Message from One of the Leaders of the Armenian Liberation Movement—General Mkhitar—to the Russian Government with a Request for Military Assistance to Armenians of Syunik and Artsakh March 24, 1726
Translation of an Armenian letter written from the province of Kapan, by its local leaders and other Armenians, dated March 24, 1726.
By the grace of God, to the reigning Emperor, the great Christian and God-loving ruler.
And to the imperial ministers, field marshals, and other high-ranking military officials.
We, the undersigned, humbly and devotedly kneel before Your Imperial Majesty to deliver this supplication:
First, the accursed Lezgins have invaded our Christian lands, causing great devastation among the people, especially desecrating and destroying our monasteries and pious churches without leaving a single one intact. They have slaughtered many, taking numerous Christians captive, leaving us who remain in a state of great despair and ruin.
Second, adding to our misfortune, the Persians have also come upon our lands with their great forces of cavalry and infantry, launching assaults on our communities and inflicting destruction upon our people. In response, we, the devastated Christians, gradually withdrew into the mountainous strongholds, gathering a significant number of our compatriots, fortifying ourselves, and surviving without external assistance, relying solely on divine protection. Thus, we hoped to remain free in those strongholds. However, after some time, the Persians engaged us in battle. By God’s will, we achieved victory over them, killing many while sustaining minimal losses ourselves. But upon their retreat, they once again devastated our monasteries, churches, and settlements, slaughtering more people and taking captives. Yet, during the battle, we managed to liberate some of our Christian brethren who had previously been taken prisoner by the Lezgins.
Third, shortly thereafter, the Turks arrived in great numbers, both cavalry and infantry. In our Christian lands, they utterly destroyed numerous monasteries, churches, villages, and homes. They massacred Christians—both young and old—and enslaved countless others. As is their barbaric custom, they committed grievous outrages against women, both secular and monastic. Some time after these horrors, they returned once more, marching upon our strongholds with the intent to expel and annihilate us completely.
Yet, trusting in divine assistance, we fought back against these godless Turks. By the grace of Your Imperial Majesty, we engaged them in battle, driving them from our fortifications and slaying many. In the same battle, we managed to free some of the Christians they had previously taken captive. However, now the Turks have regrouped in overwhelming numbers and have besieged us from all four sides, rendering any further resistance impossible due to our weakness and exhaustion.
Thus, we, the humblest and most loyal subjects of Your Imperial Majesty, beseech you with the utmost devotion: For the sake of Almighty God and the Holy Mother, and for the preservation of Christianity, we implore Your Majesty to extend your compassionate aid and rescue us poor Christians from these ruthless barbarians through your benevolent intervention. Otherwise, we fear that, along with our wives and children, we shall fall into their tyrannical hands and endure perpetual bondage, suffering immeasurably at their hands.
For four years now, we have endured relentless persecution and unbearable destruction at the hands of these infidels. Therefore, we earnestly and repeatedly appeal to Your Majesty so that the Russian ministers and commanding generals may inform Your Imperial Majesty of our dire plight, ensuring that Christian lands are spared from these barbaric oppressors through Your Majesty’s merciful aid. If possible, let such assistance be swift and decisive.
We entrust ourselves to Your Imperial Majesty’s gracious protection.
Annotation: The original Armenian letter bears eight ink seals with names, including:
- The principal Armenian leader, Mkhitar Bek,
- Alongside Yuzbashi Elnazar, Nadir Elizar,
- And other Armenians: Avtandil, Papas, Bandur, Zurab, and Martiros.
(Source: AVPR, File 100, 1726, Document 4, pp. 3–7 rev., Translation published in Izvestia of the Academy of Sciences of the Armenian SSR, Social Sciences, 1952, No. 3, pp. 96–98.)
Excerpt from the Report of Prince V. Dolgorukov on the Reluctance of the Armenians of Karabakh to Relocate to Russia’s Newly Acquired Caspian Territories and Their Determination to Continue Their Liberation Struggle Against the Turks on Their Homeland
November 30, 1726
[Prince Dolgorukov from Ryash reported on November 30, 1726, that] the Armenians are urgently requesting to join forces with the Russian military, pleading for at least some reinforcement. However, he is unable to fulfill this request due to orders restricting his actions against the Turks. He reassures the Armenians to wait patiently for some time; however, they see no sign of hope or benefit and continue to fight bravely against the Turks with great courage.
He observes that if the Russian army were able to join forces with the Armenians in this favorable moment, given the weakness of the Turkish forces, a powerful and successful military operation could be expected.
Regarding the imperial directive for Prince Dolgorukov to persuade the Armenians to settle in the conquered Persian provinces of their choice, he reports that the Armenians outright reject this proposal. And indeed, their reasoning is sound: first, they would have to abandon their trade and commerce; second, they would have to leave behind their well-chosen and fertile lands and move to barren territories where they would find no means of sustenance.
(Source: G.A. Ezov, Relations of Peter the Great with the Armenian People. St. Petersburg, 1898, Document No. 289.)
Excerpt from the Report of Prince V. Dolgorukov on the Request of Representatives from Armenian Fortified Settlements—Signags—for Russian Military Assistance and Their Desire for the Entire Armenian People to Become Subjects of Russia
February 28, 1727
[Prince Dolgorukov, reporting from February 28, 1727, stated that] before his departure from Ryash, he was visited by envoys from the Armenian assembly known as Sagnak. The yuzbashis (military leaders) pleaded for assistance and pledged eternal allegiance to Her Imperial Majesty. They submitted a petition, which he accepted and kept them with him, as he had no directive to promise them protection. However, if he outright rejected their request, he feared pushing them away entirely.
In their petition, the Armenian signags—Avan Yuzbashi, Tarkhan Yuzbashi, Baga Yuzbashi, Abram Yuzbashi, Ugan Yuzbashi, Alaverdi Yuzbashi, Priest Moses, and Sarkis Yuzbashi—reported:
They seek aid and protection from Her Imperial Majesty, as they have endured relentless Turkish attacks and ceaseless battles, finding no respite or means of securing peace. Four years have passed since the Turks first invaded Armenian lands, and ever since, they have remained under constant siege, refusing to convert to the accursed Mohammedan faith or submit to Turkish rule.
Day and night, they suffer grave distress under Turkish attacks, yet they place their hopes in Her Imperial Majesty’s intervention. They plead not to be abandoned and request that the entire Armenian people be placed under Her Imperial Majesty’s protection and rule. To safeguard their lives, they humbly ask that Russian troops be sent to join them. In turn, they vow to fight in Her Imperial Majesty’s name and to fully sustain the Russian forces at their own expense, providing provisions, horses, and any other necessary supplies.
(Source: G.A. Ezov, Relations of Peter the Great with the Armenian People. St. Petersburg, 1898, Document No. 290.)
Testimony of British Traveler and Merchant Jonas Hanway on Armenian Fortified Regions—Signags
Winter 1727
“…The winter [of 1727] passed without any events worthy of particular mention, except that Savi Mustafa, who had left Ganja, where he was governor, dispersed the Armenians around the vicinity of Shemakha.
These people, considering their circumstances, formed a kind of republic, which, as we have mentioned, distinguished itself by utterly defeating an army of six thousand men sent against them by Abdullah Pasha last summer [1726].
Shortly before this, they also avenged themselves upon the governor of Ganja. It was customary for a significant number of Armenians to gather near a lowland area for Easter.
Upon receiving intelligence that the Turks—who had been unable to reach them in the mountainous terrain—had devised a plan to ambush them this time, the Armenians took preemptive measures. Not only did they defend themselves, but they also lured the Turks into the gorges, where they swiftly secured victory over them.”
(Source: Hanway, Jonas, Merchant. A Historical Account of the British Trade Over the Caspian Sea with the Revolutions of Persia, London, 1754, Vol. III, Part VIII, p. 252.)
Report of Prince V. Dolgorukov on Russia’s Inability to Provide Military Assistance to the Armenians Due to Its Treaty Obligations with Turkey and Recommended Measures to Prevent Armenians from Accepting Turkish Rule
May 11, 1727
On the Armenians Excerpt from the report of General Prince Vasily Vladimirovich Dolgorukov, from Derbent, May 11, 1727.
Regarding the call for Armenian troops to serve Your Majesty, I report the following:
First, whether this can be realized remains uncertain, as the powerful enemy of the Armenians—Serasker Pasha Sari Mustafa—stands with his army near the signags, in Ganja. At any moment, he is preparing to destroy them and force them into eternal subjugation to the Porte.
Faced with the threat of complete devastation and death, the Armenians might, in their dire misfortune, abandon their struggle and submit to Turkish service.
However, despite their weakness, they have miraculously survived against such a formidable foe, seeking Your Majesty’s protection, as they lack the strength to defend themselves effectively.
Your Majesty has commanded me to maintain patience and friendly relations with the Turks. Yet, if we enlist the Armenians—who, according to the treaty, belong to the Turkish domain—it may risk violating the agreement. If the Turks were to enlist forces from our territories, it would indeed be cause for concern.
Would it not be more prudent to restrain the Armenians by other means?
In my humble opinion, first, we should instill hope in them by emphasizing the weakening state of the Turks, who grow weaker by the hour, and showing them Esref’s* struggle. We should subtly offer them assistance while avoiding direct conflict with the Turks.
We may also present them with the possibility of territorial delimitation between Russia and Turkey in the near future. When that moment arrives, sending Russian troops toward the Arax River from the Kura, where we intend to build a fortress, will be possible.
At that point, the Armenians, if they so choose, may safely come under Your Majesty’s dominion wherever they wish. I have already presented this idea to them, and they seem inclined toward it.
However, due to their unpredictable nature, I do not fully trust them. I can see no other way to prevent them from submitting to Turkish rule.
Thus, in response to their request, I have sent their senior representative, Baga Yuzbashi, along with Celebi Bey—who had previously been dispatched to St. Petersburg—as envoys. It seems likely that they can be held with the reassurances I have outlined until a more favorable opportunity arises.
If, upon receiving Your Majesty’s directive, I were to inform the Armenians that severing ties with the Porte is impossible and send them back, upon their return to the signags, their weakness and inability to rely on Russia could soon force them into Turkish submission.
Therefore, I have determined, according to their plea, that they must be sent to Your Majesty’s court in consideration of the current geopolitical interests.
Meanwhile, I have detained some of the arriving envoys—not merely for communication and correspondence with the signag Armenians, but also to extend negotiations and alter the political landscape.
While their journey to Your Majesty’s court proceeds, those left under my command, as well as the signag Armenians, will await their return with renewed hope. In this interim, if the political situation shifts in our favor, we may take further action accordingly.”
(Source: AVPR, File 100, 1727, Document 1, pp. 9–10 rev., Copy, published in G.A. Ezov, Relations of Peter the Great with the Armenian People, St. Petersburg, 1898, Document No. 292; Armenian-Russian Relations in the First Third of the 18th Century, Vol. II, Part II, Yerevan 1967, Document No. 355.)
*Esref (Ashraf), nephew of Mir Mahmoud, who became the Persian Shah from 1725 to 1729. **Side note: “Proceed with the Armenians as initially begun.”
Yuri Barsegov “Nagorno-Karabakh in International Law and Global Politics”
Artatsolum
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