Zangezursky Uyezd
Encyclopedia
Zangezursky Uyezd was one of the uyezd
s (administrative units) of Elisabethpol Governorate
of the Russian Empire
with its center in Gorysy from 1868 until its formal abolition in 1921 by Soviet authorities.
, Zangezursky, Kazakhsky
, Areshsky
, Dzhebrailsky
, and Dzhevanshirsky Uyezds. Zangezur uyezd was located in the southwestern part of Elisabethpol Governorate bordering its Javanshir Uyezd
on the north, Jabrayil and Shusha uyezds on the east, Persian Empire on the south, and Erivan Governorate
on the west. The area covered 6,829.7 square verst
.
Almost all of the area is mountainous with many gorges and valleys of Lesser Caucasus
mountain range. The altitude ranges from 10 thousand feet to 12,855 feet at Mount Kapudzhukh
, a range dividing Elisabethpol from Erivan governorate. The rivers in Zangezur uyezd are located within Aras River basin. Bergushad (Bazarchay), Chaundur-chay, Basut-chay, Megri-chay played an important role in irrigation system of the uyezd. Gorysy settlement served as the uyezd center.
until the end of the 12th century, Azerbaijani Turkic states and Persian Empire. Before its transfer to the Russian Empire in 1813, the uyezd was part of Karabakh Khanate
. In 1850's, Zangezur was part of Shemakha (later Baku Governorate) and Erivan Governorates. With the establishment of Elisabethpol Governorate on February 25, 1868, Zangezur was founded as an uyezd from parts of Shusha uyezd, Baku Governorate and Ordubad Uyezd of Erivan Governorate. After the fall of Russian Empire, Karabakh, Nakhchivan and Zangezur became a subject to Armenian-Azerbaijani territorial disputes. Once the British forces took over Baku
in 1918, General V.Thomson, who represented the Allied Powers, recognized Nagorno Karabakh along with Zangezur uyezd as Azerbaijani territory. He confirmed the appointment by the Government of Azerbaijan of Khosrov bey Sultanov
as the Governor of the Karabakh General-Governorship, which included these two regions. In 1919 the Armenian Assembly of Nagorno Karabakh recognized the authority of Azerbaijan. After establishment of Soviet rule in the region, Zangezur was ceded to Armenia by Azerbaijan SSR
as a "symbol of friendship".
, 63,622 were Armenians
, 1,807 - Kurds
, 1,006 - Russians and other minorities. There were 326 villages. The population was engaged primarily in agricultural farming, gardening, sericulture, cotton-growing, cattlebreeding and development of copper fields. The lowland area was used for growing cotton, which produced 20 thousand pounds of cotton per year. Vineyards covered as much as 4,494 desyatinas of land, producing 106,860 lbs of grape. Nearly 3,728 lbs of silk pods were being collected in 1890. According to statistical data from 1891, there were 9,784 horses, 83,000 of cattle, 780 buffalos, 133,648 sheep, 4,600 goats, 7,008 donkeys, 1,505 mules.
Uyezd
Uyezd or uezd was an administrative subdivision of Rus', Muscovy, Russian Empire, and the early Russian SFSR which was in use from the 13th century. Uyezds for most of the history in Russia were a secondary-level of administrative division...
s (administrative units) of 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....
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...
with its center in Gorysy from 1868 until its formal abolition in 1921 by Soviet authorities.
Geography
Elisabethpol Governorate consisted of Yelizavetpolsky, Nukhisky, ShushaShushinsky Uyezd
Shushinsky Uyezd , was one of the uyezds of Elisabethpol Governorate of the Russian Empire, and then of Ganja Governorate of Azerbaijan Democratic Republic with its center in Shusha in 1840–1921.-Geography:...
, Zangezursky, Kazakhsky
Kazakhsky Uyezd
Kazakhsky Uyezd was one of the uyezds of Elisabethpol Governorate of the Russian Empire and then of Azerbaijan Democratic Republic with its center in Qazax from 1868 until its formal abolition in 1929 by Soviet authorities....
, Areshsky
Areshsky Uyezd
Areshsky Uyezd was one of the uyezds of Elisabethpol Governorate of the Russian Empire and then of Azerbaijan Democratic Republic with its center in Agdash from 1874 until its formal abolition in 1929 by Soviet authorities....
, Dzhebrailsky
Dzhebrailsky Uyezd
Dzhebrailsky Uyezd was one of the uyezds of Elisabethpol Governorate of the Russian Empire with its center in Jabrayil from 1868 until its formal abolition in 1921 by the Soviet authorities.-Geography:...
, and Dzhevanshirsky Uyezds. Zangezur uyezd was located in the southwestern part of Elisabethpol Governorate bordering its Javanshir Uyezd
Javanshir Uyezd
Dzhevanshirsky Uyezd also spelled as Jevanshir Uyezd, was one of the uyezds of Elisabethpol Governorate of the Russian Empire, with its center in Tartar in 1869–1918.-Geography:...
on the north, Jabrayil and Shusha uyezds on the east, Persian Empire on the south, and 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...
on the west. The area covered 6,829.7 square verst
Verst
A verst or werst is an obsolete Russian unit of length. It is defined as being 500 sazhen long, which makes a verst equal to 1.0668 kilometres ....
.
Almost all of the area is mountainous with many gorges and valleys of Lesser Caucasus
Lesser Caucasus
Lesser Caucasus is one of the two main mountain ranges of Caucasus mountains, of length about 600 km....
mountain range. The altitude ranges from 10 thousand feet to 12,855 feet at Mount Kapudzhukh
Mount Kapudzhukh
Kapudzhukh is a mountain in the Caucasus. It is tall and is on the international border between Armenia and Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic, an exclave of Azerbaijan....
, a range dividing Elisabethpol from Erivan governorate. The rivers in Zangezur uyezd are located within Aras River basin. Bergushad (Bazarchay), Chaundur-chay, Basut-chay, Megri-chay played an important role in irrigation system of the uyezd. Gorysy settlement served as the uyezd center.
History
During the Armenian rule, it was part of the Armenian province of SyunikSyunik
Syunik is the southernmost province 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...
until the end of the 12th century, Azerbaijani Turkic states and Persian Empire. Before its transfer to the Russian Empire in 1813, the uyezd was part of 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...
. In 1850's, Zangezur was part of Shemakha (later Baku Governorate) and Erivan Governorates. With the establishment of Elisabethpol Governorate on February 25, 1868, Zangezur was founded as an uyezd from parts of Shusha uyezd, Baku Governorate and Ordubad Uyezd of Erivan Governorate. After the fall of Russian Empire, Karabakh, Nakhchivan and Zangezur became a subject to Armenian-Azerbaijani territorial disputes. Once the British forces took over Baku
Baku
Baku , sometimes spelled as Baki or Bakou, is the capital and largest city of Azerbaijan, as well as the largest city on the Caspian Sea and of the Caucasus region. It is located on the southern shore of the Absheron Peninsula, which projects into the Caspian Sea. The city consists of two principal...
in 1918, General V.Thomson, who represented the Allied Powers, recognized Nagorno Karabakh along with Zangezur uyezd as Azerbaijani territory. He confirmed the appointment by the Government of Azerbaijan of Khosrov bey Sultanov
Khosrov bey Sultanov
Khosrov bey Sultanov Pasha bey oglu , also spelled as Khosrow Sultanov, was an Azerbaijani statesman, General Governor of Karabakh and Minister of Defense of Azerbaijani Democratic Republic.-Early life:...
as the Governor of the Karabakh General-Governorship, which included these two regions. In 1919 the Armenian Assembly of Nagorno Karabakh recognized the authority of Azerbaijan. After establishment of Soviet rule in the region, Zangezur was ceded to Armenia by Azerbaijan SSR
Azerbaijan SSR
The Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic , also known as the Azerbaijan SSR for short, was one of the republics that made up the former Soviet Union....
as a "symbol of friendship".
Population
According to census held in 1897, the population of uyezd was 137,871, of which 71,206 were Azerbaijani TurksAzerbaijani 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...
, 63,622 were 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....
, 1,807 - 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...
, 1,006 - Russians and other minorities. There were 326 villages. The population was engaged primarily in agricultural farming, gardening, sericulture, cotton-growing, cattlebreeding and development of copper fields. The lowland area was used for growing cotton, which produced 20 thousand pounds of cotton per year. Vineyards covered as much as 4,494 desyatinas of land, producing 106,860 lbs of grape. Nearly 3,728 lbs of silk pods were being collected in 1890. According to statistical data from 1891, there were 9,784 horses, 83,000 of cattle, 780 buffalos, 133,648 sheep, 4,600 goats, 7,008 donkeys, 1,505 mules.