Decree of Peter I to the Armenian People Regarding Russia’s Willingness to Offer Protection to the Armenians of Karabakh

June 3, 1723

On June 3, 1723, His Imperial Majesty, while present in the Foreign Affairs College apartments and in the presence of ministers beyond the established members of that college—including Admiral General Count Fyodor Matveyevich Apraksin and Privy Councillor Pyotr Andreyevich Tolstoy—listened to the decree addressed to the Armenian people residing in Persia. This decree was composed in response to their letters, and His Majesty commanded that it be dispatched under the state’s great seal with the Armenian envoy Ivan Karapet. The decree contained the following:

By the grace of God, we, Peter the First, Emperor and Autocrat of All Russia, etc., etc., etc., To the honorable Armenian people residing in Persia, our imperial benevolence and greetings.

It is known to you that since ancient times, there has been good correspondence and free trade between our empire and the Persian state, benefiting both parties. However, due to disturbances in Persia, this trade was disrupted, and our merchants suffered severe devastation and murder in Shemakha. Therefore, we were compelled to take up arms in those regions. By God’s assistance, we secured the cities along the Caspian Sea shores, through which trade always flowed into our empire, and placed them under our protection.

Since a significant portion of this commerce was conducted by your people, the Armenians—both those residing in Persia and those in great numbers across various cities of our empire engaged in trade—they have earnestly petitioned us to restore and revive this commerce with their compatriots in Persia.

Moved by our imperial grace towards the Armenian people, we hereby declare that they may renew their former trade relations with our empire through the cities now under our protection. They may travel to these cities on the Caspian Sea and deeper into our state without any fear. Moreover, should they desire, they are welcome to settle and reside in these cities and their districts where they previously lived, conducting their trade freely and without any hindrance.

We assure them that not only shall we safeguard their commerce and grant the necessary assistance for its free operation, but we shall also provide certain privileges and grant imperial favors for their greater profit and benefit. To further reinforce our goodwill towards the Armenian people, we have decided—upon the petition of the Armenians present here—to dispatch one of their brethren, Ivan Karapet, with this open decree. He is entrusted with conveying our gracious will and resolution concerning all matters related to the Armenian people. We desire that full and unwavering trust be placed in him.

As certification, this decree has been issued under our state seal.

Chancellor Count Golovkin, Pyotr Tolstoy Chief Secretary Ivan Yuryev, Stepan Nikitich

Note: This decree was written on an Alexandrian-cut sheet corresponding to a postal sheet, sealed with the state’s great seal, and accompanied by an Armenian-language copy composed by Armenians Luka Ilyin, Piri Manatsagan, and Ivan Karapet. It was dispatched with Karapet on June 6, 1723.

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

Artatsolum

Read Also:

• Ancient and Medieval Sources on Artsakh (Karabakh) as Part of Armenia’s State Territory
• Message from Gandzasar Catholicos Esayi to Peter I August 10, 1716
• Memorandum Issued to Ivan Karapet Along with the Imperial Letter to the Armenian People Regarding Russia’s Readiness to Take the Armenians of Karabakh Under Its Protection June 3, 1723