LETTER FROM GENERAL A. YERMOLOV TO MEHTI-KULI KHAN

LETTER FROM GENERAL A. YERMOLOV TO MEHTI-KULI KHAN Regarding the Return of Estates to Prince V. Madatov and the Repatriation of Refugees to Karabakh March 26, 1818

Upon learning that you have granted Prince Madatov hereditary rights to several villages in the Varanda and other districts through an official document, I find it my duty to acknowledge the fairness of your noble act. By doing so, you have demonstrated respect for the service of Prince Madatov, who, as a native of Karabakh, brings honor to his people. I extend my sincere gratitude to you for this decision.

However, I must inform you that I have prohibited Prince Madatov from assuming possession of these villages. Given his honorable service to His Imperial Majesty—who generously rewards merit, especially in the rank of a general—it would be inappropriate for him to accept these villages as a gift. Therefore, I have instructed him to inform the inhabitants that they remain entirely under your authority.

I also ask you to issue a decree informing the residents of the Sheki Khanate—who were resettled by order of Prince Madatov—that they are now permanently settled in Karabakh, in accordance with the directives of Prince Tsitsianov. I intend to uphold this decision, though I wish to ensure that they will receive all the benefits they previously enjoyed in the Sheki Khanate. They have presented complaints to me, stating that their relocation has caused them hardship. However, I am refraining from returning them at this time so that others wishing to move back to Karabakh do not mistakenly believe the resettlement policy is being revoked.

I kindly request that these individuals be allowed to remain in your domains and not be placed under another’s administration, as they may not find the same fairness in tax collection or the gentleness that characterizes your governance. Additionally, I hope you will grant them at least a three-year exemption from all obligations to compensate for the losses they suffered due to resettlement. I propose that this practice be observed in similar cases as well.

Please understand that my decision to forbid Prince Madatov from using the villages you granted him is not meant to offend you, but rather to preserve decorum. Once more, I express my gratitude for your thoughtful action, as you are the first ruler to demonstrate a desire to provide for a Russian official’s benefit.

REPORT FROM GENERAL A. YERMOLOV TO THE HEAD OF THE GENERAL STAFF OF THE RUSSIAN ARMY, GENERAL-ADJUTANT PRINCE VOLKONSKY On the Treachery of Former Persian Khans July 7, 1819

<…> Mustafa, the Khan of Shirvan, is committing open treason, and it is impossible to rely on the loyalty of the Khan of Karabakh. This year, stability in the khanates is essential for the success of our affairs, and I remain hopeful that everything will proceed as desired. <…>

(Source: Notes of Alexei Petrovich Yermolov with Appendices, A.P. Yermolov Edition, Part II, Moscow, 1868, Section Appendices to the Notes of A.P. Yermolov, pp. 102-103.)

SUBMISSION FROM THE EXECUTIVE EXPEDITION OF THE SUPREME GEORGIAN GOVERNMENT TO GENERAL I. VELYAMINOV Regarding the Ownership of the Khachen Armenians, Resettled from Karabakh to Borchalu, by Melik Alaverdy Hasan-Jalalyan July 15, 1819

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2. The chief officer of Borchalu, M. Breschinsky, reported that the Khachen residents, having fled Karabakh due to devastation, settled in the Borchalu district. Upon their arrival in Georgia, Melik Alaverdy Hasan-Jalalyan was granted authority over them by the late King George, according to a cadastral survey conducted in 1817 by the Tiflis district marshal and other officials. These people were officially recorded as state peasants, though the reason for this remains unknown. Consequently, Breschinsky proposed imposing state taxes on them, as they currently pay neither to the treasury nor to Melik Alaverdy. A petition was submitted to the Treasury Expedition regarding this issue.
3. The Tiflis district court presented a copy of its decision dated March 20, 1803, regarding a dispute between Archbishop Ohanes’** nephew, Melik Alaverdy, and Melik Fridon Bek over ownership of the Khachen residents. According to this ruling, these residents were confirmed to belong to Alaverdy, in accordance with royal decrees.
4. The Tiflis district court’s report states that both parties acknowledged satisfaction with the ruling, and on April 17, 1803, an official order was issued for its enforcement by the Lori (now Tiflis) land police authority. A subsequent report confirmed that 52 families had been handed over to Melik Alaverdy and had pledged obedience to him.
5. The Treasury Expedition reports that the chief officer of Borchalu proposed taxing the Khachen residents at a rate of 60 measures of wheat and 30 measures of barley per year, along with a monetary tax of 100 rubles annually. However, former Georgian ruler General-Major Akhverdov, in a directive dated November 16, 1810, stated that the Khachen people relocated from Karabakh that year belonged to the treasury. The cadastral records list 69 families, all benefiting from state lands. Although Breschinsky argues that the Khachen residents are capable of paying taxes, Melik Alaverdy Hasan-Jalalyan has claimed them as his subjects. Since an official investigation is underway at the order of His Excellency, the Expedition refrains from imposing tax obligations on them and refers the matter for further consideration.

The Expedition concluded that King George granted Melik Alaverdy and his heirs authority over all Khachen residents who had settled in Georgia at that time. This was later confirmed by the 1803 ruling of the Tiflis district court. Thus, the Expedition believes Hasan-Jalalyan is entitled to undisputed ownership of them. However, those Khachen residents who migrated from Karabakh in 1810 cannot be considered his subjects, as they have been recognized as treasury property by the former ruler of Georgia, General-Major Akhverdov. Furthermore, the royal decree does not mention that future migrants to Georgia should automatically belong to him.

This matter is presented for the consideration of His Excellency, with the additional clarification that the imperial rescript dated February 14, 1808, addressed to Count Gudovich, explicitly states that future migrants should be handled according to Russian legal principles, which do not grant proprietary rights over migrants to any individual.

PETITION FROM THE KHACHEN ARMENIANS LIVING IN BOLNISI TO GENERAL I. VELYAMINOV On the Condition of Armenians Expelled from Karabakh February 24, 1820

When Agha-Mohammed Khan entered Karabakh during a time of famine, we relocated to Yerevan, where we lived for four years. Upon hearing that the Russian army had entered Georgia, we moved to the village of Bolnisi, where Melik Apov resided, and joined his peasants. However, after settling in the aforementioned village, King George passed away, and we lived there for three years after his death. Since we belonged to a different community, we separated from Melik Apov and lived independently.

<…> Later, Melik Apov’s community moved back to Karabakh, and we followed them without official permission. <…> However, when we arrived in Karabakh, the former commander-in-chief of Georgia, Tormasov, ordered our relocation back to Bolnisi, where we remain to this day.

Original signed in Armenian: Musail Melik Ulukhanov (Source: Central State Historical Archives of the Georgian SSR, F. 2, Op. 1, D. 757, L. 7–8. Published in Annexation of Eastern Armenia to Russia, Vol. II (1814–1830), Yerevan, 1978, Document No. 52.)

MEMORANDUM FROM GENERAL A. YERMOLOV TO EMPEROR ALEXANDER I On the Methods Used by Khans to Usurp Property Rights from Armenian Meliks and the Legitimacy of Mehti-Kuli Khan’s Return of Part of the Estate Belonging to General Madatov’s Family Tiflis, April 12, 1820

To His Imperial Majesty,

I have had the honor of submitting a petition seeking Your Imperial Majesty’s approval for General-Major Prince Madatov to receive from the Khan of Karabakh a portion of the estates once belonging to his ancestors.

The Council of Ministers examined my request and identified the following obstacles to its approval:

1. Khans cannot dispose of estates belonging to their khanates except in favor of legitimate heirs, whose recognition depends on the supreme authority.
2. It is inappropriate for Russian officials to accept such gifts from khans.

While the latter concern is entirely reasonable, it might appear as if I had overlooked the impropriety of accepting such a gift. However, I raised the same objection with the Khan, who responded through a specially sent trusted official, explaining that rather than offering a gift to a Russian general, he was merely restoring property that Prince Madatov’s family had lost prior to his rule over the khanate. Indeed, the Madatov family once held considerable estates, and what the Khan is returning constitutes only a fraction of their former holdings.

I respectfully submit that, had the Council of Ministers considered the treaty signed with the Khan of Karabakh—particularly Article 5, Clause 3, which states: “The authority associated with internal administration, judiciary, and revenues from estates shall be vested in His Highness”—the matter might have been viewed differently. There exist no conditions restricting the Khan’s right to dispose of his estates. He grants or reclaims them at his discretion, and since the people of Karabakh are free, they cannot be bound as serfs. Estates in Karabakh belong solely to their respective owners, including the khans and local rulers.

The estates of the Karabakh Khans were originally seized from local inhabitants through military conquest. Therefore, the property returned to General-Major Prince Madatov should not be regarded as a mere gift, but as the restoration of rightful ownership, as the Khan himself acknowledges.

Not long ago, Karabakh was ruled by Armenian nobles whose conflicts and divisions ultimately subjected the region to foreign domination. The present Khan is only the third Muslim ruler, making it relatively easy to prove that the estate returned to General-Major Prince Madatov was indeed the rightful property of his family.

I have the honor to submit this most humbly for Your Imperial Majesty’s gracious consideration.

(Source: Notes of Alexei Petrovich Yermolov with Appendices, N.P. Yermolov Edition, Part II, 1816–1827, Moscow, 1868, Section Appendices to the Letters of A.P. Yermolov, pp. 117–118.)

DECREE OF ALEXANDER I TO GENERAL A. YERMOLOV Granting Prince V. Madatov Ownership of the Estate Offered to Him Tsarskoye Selo, April 23, 1821

Recognizing the validity of the reasons you have presented, which justify and make it beneficial for General-Major Prince Madatov to accept the estate offered to him by the Khan of Karabakh in exchange for another that belonged to his ancestors in this khanate, I grant you permission to allow Prince Madatov to take possession of the estate in perpetual and hereditary ownership.

I have no doubt that the new owner, through his prudent administration and superior treatment of the settlers, will set an example of well-ordered governance, in contrast to the arbitrary rule of Asiatic dominion. In doing so, he will further endear the hearts of the inhabitants to the Empire, which is always ready to promote the welfare of its subjects.

Signed: Alexander

(Source: AKAK, Vol. VI, Part I, Document 1279.)

EXCERPT FROM GENERAL A. YERMOLOV’S MEMORANDUM TO PRINCE VOLKONSKY On Melik Shah-Nazar’s Role in the Subjugation of Karabakh by Persian Khans and Their Subsequent Usurpation of Armenian Meliks’ Property Rights August 11, 1821

General of the Infantry Yermolov has the honor to report on a petition submitted to His Imperial Majesty by the Karabakh resident, Armenian Shah-Nazarov.

The petitioner’s father indeed possessed large estates in Karabakh when the province was governed feodally by several Armenian noble families. However, due to conflicts with them, he actively aided the Muslim rulers in conquering the province. In his desire to take revenge on his compatriots, he even gave his daughter in marriage to one of the Muslim rulers, disregarding religious differences.

Later, when the Karabakh Khans consolidated their power, the petitioner’s father passed away, and the estates of many wealthy residents—including the petitioner’s relatives—were seized by the Khans through their unchecked authority.

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(Source: Notes of Alexei Petrovich Yermolov with Appendices, N.P. Yermolov Edition, Part II, 1816–1827, Moscow, 1868, Section Appendices to the Notes of A.P. Yermolov, p. 138.)

EXPLANATION FROM THE GOVERNOR OF GEORGIA AND COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF OF THE CAUCASIAN LINE, GENERAL P. YERMOLOV Regarding the Establishment of Persian Khanate Rule in Karabakh August 11, 1821

The petitioner’s father [Shah-Nazarov] indeed possessed large estates in Karabakh when the province was governed feodally by several Armenian noble families. However, due to conflicts with them, he actively aided the Muslim rulers in conquering the province. In his desire to take revenge on his compatriots, he even gave his daughter in marriage to one of the Muslim rulers, disregarding religious differences.

Later, when the Karabakh Khans consolidated their power, the petitioner’s father passed away, and the estates of many wealthy residents—including the petitioner’s relatives—were seized by the Khans through their unchecked authority.

In 1799, the petitioner’s relatives fled to Russia, and His Imperial Majesty, in his benevolence, granted them a merciful reward. Upon their return to Karabakh, some of them reclaimed property—not by legal right, as they had forfeited such claims upon fleeing—but solely by the Khan’s discretion. After the death of Persian ruler Agha-Mohammed Shah, the Khan exercised absolute authority over the region.

<…>

(Source: AKAK, Vol. VI, Tiflis, 1874, p. 843.)

IMPERIAL RESCRIPT OF ALEXANDER I Granting Prince Madatov an Estate in Place of the One That Belonged to His Ancestors Tsarskoye Selo, August 23, 1821

To General of the Infantry Yermolov,

Recognizing the validity of the reasons you have presented, which justify and make it beneficial for General-Major Madatov to accept the estate offered to him by the Khan of Karabakh in exchange for another that belonged to his ancestors in this khanate, I grant you permission to allow Prince Madatov to take possession of the estate in perpetual and hereditary ownership.

I have no doubt that the new owner, through his prudent administration and superior treatment of the settlers, will set an example of well-ordered governance, in contrast to the arbitrary rule of Asiatic dominion. In doing so, he will further endear the hearts of the inhabitants to the Empire, which is always ready to promote the welfare of its subjects.

Signed in His Imperial Majesty’s own hand: Alexander

(Source: Notes of Alexei Petrovich Yermolov with Appendices, N.P. Yermolov Edition, Part II, 1816–1827, Moscow, 1868, Section Appendices to the Notes of A.P. Yermolov, pp. 142–143.)

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

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