On Armenian Hopes for Russian Assistance

Vigen Avetisyan

4 days ago

Categories: History

On Armenian Hopes for Russian Assistance

Official Document from the Foreign Affairs Collegium to M. Matyushkin Regarding the Dispatch of Ivan Karapet to Persia with a Message for the Armenian People Under Persian Rule

June 6, 1723

On June 6, 1723, by decree of His Imperial Majesty, a document was issued from the State Collegium of Foreign Affairs to General Major and Leib Guard Major Mikhail Matyushkin. It contained the following:

From our Foreign Collegium, we are dispatching the Armenian Ivan Karapet with a formal document and verbal propositions addressed to the Armenian people residing in Persia. These proposals pertain to strengthening their position in response to their prior correspondence. A copy of this document is attached for our records.

Upon departure, Ivan Karapet was provided with 100 gold ducats for his travel expenses. If he arrives in Astrakhan before your military campaign commences, you must take him along in the campaign and later send him to the Armenian people at your discretion, choosing the most suitable locations.

However, if Ivan Karapet does not encounter you in Astrakhan but reaches you during the campaign, you are to dispatch him to the Armenian people through the appropriate means. You are authorized to allocate up to 100 ducats for his sustenance, according to your judgment. Please report back to us on any developments regarding this matter.

Signed:

Chancellor Count Golovkin
Peter Tolstoy
Chief Secretary Ivan Yuryev
Andrey Osterman
Stepan Nikitin
Vasily Stepanov

(Source: AVPR, File 100, 1723, Document 2, Page 21 and reverse. Original. Published in: Armenian-Russian Relations in the First Third of the 18th Century, Vol. II, Part II. Yerevan, 1967, Document No. 187.)

Message from Catholicos Isaiah and the Karabakh Meliks to Peter I Requesting Military Assistance to Liberate Themselves from Persian and Turkish Oppression

November 1, 1723

In a letter addressed to His Imperial Majesty by Armenian Catholicos Isaiah on November 1, 1723, received alongside General-Lieutenant Matyushkin’s report on March 19, 1724, the following was conveyed:

The Armenian people are suffering severe oppression from the Lezgin tribes as well as other Muslim adversaries from Persia. They had previously informed His Majesty of their plight, placing their trust solely in God and the Emperor.
Their situation has worsened significantly, with hostile forces encircling them—Persians, mountain tribes, and Lezgins on one side, Turks on the other. They liken themselves to sheep among wolves without a shepherd.
They request the Emperor’s high protection and assistance. If reassured of imperial support, they plead for the dispatch of Russian troops within two months. They had been waiting for two years, engaging in intermittent battles and truces with their enemies.
The Turks have seized all of Georgia, reaching Ganja, but withdrew after a twenty-day occupation.
They claim that mere mention of His Imperial Majesty’s name in the region would be enough to inspire hope and resistance among their people. Their only fear is being abandoned without assistance.
They emphasize that now is an opportune time, as the Persian state has grown weak. However, the Armenian people still fear the Turks, who have devastated the churches and monasteries in Greater Armenia, including the main patriarchal seat of Gregory.
This letter was sent to His Imperial Majesty via the Shamakh cleric, Priest Anton, acting as His Majesty’s messenger.

The letter bears the red patriarchal seal, inscribed with the name Isaiah Catholicos. Additionally, nine ink seals are present on the back, belonging to the following signatories:

Humble Servant Avan Yuzbashi
Humble Servant Mirza Yuzbashi
Humble Servant Balasan Yuzbashi
Humble Servant Stepanos
Humble Servant Sugi
Humble Servant David
Humble Servant Merkoun
Humble Servant Zakaria
Humble Servant Ioan

Translated from Armenian by the manufacturing company agent, Armenian Ignatius Franzov Shalimov.

(Source: AVPR, File 100, 1723, Document 1, Pages 14–15. Translation. Published in: Armenian-Russian Relations in the First Third of the 18th Century, Vol. II, Part II. Yerevan, 1967, Document No. 193.)

Letter from Catholicos Isaiah and the Karabakh Meliks to Peter I Requesting Assistance

February 5, 1724

In a letter to His Imperial Majesty from Armenian Patriarch Isaiah on February 5, 1724, translated as follows:

By the grace of God, to the great Emperor, Autocrat, and Victor, Peter Alexeyevich.

Bowing at the feet of Your Imperial Majesty, I report, together with all clergy, civilians, and military personnel, that we have received Your Majesty’s most merciful letter with great joy through Ivan Karapet, whom we regard as an angel sent by God. We have been commanded to defend ourselves against our enemies, and by God’s mercy and Your Majesty’s support, we have managed to preserve ourselves despite being surrounded on all sides by enemies.

At times, we have defended ourselves through battle, at other times through diplomacy, and we continue to hold out while awaiting the arrival of Your Majesty. We will maintain our defenses as best we can, as we possess a stronghold and are resisting our enemies. However, we anticipate the arrival of Your Majesty’s troops at any moment, and we are fully prepared to join forces with them. Whatever Your Majesty commands, we are ready to carry out.

As for the current strength of our assembled forces, we cannot provide an exact number, as our people are scattered across various locations. Once Your Majesty’s troops arrive, this will become clear. However, our warriors are in dire need of weapons, ammunition, and other military supplies.

Your Majesty’s envoy, Ivan Karapet, arrived here on January 1, 1724.

This letter bears the red seal of Patriarch Isaiah. Three ink seals are on the reverse, signed by:

Avan Yuzbashi
Mirza Yuzbashi
Melik Tamraz

(Source: CGADA, Cabinet of Peter I, Section II, Book 66, Folio 514 and reverse. Published in: Armenian-Russian Relations in the First Third of the 18th Century, Vol. II, Part II. Yerevan, 1967, Document No. 209.)

Appeal from the Karabakh Meliks to Peter I Regarding the Readiness of the Armenian Population to Support the Arrival of Russian Troops by Force of Arms

March 5, 1724

A copy of a letter from Armenian leaders Sergei, Isaiah, Abram, and others from various provinces to His Imperial Majesty, dated March 5, 1724, reads:

We received Your Imperial Majesty’s decree through Ivan Karapet with great joy and gratitude. We report that we have twenty thousand people gathered and ready, although ten thousand of them lack weapons.

We humbly request that Russian troops be sent to Shemakha, where we will all assemble. If troops are not sent, we will all perish. Therefore, we repeat our plea, begging in the name of Almighty God and for the sake of the Christian faith, that we not be abandoned and that Your Majesty’s forces be dispatched.

(Source: CGADA, Cabinet of Peter I, Section II, Book 66, Folio 510. Published in: Armenian-Russian Relations in the First Third of the 18th Century, Vol. II, Part II. Yerevan, 1967, Document No. 222.)

Report by Ivan Karapet on the Decision Made in Shosh on January 4, 1724, by the Karabakh Armenians of Dizak and Varanda to Accept Russian Allegiance and Request Weapons

March 18, 1724

Alongside his report, Ivan Karapet included a copy of an Armenian letter in which the signatories declared their allegiance under oath and requested assistance. They dared not send the original due to the threat posed by their enemies.

The translated copy states:

On January 4, 1724, we, the Armenians of Dizak and Varanda, including our military leaders (Yuzbashis), nobles, commoners, clergy, and soldiers, hereby sign below and solemnly pledge, of our own free will, to become loyal subjects of His Imperial Majesty from now and forevermore. We vow to abide by His Majesty’s will in all matters, swearing this under God’s name.

If it is deemed that we have made this pledge deceitfully or falsely, then our lives and blood are at the disposal of His Majesty.

Written at the Armenian assembly at Shosh.

Signed by:

Avan Yuzbashi (seal)
Mirza Yuzbashi (seal)
Plus 18 additional seals

The Yuzbashis further declare that they currently command 500 armed troops, with 6,400 men without weapons. If His Majesty grants them arms and ammunition, they will be fully prepared to serve.

Additionally, a similar pledge was made by Melik Yuzbashi alongside ten prominent figures and residents of Kegakuni Province on March 16, 1724, bearing their respective seals.

Translation by the Armenian Luka in Moscow on May 19, 1724.

(Source: CGADA, Cabinet of Peter I, Section II, Book 66, Folios 511–512. Published in: Armenian-Russian Relations in the First Third of the 18th Century, Vol. II, Part II, Document No. 231.)

Letter from Minas Vardapet to Luka Shirvanov Regarding the Situation of Armenians in Persia and Their Hopes for Russian Assistance

August 27, 1724

In a letter from Armenian Vardapet Minas to Luka Shirvanov in Moscow, dated August 27, 1724, the following was written:

He urges that His Imperial Majesty be informed that Muslims in Persia are attempting to deceive the Armenians with false promises, granting positions and showing outward favor to entice them. However, Armenians remain steadfast in their loyalty to the Emperor and refuse to be swayed, awaiting his command regarding their requests. If they remain unanswered and without assurance, they fear confusion and despair, which could lead to their total destruction—an outcome that would bring eternal disgrace to him and others supporting them.
Until now, Armenians have placed unwavering trust in His Majesty’s promises, believing in them as firmly as in the Gospel. They still wish to serve him faithfully, not out of pretended loyalty, but solely for the Christian faith.
They understand Persian affairs well and, if His Majesty chooses to support them, they can easily find pathways to open doors and resist Muslim forces.
While Russian troops are well-trained, local forces are accustomed to the harsh conditions and would be indispensable to His Majesty’s efforts.
Many other urgent needs cannot be fully described in writing, but they warn that if the Armenians perish, there will be no way to restore the situation.
The Muslims previously had little preparation, but now they are aware of everything, making secrecy impossible.
Muslim leaders are pretending to be peaceful, aiming to expand their influence freely while avoiding resistance.
The cleric Anton, Kevkha Chelebi, and Gulnazar from the Lezgins have been in Astrakhan for six months without instructions. They seek permission to deliver their confidential reports to the Emperor, but Minas cannot respond without orders. He requests that they be allowed to come forward.
Minas pleads for His Majesty to show favor to these envoys.
He submits this report not for personal gain, but for the greater benefit of His Majesty and the Russian Empire, ensuring growth rather than loss.

(Source: AVPR, File 100, 1724, Document 2, Folios 19–20. Published in: Armenian-Russian Relations in the First Third of the 18th Century, Vol. II, Part II, Document No. 282.)

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