established in October 1917. It united the Armenian National Councils all around the Russian Armenia....
which united the Armenian National Council
Armenian National Council
Armenian National Council is a term that refers to*Armenian National Council of Karabagh was also referred as People's Government of Karabagh before the rename in September 1918*Armenian National Council of Baku*Armenian National Council of Tiflis...
s) collected 50,000 force under Nazarbekoff. On December 5, 1917, the Special Transcaucasian Committee
Special Transcaucasian Committee
Special Transcaucasian Committee was established on March 9, 1917, with Member of the State Duma V. A...
negotiated with the 3rd Army
Third Army (Ottoman Empire)
The Ottoman Third Army was originally established in the Balkans and later defended the northern and eastern parts of the Ottoman Empire. Its initial headquarters was at Salonica. With the onset of World War I, it moved to Erzurum Fortress. The headquarters was moved to Susehir after the Battle...
the Armistice of Erzincan
Armistice of Erzincan
The Armistice of Erzincan or Erzincan Armistice ended the armed conflicts between Russia and Ottoman Empire in the Persian Campaign and Caucasus Campaign of the Middle Eastern theatre of World War I. It was signed by the Russians and Ottoman Third Army in Erzincan on December 5, 1917...
, which froze the conflicts till February 7, 1918. Between December to February 7 the regiments of the Armenian Corps were immediately hustled off to the front. With the help of their Christian neighbors, Armenian forces increased its size until they have 150,000 armed men on the border. By the end of January, 1918, Nazarbekian's divisions occupied the major posts from Yerevan to Van and Erzinjan. In the following conflicts, he was driven back to Dilidjan
Dilijan
Dilijan is a spa town in Armenia, located in the northern Armenian province of Tavush. It is one of the most important resorts of Armenia, situated in Dilijan National Park. The forested and reclusive city is home to numerous Armenian artists, composers, and filmmakers and features some...
in May 1918. However, at Battle of Karakilisa he pushed the advancing Ottoman 3rd Army back for a few days, giving the Armenian forces time to prepare for the Battle of Sardarapat
Battle of Sardarapat
The Battle of Sardarabad or Battle of Sardarapat was a battle of the Caucasus Campaign of World War I that took place near Sardarabad , Armenia from May 21-29, 1918...
.
During Sovietization of the Republic, he was arrested with other Armenian officers in January 1921, but released four months later. He settled in Tbilisi, where he remained till his death in 1931.