Appeal of Catholicos Hovhannes of Gandzasar to Catherine II Requesting Confirmation of the Patronage Status Granted to the Armenians by Peter I and Catherine I January 22, 1783
<…> We, the Armenians residing in Karabakh and Hamsa, I—an unworthy patriarch and servant—Melik Atam, together with the bishops, priests, five meliks, yuzbashis, the entire army, and all inhabitants—thirty thousand households—prostrate ourselves as the most faithful servants of Your Majesty, offering our lives and humbly beseeching the most generous sovereign to grant us the supreme patronage and imperial grace.
Most gracious Empress, may You take pleasure in Your unparalleled magnanimity towards numerous Christians who are subjected to the yoke of suffering under foreign peoples, having no hope from anywhere but from Your Majesty—the adornment of the entire world and the zealous defender of the glory of the life-giving Cross of Christ. We, Your most humble servants, sincerely hope to obtain deliverance and patronage through our acceptance into Your imperial grace.
Do not forsake us, Your servants, but strengthen and encourage us with an authoritative and reaffirming decree, as was done previously by Your most illustrious ancestors—the blessed and eternally glorious memory of Emperor Peter the Great and Empress Catherine Alexeyevna the First—who granted privileges to the patriarchs Isaiah and Nestor, the meliks, yuzbashis, and the entire Armenian people in the years 1724 and 1726.
Since our ancestors were devoted to the rule of Russian autocracy, let us—the lowliest—patriarchs, bishops, priests, meliks, landowners, yuzbashis, and the entire military and civil community—remain steadfast in our complete obedience and loyalty. Our universal aspiration is to serve Your supreme majesty faithfully and to dedicate our entire lives to fulfilling Your decrees for generations to come.
For this reason, we most humbly implore Your imperial highness to embrace us, Your unfortunate subjects, in Your maternal arms, not to reject our plea, nor to deprive us of Your protection. May Your sovereign and autocratic person remain in health for the glory of Almighty God and for the greatest benefit of all Christendom and Your most humble subjects dwelling in Armenia.
This petition was written on January 22, 1783, from the Holy Throne of St. John the Baptist, in the land of Aghvan, in the province of Gandzasar in Hamsa.
Source: RGVA, F. 52, Op. 1/19-4, D. 270, L. 89-90, Copy. Published in the collection: Armeno-Russian Relations in the 18th Century (1760-1800), Vol. IV, Yerevan, 1990, Document No. 128. (Highlighted by us – Yu.B.).
Memorandum of Prince G. Potemkin to Catherine II Describing the Situation in Karabakh Based on the Materials of Dr. J. Reinegg’s Mission to Armenia in the Winter of 1782-1783 February 9, 1783
Extract from the letters of Dr. Reineggs <…> All the meliks are ready to allow our troops into their fortified locations, to provide for them, and to make all necessary provisions. The gathering concluded as daylight arrived. Melik Adam, chosen to manage affairs, began preparing the most humble petitions, while the patriarch, in the meantime, traveled to Khor Virap to perform religious rites at the tomb of Saint Gregory. <…> The fate of Aderbijan depends on the arrival of our troops to Irakli, and the Armenians would be freed from their tyrant. All the provinces—Karabakh, Karadag, Ganja, Goi, Urmia, along with Derbent, Gilan, Baku, and Mazandaran—lack hereditary princes and have become the prey of marauders. Thirty thousand Armenian families in the districts of Karabakh and Karadag, according to the meliks’ assurances, will overthrow the yoke of slavery in just two days if Russian soldiers appear in Georgia. Regardless of whether the Armenians will be recognized as Russian subjects or be granted an appropriate ruler, one only needs to glance at the map to see that from Enzeli, it is a three-day journey by large boats along the Kura River to Kurkarishan in Karabakh, five days from there to Yerevan, and three more days from Yerevan to Goi.
The doctor, describing the fertility of this land, also mentions the industriousness and diligence of its inhabitants and the great need they have for protection. At the very moment of sending this letter, he received news that Fath Ali Khan of Derbent was advancing on Ibrahim Khan of Karabakh with six thousand Lezgins, who had attacked him two months prior but were subdued by an order sent by General Potemkin.
To put an end to these national misfortunes, military intervention in the region is required. <…> <…>
Source: RGVA, F. 52, Op. 2, D. 90, L. 3-7 ob. Copy. Published in the collection: Armeno-Russian Relations in the 18th Century (1760-1800), Vol. IV, Yerevan, 1990, Document No. 132. (Highlighted by us – Yu.B.).
Report of General P. Potemkin to Prince G. Potemkin
Explaining the Motives and the Form of Address to Fath Ali Khan of Derbent Regarding His Invasion of Karabakh Fortress of St. George, February 21, 1783
In response to the urgent requests of the Georgian King Irakli and in order to prevent the Christians living in the Karadag district from falling under the bloodthirsty sword of Fath Ali Khan of Derbent, I dispatched a messenger with a letter urging him not only to refrain from encroaching upon the Georgian borders but also not to harm the Christians.
Although it is difficult to conclude that Fath Ali Khan, having gathered a force composed of various individuals, without necessary preparations, supplies, or proper compensation for his troops beyond plunder, could remain in these lands for long, I considered one possible course of action—to write to him in polite and diplomatic terms, hoping to deter him from further devastation of the Christian population.
Nonetheless, I await Your Highness’s instructions on how I should act should he reject my proposal and continue his barbaric actions against the Armenians.
Lieutenant General Potemkin
Source: RGVA, F. 52, Op. 1/194, D. 286, Part 3, L. 52 ob. Original. Published in the collection: Armeno-Russian Relations in the 18th Century (1760-1800), Vol. IV, Yerevan, 1990, Document No. 136. (Highlighted by us – Yu.B.)
Letter from Karabakh Meliks Adam and Abov
To General P. Potemkin, Commander of Russian Forces in the Caucasus Listing the Meliks Ready to Join Forces with the Russian Military March 4, 1783
Translation from Armenian:
We report on the various meliks and settlements residing within our territories:
- Melik Atam Israilev of Chalaberd
- Melik Abov Iosifov of Talish
- Melik Shah Nazar Huseinov of Varanda
- Melik Bakhtam Aramov of Dizak
- Melik Alaverdy Mirzakhanyan of Khachen
- Melik Harutyun Manatsakanyan of Ketashen
- Melik Kaspar Yavrinov of Kendzha
- Melik Kapriel Voskanapat of Voskanapat
- Melik David Borhodarov of Tegu
- Iosif Ivanov of Zangezur
- Additionally, Shemadians and Shamkhor residents
Upon the arrival of Russian troops, all of the aforementioned individuals will be ready to provide their services.
These settlements are vast and rich with wheat, barley, millet, grapes, pomegranates, quinces, pears, apples, figs, fishing rivers, and various wild animals. Additionally, the region holds silver, copper, and other mineral ores, as well as freshwater springs. The people of these territories are militarily courageous. Further details may be reported by Mikirtich.
Attached to the original document are two ink seals:
- Melik Adam of Chalaberd
- Melik Osip of Talish
Notation: No. 61. Received on April 6, 1783.
Source: RGADA, F. 23, Op. 1, D. 13, Part 3/1, L. 141. Translation from Armenian, contemporary with the original. Published in Armeno-Russian Relations in the 18th Century (1760-1800), Vol. IV, Yerevan, 1990, Document No. 137a. (Highlighted by us – Yu.B.)
Letter from Catholicos Hovhannes and the Karabakh Meliks to General P. Potemkin
Regarding Russia’s Intention to Liberate the Armenians of Karabakh from Foreign Oppression and the Readiness of the Armenians to Rise Against Their Oppressors March 5, 1783
Translation from Armenian:
Most noble and most excellent General-Lieutenant, Knight of various orders, most gracious Lord Pavel Sergeyevich!
I, the humblest servant of Jesus Christ, an Armenian of the sacred monastery of Gandzasar in the land of Aghvan, the lowly Patriarch Hovhannes, upon receiving Your Excellency’s blessing, have the honor to most respectfully report that the messenger Kapriel, sent by Your Excellency with a letter from the Armenian Archbishop Joseph, has delivered it here. In this letter, the supreme imperial favor and Your Excellency’s benevolence regarding the liberation of the Armenian people and the provinces from the rule and yoke of foreign rulers are expressed, as well as the acceptance of our people under the protection of Her Imperial Majesty.
Just as the blessed memory of the eternally glorious Emperor Peter the Great had intended, when our people, following his example, rose against the Turks and Persians in war and continued the struggle for over ten years, only to be ultimately subdued by Nadir Shah, we now, expecting new grace for our salvation, are filled with great joy and have prepared ourselves for liberation from the yoke of the infidels.
With all five of our provinces, together with the spiritual patriarch, bishops, centurions, elders, and the entire community, we stand ready to take up arms courageously and without hesitation when commanded, sacrificing our lives for the cause. Regarding the sustenance of troops in both summer and winter, we dare to report that during the presence of Persian Nadir Shah’s army of three hundred thousand men in Karabakh for three years, the Armenian people here never suffered shortages. Thus, we are confident that we can support the Russian army, numbering up to thirty thousand men, for twenty or even thirty years without any deficiency.
We humbly request Your Excellency’s swift arrival, as the local rulers, upon hearing of the approach of Russian forces, are gripped with extreme fear and are inclined to submit to Russia. However, any delay in Your arrival may cause the local population to doubt the sincerity of Your intentions.
Regarding the placement of Russian troops, we are well aware of the abundance of suitable locations for their stay. In winter, they may reside in the settlements of Arpaut and Mugan, rich in fodder and warmth, where even Nadir Shah once stationed his forces. In summer, they may be positioned in the mountains, where the air is light, near springs and fertile pastures, capable of sustaining vast numbers of troops.
We sincerely desire Your victorious arrival with thirty thousand troops or more, whom we can fully provide for without any hardship. The local rulers—Fath Ali Khan, Muhammad Said Khan, Agasi Khan of Shemakha, Aji Khan of Sheki, and Hasan Khan of Talysh—have previously attacked and caused some devastation to the Armenian people, but not as severely as they did to others. Our Shushi ruler, Ibrahim Khan, is in deep conflict with Fath Ali Khan, while the rulers of Tabriz, Khoi, and Urmia treat Ibrahim Khan favorably due to their fear of Russia.
Thus, we implore You to arrive as soon as possible. The messenger sent by Your Excellency can verbally report further details regarding the situation here.
Attached to the original letter are the seals of:
- Patriarch Hovhannes
- Archbishop Melchizedek
- Bishop Isaiah
- Bishop Gregory
- Bishop Hovhannes
- Bishop Jacob
- Bishop Eleazar
- Bishop Israel
- Melik Adam Israilev
- Melik Abov Osipov
- Melik Daniel Bekianov
- Kapriel Jalalianov
- Melik Bek Jalalianov
- Melik Israel Begianov
Written at the gates of the Holy Monastery of Gandzasar, March 5, 1783.
Notation: The original was sent to His Serene Highness Prince Grigory Alexandrovich Potemkin. No. 60. Received on April 6, 1783.
Source: RGADA, F. 23, Op. 1, D. 13, Part 3/1, L. 139-140 ob. Copy. Published in Armeno-Russian Relations in the 18th Century (1760-1800), Vol. IV, Yerevan, 1990, Document No. 139a. (Highlighted by us – Yu.B.)
Yuri Barsegov “Nagorno-Karabakh in International Law and Global Politics”
Artatsolum
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