Contents of the Secret Letters from the Armenian Assembly and the Armenian Army of Karabakh to the Russian Emperor and Chancellor August 1724

Excerpt Regarding the Arrival of Priest Antony, Kevkhe Chelebi, and Priest Peter from Astrakhan

General-Lieutenant Matyushkin, in his report to the College of Foreign Affairs dated May 17 of this year, relayed various letters and statements received from Baku through Brigadier Prince Boryatinsky, forwarded via Captain Netesov. Among other things, his report states:

The Brigadier also sent intelligence from the militia leader Isai Bek, who had been dispatched by Kakhetian Mamat-Kuli, along with Armenian priest Anton, who had been sent from Baku to the Armenian army together with Armenian Karapet. These letters include:

A translation of the letter from Armenian Patriarch Esai to the commander of Baku, dated March 17, which was delivered by Armenian Yakov Kasparov from the Armenian military assembly on March 24. In his letter, the Patriarch made no mention of the dispatch of the aforementioned priests and Chelebi, stating only their desire to be under the protection of His Imperial Majesty and their hope for the swift return of their envoy.

A translation of an Armenian letter brought by Karabakh priest Peter on March 24. This letter was addressed to the commanders of Baku and Derbent, requesting that assistance be provided to their envoys in reaching His Imperial Majesty. However, the letter lacks information on its author, the date it was written, and the identities of those sent. At the bottom of the translation, it is noted that the original letter was read by Priest Anton Arakelov and translated by Armenians Varlam and Peter.

In Baku, on March 24—the same date when the aforementioned letters were received—Priest Antony was interrogated. He only reported that Karapet had safely arrived at the Patriarch and yuzbashis, and confirmed their reception. However, there was no record in the interrogation that he and his companions had been dispatched by the assembled forces with a verbal report.

A copy of the Armenian letter addressed to His Imperial Majesty from key figures in the Armenian assembly—Sergei, Esai, Abram, and others from all provinces—dated March 5, 1724, states that they had received instructions through Karapet and that they were overjoyed and grateful to have seen them. They reported that the assembly was ready with 20,000 men, although half were unarmed. However, no mention was made of the dispatch of the priests or a verbal directive.

Karapet, in his letter from Apanak dated March 10, stated that the residents of Genja preferred to be under the protection of His Imperial Majesty rather than under Turkish rule and intended to write about all matters with Priest Anton.

In his letter from March 18, Karapet sent a copy of the oath of allegiance from yuzbashis Avan and Mirza, along with others. They declared that their armed forces consisted of 500 men, while 6,400 remained unarmed, and that if they were provided with weapons and ammunition, they were all ready to serve. Karapet further wrote that, in the Armenian assemblies he visited, up to 20,000 men could be mobilized against the enemy, but they were suffering from a lack of provisions.

Copies of all the aforementioned Armenian letters and intelligence reports, as well as other communications from Persian territories, were sent along with General-Lieutenant Matyushkin’s reports—both from May 17 and in two additional reports received upon his departure from Moscow on June 4. Copies of these letters were forwarded to him along with a letter from the Chancellor, instructing him to report all matters to His Imperial Majesty and seek resolution.

Later, a letter was received in Moscow addressed to the Chancellor from Minas Vartapet, dated July 30, and received in St. Petersburg on August 13. It stated that Armenian Priest Antony and the noble Kevkhe Chelebi were in Astrakhan and possessed a secret that could not be put into writing. They requested that they be brought to St. Petersburg and that another person who had arrived with them in Astrakhan also be sent there.

On August 17, an order was issued from the College of Foreign Affairs instructing that the three aforementioned Armenians be sent to St. Petersburg.

Source: AVPR, f. 100, 1724, d. 2, pp. 44-45. Published in: Armeno-Russian Relations in the First Third of the 18th Century. Vol. II, Part II. Yerevan, 1967, Document No. 284.

Message from the Catholicoses and Meliks of Karabakh to Peter I Requesting Assistance in the Struggle Against the Turkish Invaders October 18, 1724

Most illustrious, sovereign Emperor and Autocrat of all Russia, Peter the Great, Father of the Fatherland, Most Gracious Sovereign.

By the will of the Almighty God, Your Imperial Majesty has been granted dominion over many peoples under the sun.

We, Your most humble servants—Catholicos Esai and Nerses of the lands of Agvan—and the yuzbashis, all affix our seals to this letter. Previously, we, Your lowest subjects, wrote three and four times to Your Imperial Majesty, reporting all our distress at the foot of Your glorious throne. Yet, we have received no decree in response to our letters, and for this reason, we have fallen into great despair. We do not know what course to take.

For three or four years now, we have had no sovereign ruler and wander like sheep without a shepherd. No one stands up for us except God in Heaven and Your Majesty, the ruler on Earth. You must stand up for us, as enemies beset us from all four directions. Until now, we have done our utmost to defend ourselves against them. However, Turkish forces have invaded the lands of the Kizilbash and seized many places: Tavriz, Nakhchivan, Yerevan, Tiflis, Barchilu, Kazakh—all these territories have fallen to the Turks. After capturing these lands, their armies advanced toward Ganja and are now approaching us, seeking to attack.

Now is the most opportune time for us to regain our strength. We implore Your Majesty: do not abandon us. If any of Your Majesty’s forces stationed beyond the sea could receive a decree instructing them to come to our aid, we would be forever grateful.

Regarding provisions or any supplies necessary for an army, Your Majesty need not be concerned. We have ample reserves to sustain Your troops. At present, we have stored five to six thousand measures of wheat, carefully preserved for such urgent needs. If Your Majesty issues the command for Your troops to march toward us, they will find provisions ready upon reaching Shemakha and Karabakh.

Turn not Your face away from us; let Your will be done upon us, for we are Your Majesty’s humble servants. If no aid comes, we will surely perish. Within two or three months, the Turkish armies will arrive and slaughter us all. We have no other hope but in Your Majesty—stand up for us so that we may be counted among the most humble servants at Your feet.

For the sake of the True Christ and the Holy Cross, may Your Majesty send assistance to us without delay. Now is not the time for waiting—it must be done at once, as it is Your will.

By the command of Your Majesty, Ivan Karabet arrived and remains with us. He wished to depart for Your Majesty, leaving us leaderless, and asked us for letters to take with him. We, Your lowest servants—the Patriarchs and the yuzbashis—persuaded him otherwise. We decided to keep Karabet here because all roads are blocked, making travel impossible. Furthermore, we believe that staying with him, trusting in Your Majesty’s protection, is in our best interest. Until now, everything we have done, every way in which we have lived, has been under Your power and command. Now, we humbly beg: show us Your mercy and extend Your hand in aid swiftly.

October 18, 1724

Annotations: Attached to this letter are the seals of:

Patriarch Esai (red seal)
Melik Georgi
Bagi Yuzbashi
Melik Mejlum
Tarkhan Yuzbashi
Sarkis Yuzbashi
Vahan Yuzbashi
Avan Yuzbashi
Servant Ivan Karabet

Source: AVPR, f. 100, 1726, d. 3, l. 7. Copy. Published in Armeno-Russian Relations in the First Third of the 18th Century. Vol. II, Part II. Yerevan, 1967, Document No. 288. (Highlighted by us – Y.B.)

Record of Statements Made at the Russian College of Foreign Affairs by Envoys of the Armenian Army Regarding the Strength of Armenian Forces in Karabakh and Kapan and Their Willingness to Accept the Protection of the Russian Emperor November 5, 1724

On November 5, 1724, three Armenians sent from Astrakhan appeared at the College of Foreign Affairs for questioning and provided the following statements:

Priest Antony, a resident of Shamakhi, and Kevkha Chelebi, a resident of Karabakh Province:

Priest Antony described how, in December 1723, he secretly escorted the Armenian envoy Ivan Karapet—who had been dispatched from Astrakhan in 1723 with a decree from His Imperial Majesty promising assistance and protection—from Baku through Shamakhi to the Armenian assembly in Karabakh Province. There, Karapet delivered the decree to Patriarch Esai, who was then at the monastery known as Kanzasar. Antony and Karapet arrived on January 1, 1724, at which time the Armenian military forces near the patriarch numbered 12,000 men, led by two principal commanders, Awan and Mirza.

Upon Karapet’s arrival, the entire force assembled before the patriarch, where His Imperial Majesty’s decree was read aloud. The troops received the promise of assistance and protection with great joy and gratitude, celebrating for eight days. Following the announcement, additional Armenian forces from Karabakh gathered, bringing the total to 40,000 men—30,000 cavalry and 10,000 infantry. The chief commanders overseeing them were Patriarch Esai and the two yuzbashis, Awan and Mirza. The troops were equipped with muskets, sabers, and pistols, and possessed an adequate supply of gunpowder and lead, which the Armenians themselves produced from their abundant mineral resources. However, they lacked artillery, as they had copper and iron but no skilled cannon-makers.

Priest Antony remained with Patriarch Esai and the principal commanders until February 25, at which point he, along with Kevkha Chelebi, was dispatched by the patriarch, the yuzbashis, and Ivan Karapet with letters addressed to the court of His Imperial Majesty. They traveled in secrecy through Shamakhi and Baku. Upon their arrival in Baku, Brigadier Prince Boryatinsky took the letters and sent them to the court along with a courier. Antony and Chelebi accompanied this envoy as far as Astrakhan, where they were detained until further orders, and have only now arrived here.
Before departing, Patriarch Esai and the principal yuzbashis instructed them to verbally convey the following message in addition to their written correspondence: When His Imperial Majesty was in the Persian territories, Minas Vartapet had written to the Armenians, sending two envoys, who remain in Karabakh to this day, conveying that His Imperial Majesty intended to bring his army to the Armenians. Upon receiving this news, the Armenian forces prepared 60,000 poods of bread, 10,000 bulls, and other essential supplies for the Russian troops. However, to their misfortune, His Imperial Majesty and his army never arrived. Shortly thereafter, the Armenians again appealed for assistance via letters, leading to Karapet’s reassurances in His Majesty’s decree, urging them to remain steadfast against their enemies. To this day, the Armenians continue to resist, holding their ground and waiting for His Imperial Majesty’s aid.
If His Imperial Majesty does not send military assistance, they request that he formally place them under Russian protection and grant them land for settlement near the Caspian Sea, in Gilan, Salyan, Baku, and Derbent. They insist that they no longer wish to live under the rule of Muslim forces, despite Shah Tahmasib and Turkish Governor Ibrahim Pasha of Ganja attempting to lure them under their control with promises of freedom. The Armenians rejected these offers, knowing the rulers’ unreliability, and desire to live under the protection of a Christian sovereign. If His Majesty grants them refuge, they ask that he send an official decree promptly, so they may relocate before their enemies block their escape.
The total Armenian population seeking Russian protection in Karabakh Province amounts to 100,000 households. Additionally, the Armenians of Kapan—located three days’ travel from Karabakh and Yerevan—wish to join them. The population of Kapan is larger than that of Karabakh, with many merchants among them. Most Karabakh Armenians are silk producers, an industry they have long mastered.
The Armenians of Karabakh face no obstacles in reaching the Caspian Sea, as they can traverse the mountains safely. Traveling on horseback, they can reach Salyan in four days, while the entire population could relocate there in six days, as the road is smooth and dry.
If His Imperial Majesty captures Shamakhi and establishes Russian military presence there, the Armenians could move freely from Karabakh to the Caspian Sea without fear of attacks from the Lezgins.
The Armenians require no financial aid for resettlement; they will support themselves independently. They only ask His Imperial Majesty to grant them suitable land where they can sustain themselves. If some settlers later require assistance, they will appeal for it accordingly.
Although the Armenian Patriarch of Ararat and the Armenian population of Yerevan are smaller in number, they have expressed their willingness to join the Karabakh Armenians through ongoing correspondence.
Yerevan is six days’ horseback travel from the Armenian assembly where Patriarch Esai and the two principal yuzbashis are located. Ganja is two days away, and Shamakhi four days.

Additional Testimony: The third Armenian envoy, Priest Peter, a resident of Shirvan Province near Shamakhi, was sent by approximately 10,000 Armenians to petition His Imperial Majesty for protection. The Muslim rulers of Shirvan forcibly converted many Armenians to Islam and burned their churches. While the Armenians outwardly practice Islam out of fear, they continue Christian prayers in secret at night. They seek liberation from their oppression. Priest Peter departed Shamakhi together with Priest Antony.

Annotations: The three Armenian envoys were questioned through interpreter Luka Shirvanov.

Source: AVPR, f. 100, 1724, d. 2, pp. 26-29. Translation. Published in: G.A. Ezov, Relations Between Peter the Great and the Armenian People, St. Petersburg, 1898, Document No. 252. (Highlighted by us – Y.B.).

Yuri Barsegov “Nagorno-Karabakh in International Law and Global Politics”