Transcaucasian Democratic Federative Republic
Encyclopedia
The Transcaucasian Democratic Federative Republic (TDFR, Закавказская демократическая Федеративная Республика (ЗКДФР), Zakavkazskaya Demokraticheskaya Federativnaya Respublika (ZKDFR), also known as the Transcaucasian Federation) (February 1918 – May 1918), was a short-lived state composed of the modern-day countries of Armenia
, Azerbaijan
, and Georgia
in the South Caucasus
.
, the Russian Provisional Government
installed the Special Transcaucasian Committee
(особый Закавказский Комитет (ОЗАКОМ), osobyy Zakavkazskiy Komitet (OZAKOM)) to govern the area.
, the first government of the independent Transcaucasia was created in Tbilisi. The "Transcaucasian Commissariat
(Sejm)" and "Transcaucasian Committee" existed for a couple of months following the Bolshevik seizure of power in St. Petersburg. The Sejm was headed by a Georgian Menshevik, Nikolay Chkheidze
.
On December 5, 1917, this new "Transcaucasian Committee" gave the endorsement to the Armistice of Erzincan
that was signed with the Ottoman command of the Third Army
.
On March 3, 1918, the armistice of Erzincan followed up with the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk
marking Russia's exit from World War I
. In the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk, the Ottoman Empire regained Batum, Kars
, and Ardahan
.
Between March 14 and April 1918 the Trabzon peace conference
was held between the Ottoman Empire and a delegation of the Sejm. On April 5, the head of the Transcaucasian delegation, Akaki Chkhenkeli
, accepted the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk as a basis for more negotiations and wired the governing bodies urging them to accept this position. The mood prevailing in Tbilisi was very different. Tbilisi acknowledged a state of war between itself and the Ottoman Empire. Shortly after, the Third Army began its advance and took Erzerum and Kars.
On May 11, 1918, a new peace conference opened at Batum. At this conference the Ottomans extended their demands to include Tiflis as well as Alexandropol and Echmiadzin, where they wanted to build a railroad to connect Kars and Julfa with Baku. The Armenian and Georgian members of the Republic’s delegation began to stall. Beginning on May 21, the Ottoman army moved ahead once again. The conflict led to the Battle of Sardarapat
(May 21–29), the Battle of Kara Killisse (1918)
(May 24–28), and the Battle of Bash Abaran
(May 21–24).
On May 26, 1918, Georgia (Democratic Republic of Georgia
) declared independence; two days later, on May 28, Armenia (Democratic Republic of Armenia
) and Azerbaijan (Azerbaijan Democratic Republic
) followed suit, dissolving the federation.
. The Armenians, Georgians, and Azerbaijanis made an attempt to establish regional military unity. The three nationalities placed their military forces under the command of the "Military Council of Nationalities".
The forces under the "Military Council of Nationalities" consisted of Armenian military units
that had been formed during the course of World War I
, Georgian forces raised by the Provisional Government, and Azerbaijani troops that had been raised independently without any central sanction.
The "Military Council of Nationalities" was short-lived. On May 28, 1918, Georgia signed the Treaty of Poti
with Germany, and welcomed the German Caucasus Expedition
, seeing the Germans as protectors against the havoc in post-Revolution Russia and the Ottoman military advances. Azerbaijan sided with the Ottoman Empire.
Each Nationality then went alone to try to defend itself.
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 Georgia
Georgia (country)
Georgia is a sovereign state in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded to the west by the Black Sea, to the north by Russia, to the southwest by Turkey, to the south by Armenia, and to the southeast by Azerbaijan. The capital of...
in the South Caucasus
South Caucasus
The South Caucasus is a geopolitical region located on the border of Eastern Europe and Southwest Asia also referred to as Transcaucasia, or The Trans-Caucasus...
.
History
After the February RevolutionFebruary Revolution
The February Revolution of 1917 was the first of two revolutions in Russia in 1917. Centered around the then capital Petrograd in March . Its immediate result was the abdication of Tsar Nicholas II, the end of the Romanov dynasty, and the end of the Russian Empire...
, 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...
installed the Special Transcaucasian Committee
Special Transcaucasian Committee
Special Transcaucasian Committee was established on March 9, 1917, with Member of the State Duma V. A...
(особый Закавказский Комитет (ОЗАКОМ), osobyy Zakavkazskiy Komitet (OZAKOM)) to govern the area.
Sejm
In November 1917, following the October RevolutionOctober Revolution
The October Revolution , also known as the Great October Socialist Revolution , Red October, the October Uprising or the Bolshevik Revolution, was a political revolution and a part of the Russian Revolution of 1917...
, the first government of the independent Transcaucasia was created in Tbilisi. The "Transcaucasian Commissariat
Transcaucasian Commissariat
The Transcaucasian Commissariat was established at Tbilisi on November 11, 1917, as the first government of the independent Transcaucasia and following the Bolshevik seizure of power in St...
(Sejm)" and "Transcaucasian Committee" existed for a couple of months following the Bolshevik seizure of power in St. Petersburg. The Sejm was headed by a Georgian Menshevik, Nikolay Chkheidze
Nikolay Chkheidze
Nikoloz Chkheidze was a Georgian Menshevik politician who helped to introduce Marxism to Georgia in the 1890s and played a prominent role in the Russian and Georgian revolutions of 1917 and 1918....
.
On December 5, 1917, this new "Transcaucasian Committee" gave the endorsement to 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...
that was signed with the Ottoman command of the Third 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...
.
TDFR
On February 10, 1918, the Sejm gathered and made the decision to establish independence. On February 24, 1918, The Sejm proclaimed the "Transcaucasian Democratic Federative Republic".On March 3, 1918, the armistice of Erzincan followed up with the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk
Treaty of Brest-Litovsk
The Treaty of Brest-Litovsk was a peace treaty signed on March 3, 1918, mediated by South African Andrik Fuller, at Brest-Litovsk between Russia and the Central Powers, headed by Germany, marking Russia's exit from World War I.While the treaty was practically obsolete before the end of the year,...
marking Russia's exit from 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...
. In the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk, the Ottoman Empire regained Batum, Kars
Kars Province, Ottoman Empire
Eyalet of Kars was an eyalet of the Ottoman Empire. Its reported area in the 19th century was .The town of Kars, which had been levelled to the ground by the Timur in 1368, was rebuilt as an Ottoman fortress in 1579 by Lala Mustafa Pasha, and became capital of an eyalet of six sanjaks and also a...
, and Ardahan
Ardahan
Ardahan is a city in northeastern Turkey, near the Georgian border.-Ancient and medieval:In Ancient times the region was called Gogarene, which is assumed to derive from the name of Gugars, who were a Proto-Kartvelian tribe...
.
Between March 14 and April 1918 the Trabzon peace conference
Trabzon Peace Conference
The Trabzon peace conference was a conference held between March and April of 1918 in Trabzon between the Ottoman Empire and a delegation of the Transcaucasian Diet and government. The opening session was on 14 March 1918. The representatives were Rear-Admiral Rauf Bey for the Ottoman Empire, and...
was held between the Ottoman Empire and a delegation of the Sejm. On April 5, the head of the Transcaucasian delegation, Akaki Chkhenkeli
Akaki Chkhenkeli
Akaki Chkhenkeli was a Georgian Marxist politician and publicist who acted as one of the leaders of the Menshevik movement in Russia and Georgia....
, accepted the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk as a basis for more negotiations and wired the governing bodies urging them to accept this position. The mood prevailing in Tbilisi was very different. Tbilisi acknowledged a state of war between itself and the Ottoman Empire. Shortly after, the Third Army began its advance and took Erzerum and Kars.
On May 11, 1918, a new peace conference opened at Batum. At this conference the Ottomans extended their demands to include Tiflis as well as Alexandropol and Echmiadzin, where they wanted to build a railroad to connect Kars and Julfa with Baku. The Armenian and Georgian members of the Republic’s delegation began to stall. Beginning on May 21, the Ottoman army moved ahead once again. The conflict led to 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...
(May 21–29), the Battle of Kara Killisse (1918)
Battle of Kara Killisse (1918)
The Battle of Karakilisa was a battle of Caucasus Campaign of World War I that took place in the vicinity of Vanadzor, in 1918. The outnumbered Armenian defenders managed to turn back the invading Ottoman forces, which broke the armistice, signed on December 1917, with Transcaucasian commissariat...
(May 24–28), and the Battle of Bash Abaran
Battle of Bash Abaran
The Battle of Bash Abaran was a battle of Caucasus Campaign of World War I that took place in the vicinity of Bash Abaran, in 1918. The Ottoman divisions attacked on May 21, but after three days of fierce combat the Armenians remained firm and the Ottoman regiments retreated in defeat.Armenian...
(May 21–24).
On May 26, 1918, Georgia (Democratic Republic of Georgia
Democratic Republic of Georgia
The Democratic Republic of Georgia , 1918–1921, was the first modern establishment of a Republic of Georgia.The DRG was created after the collapse of the Russian Empire that began with the Russian Revolution of 1917...
) declared independence; two days later, on May 28, Armenia (Democratic Republic of Armenia
Democratic Republic of Armenia
The Democratic Republic of Armenia was the first modern establishment of an Armenian state...
) and Azerbaijan (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...
) followed suit, dissolving the federation.
Military
Following the Russian Revolution, the breakup of the Russian Caucasus Army left the Caucasus virtually undefended against the advancing Third ArmyThird 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 Armenians, Georgians, and Azerbaijanis made an attempt to establish regional military unity. The three nationalities placed their military forces under the command of the "Military Council of Nationalities".
The forces under the "Military Council of Nationalities" consisted of Armenian military 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...
that had been formed during the course 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...
, Georgian forces raised by the Provisional Government, and Azerbaijani troops that had been raised independently without any central sanction.
The "Military Council of Nationalities" was short-lived. On May 28, 1918, Georgia signed the Treaty of Poti
Treaty of Poti
The Treaty of Poti was a provisional agreement between the German Empire and the Democratic Republic of Georgia in which the latter accepted German protection and recognition...
with Germany, and welcomed the German Caucasus Expedition
German Caucasus Expedition
The German Caucasus Expedition was a military expedition sent by the German Empire to the formerly Russian Transcaucasia during the Caucasus Campaign of the World War I...
, seeing the Germans as protectors against the havoc in post-Revolution Russia and the Ottoman military advances. Azerbaijan sided with the Ottoman Empire.
Each Nationality then went alone to try to defend itself.
Legislature
- 32 Social Democratic Menshevik party,
- 30 Musavat party,
- 27 were of the Armenian Revolutionary FederationArmenian Revolutionary FederationThe Armenian Revolutionary Federation is an Armenian political party founded in Tiflis in 1890 by Christapor Mikaelian, Stepan Zorian, and Simon Zavarian...
. (R. Zorian, H. OhanjanianHamo OhanjanyanHamo Ohanjanyan was an Armenian politician of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation. He served as the third Prime Minister of the Democratic Republic of Armenia from May 5 to November 25, 1920.-References:...
, H. Zavrian, H. Kachaznuni, S. Tigranian, Al. Khatisian, Kh. Karchikian, M. Haroutiunian)
See also
- Transcaucasian SFSR
- Armenian–Azerbaijani War
- Georgian–Armenian War 1918