1920 - 1992 (as a member of USSR) / 1992 - ... (period of NKR)

Artsakh is the territory between the rivers Kur and Arax and is located close to the present east borders of the Republic of Armenia. Artakh was the tenth nahang of Great Armenia (“nahang” means “province” in Armenian). It is one of the areas of the Armenian culture, the cradle of the Karabagh dialect of the Armenian language. By the characteristics of the landscape the region is divided into Mountainous and Plain Karabagh (Highland and Lowland). In the Armenian sources Lowland Karabagh is known as “Artsakhakan Dasht” (“Artsakh Valley”). Artsakh included sub-regions, such as Gardman, Utik, etc. The names of these sub-regions formed historically.
The name “Karabagh” has been applied to Artsakh since the 14th-15th centuries. In the initial records “Karabagh” was first mentioned in a Georgian chronicle “Kartlis Tskhovreba” which reads that “a khan by the name of Ulo went to spend the winter in a place which is currently named Karabagh”. The wording “currently named” implies that in the 20s’ of the 14th century (the period when the chronicle was created) the name “Karabagh” was used together with “Artsakh” The geographical names were coined from the numerous political-administrative divisions of the territory. For example, in the 18th century Karabagh Khanate within Persia was established here which included the southern and, partially, the central regions of Artsakh-Karabagh. The northern regions were included in Gyanjha Khanate. For the political purposes the “geographical diminution” of Mountainous Karabagh continued in the Soviet times with the intention to exclude the northern and central regions from the concept of “Mountainous Karabagh”.
Year of 428 – Downfall of the Armenian kingdom of Arshakids. Division of Armenia between the Byzantine and Persia.
End of the 5th century – Reestablishment of the statehood in Artsakh by the local Armenian dynasty of Aranshakhiks under the leadership of Vachagan the Pious. The Aranshakhiks were acknowledged by Persia as a royal dynasty.
Aranshakhiks – An Armenian dynasty who ruled in the region till the 30s’ of the 19th century. The dominion of the Aranshakhiks had various forms typical of the Medieval East which, in turn, were either fully or partially independent.
Khachen Princedom - Belonged to the dynasty of Aranshakhiks. In the 10th-16th centuries this princedom played a significant role in the political history of Armenia and the region as a whole. The Gandzasar Monastery was built during the peak of the political power of Khachen Princedom (1238). It became the seat of the patriarch of the northeast provinces of Armenia (Arstakh) in the 15th century. Mother seat of Gandzasar, the residential place of the catholicii, was also the spiritual center of the Christian population of Aghvank and Aluank (located beyond the River Kur).
Karabagh Melikdoms – These were political-administrative units in Karabagh where the descendants of the Aranshakhiks ruled in the lands inherited by the birthright. In the history of the region five Karabagh melikdoms played a special role: Gyulistan (Shahumyan and Khanlar regions of the former AzSSR), Khachen, Varanda, Dizak and Jraberd. The political alliance of these melikdoms was known as Khamseh Melikdom (“khamseh” means “five” in the Arabic language). Thus, both the southern regions of Mountainous Karabagh stretching to the River Arax and the main part of the central regions (Shahumyan and Khanlar regions of the former AzSSR) were included in the territory of Khamseh Melikdom.
Karabagh Khanate – A political-administrative unit which covered the territory of the south and south-east regions between the Rivers Kur and Arax, approximately from the point of confluence of these rivers till Gandzak (Gyanjha). The Karabagh Khanate existed from the second half of the 18th century till 1822. The settled Armenians constituted the national basis of the khanate. Various nomadic tribes (Turkish, Kurdish, Persian, Dagestan, etc.) who fled to and out of the bordering areas, formed various tribal alliances. Among these alliances Igirmidort (which means “twenty-four” in Turkish) and Otuziki (which means “Thirty-two” in Turkish) were the most stable conglomerates. The center of the khanate was the town-fortress Shushi which was handed over to Panah, the first Karabagh khan by Shahnazar II, the melik of Varanda. This was done for the purpose of subduing the other melikdoms with the help of the Karabagh khan.
1813 – Conclusion of Gyulistan Agreement under which Karabagh was passed from Persia to Russia. Soon khanates were dissolved, and new administrative units, provinces, were established in Transcaucasus. Details in: www.genocide.ru
1828 – Conclusion of Turkmenchay Agreement between Russia and Persia. Caucasus (East) Armenia, including Mountainous Karabagh was passed to the Russian Empire. Details in: www.genocide.ru
1828 – Creation of the Armenian Oblast which was divided into Yerevan and Nakhichevan Districts in 1840. Details in: Nakhichevan
1867 - Transcaucasus was split into five provinces of Baku, Yelizavetpol, Yerevan, Kutayisi and Tiflis. Thus, Mountainous Karabagh became part of Yelizavetpol Province which was mainly inhabited by Armenians. Nakhichevan was included in Yerevan Province. Details in: Nakhichevan
East Transcaucasus Turks fled into the region as a result of Mongol-Tatar invasions. They were mainly nomads. East Transcaucaus Turks belong to the Shiah Islamic religion. In Russian sources they are mentioned as “Caucasus Tatars”. Since 1930s’ the ethnic name “Azerbaijani” has been applied to the East Transcaucasus Turks.

OCTOBER 17, 1917 – JULY 4, 1921. MOUNTAINOUS KARABAGH DURING THE COLLAPSE OF THE RUSSIAN EMPIRE, WORLD WAR I AND ESTABLISHEMNT OF SOVIET POWER IN TRANSCAUCASUS

COMMENTS ON THE KEY POLITICAL ISSUE OF THE PERIOD:
THE   OCTOBER  SOCIALIST REVOLUTION AND DOWNFALL OF THE RUSSIAN EMPIRE DURING THE YEARS OF THE WORLD WAR I. ORIGINATION OF THE ETHNIC-POLITICAL CONFLICT BETWEEN THE ARMENIANS AND CAUCASUS TATARS OF TRANSCAUCASUS ABOUT THE STATE-NATIONAL SYSTEM OF THE REGION. THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE SOVIET POWER IN BAKU IN 1917 WAS INDICATIVE OF THE PREDOMINANT ARMENIAN FACTOR IN THE ETHNIC-POLITICAL BALANCE OF THE REGION. INTERVENTION OF TURKEY IN TRANSCAUCASUS AND CREATION OF THE REPUBLIC OF AZERBAIJAN IN SEPTEMBER, 1918. THE TERRITORIAL PRETENSIONS OF THE AZERBAIJANI REPUBLIC FROM BAKU TO BATUMI. TRANSFORMATION OF THE ARMENIAN-TATAR CONFLICT (this is how the conflict was named during those years) ABOUT THE WHOLE OF EAST TRANSCAUCASUS INTO THE “KARABAGH CONFLICT” AS THE RESULT OF TURKISH INTERVENTION.

1917

POLITICAL SYNOPSIS OF THE YEAR: DURING THE COLLAPSE OF THE RUSSIAN EMPIRE, FOLLOWING THE OCTOBER REVOLUTION THE ARMENIAN POPULATION OF BAKU PROVINCE, FACING THE THREAT OF THE TURKISH INTERVENTION, SUPPORTS THE SOVIET POWER AND PLAYS A KEY ROLE IN THE ESTABLISHEMNT OF THE SOVIET POWER IN BAKU. IN THE ETHNIC-POLITICAL DISAGREEMENT BETWEEN THE ARMENIANS AND CAUCASUS TATARS ABOUT THE NATIONAL-STATE SYSTEM OF THE REGION, THE ARMENIAN FACTOR PROVES TO BE PREDOMINATING IN THE SITUATION WHEN THERE IS NO INTERFERENCE BY THIRD PARTIES.

October – The October Revolution started which marked the collapse of the Russian Empire.
October-November – In Baku the power is taken by the Baku Commune.
Comment: In the 19th century the Armenians of East Transcaucasus held a leading position in the economy of the region, especially in the industry sector. This was accounted for the fact that, as opposed to the Caucasus Tatars who mainly led a nomadic way of life, the Armenians were inclined to crafts and science and were more open to the promotion of the capitalist relations. Given the advancing threat from Turkey, the Armenians were for maintaining the relations with Russia. In 1917 the Armenians had to choose not between socialism and capitalism, but between Russia and the genocide perpetrated by Turkey. This is the reason why they supported the Soviet power in Baku.

1918.

POLITICAL SYNOPSIS OF THE YEAR: THE WESTERN POWERS AND TURKEY STRIVE FOR FILLING IN THE VACCUUM IN TRANSCAUCASUS AFTER THE DOWNFALL OF THE RUSSIAN EMPIRE. TURKEY IS MOST ACTIVE IN ITS ACTIONS AND CHOOSES THE LOCAL TURKS (CAUCASUS TATARS) AND THEIR MOUSAFAT PARTY TO BE ITS KEY SUPPORTING FORCE FOR EMBARKING ON ITS PAN-TURKIST PLANS. TURKEY INITIATES MILITARY INTERVENTION IN THE ETHNIC-POLITICAL DISAGREEMNT BETWEEN THE ARMENIANS AND CAUCASUS TATARS REGARDING THE STATE-NATIONAL ORGANIZATION OF EAST TRANSCAUCASUS. THREE TRANSCAUCASUS STATES DECLARE TO BE INDEPENDENT, INCLUDING THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF AZERBAIJAN WHICH BECOMES A POLITICAL REALITY AS A RESULT OF THE MILITARY INTERVENTION OF TURKEY.
March 30 – April 1 - The suppression of the Mousafat revolt in Baku and the beginning of the expansion of the power of the Baku Commune in the periphery.
Comment: The revolt was provoked by Turkey. It was suppressed by the armed forces of the Baku Commune which was international by its composition. About 80 years later the authorities of Baku tried to speculate with the “March events” and fabricated a myth about the genocide of the Azerbaijani perpetrated by the Armenians despite the fact that even the famous Azerbaijani figures of that period testified about the political character of the revolt and its suppression.
April 22 – The Transcaucasus Seim promulgates Transcaucasus as an “independent republic”. The Soviet Russia does not acknowledge the withdrawal of Transcaucasus from Russia.
April 25 - The establishment of the Baku Council of People’s Commissioners chaired by Stepan Shahumyan. In the Baku Council the key positions are held by Armenians. The Baku Council is against the secession of the region from Russia.
May 21-29 – The Sardarapat Battle. In the mortal combat the Armenian armed forces and volunteers succeed in preventing the destruction of the heart of Armenia, the Ararat Valley and Yerevan.
May 28 – Proclamation of the Republic of Armenia and the Democratic Republic of Azerbaijan (hereinafter “Mousafat Azerbaijan” or “DRA”)
July 22- 26 – The first congress of the plenipotentiary representatives of the Armenians of Mountainous Karabagh. The congress declines the pretensions of Mousafat Azerbaijan with respect of Mountainous Karabagh. At the congress a People’s Government is elected constituting 7 persons, and the action plan on protecting Karabagh from any aggression is drafted.
September 15 – Baku is occupied by the regular armed forces of Turkey. Massacre of the peaceful Armenian populace. The Mousafat government takes the political power. The Mousafat Azerbaijan which has quite recently appeared on the political map of the world lays claim to the territory from Baku to Batumi.
Comment: Thus, the Azerbaijan Republic is the first attempt of Turkey before Cyprus towards the establishment of new Turkish states in foreign ethnic territories through intervention and massacre of the peaceful non-Turk and Christian population.
September 24 – The regular Turkish troops headed by Nuri Pasha intrude into Shushi from the direction of Aghdam. The beginning of the mass terror and permanent attempts for subduing Karabagh Province to Azerbaijan after taking the capital.
October 17 - The complete defeat of the large number of the Turkish occupation army in the village of Msmna by the armed forces and home-guards of Mountainous Karabagh, led by Aslan Mouradkhanyan.
October 30 – The capitulation of Turkey. Conclusion of cease-fire between Entente in Moudros and, accordingly, the withdrawal of the Turkish troops from Transcaucasus.
November 17 –British troops base in Baku according to the arrangement between the Entente countries regarding the restriction of spheres of influence. Designation of the head of the military mission of the Entente, the British General Tompson as the Governor General of Baku.

1919.

POLITICAL SYNOPSIS OF 1919: AFTER THE DEFEAT OF GERMANY IN WORLD WAR I AND THE DOWNFALL OF THE RUSSIAN EMPIRE EAST TRANSCAUCASUS BECOMES THE SPHERE OF INFLUENCE OF BRITAIN WHICH STARTS SUPPORTING THE TURKS (CAUCASUS TATARS) AND DEMANDS THAT THE ARMENIANS OF KARABAGH SHOULD OBEY THE MOUSAFAT AZERBAIJAN. AFTER THE FAILURE TO SUBDUE MOUNTAINOUS KARABAGH BY FORCE, THE MOUSAFAT AZERBAIJAN ENTERS INTO NEGOTIATIONS AND CONCLUDES THE “INTERIM AGREEMENT” WITH MOUNTAINOUS KARABAGH.
January 15 – General Tompson, the head of the military mission of Entente, assigns Khosrovbek Soultanov (who severely hated the Armenians) as the General Governor of the Armenian regions of Yelizavetpol Province and demands that the Armenians should obey Baku.
Comment: Tompson implements England’s policy which aims at taking possession of the Baku oil with the help of the local Turks. According to logic and the results of the war where Turkey fought against Entente together with Germany, England should have supported Armenia (and Armenians) as Entente’s ally. However, it relies on the Caucasus Tatars. The situation in Karabagh worsens after the English appear in Baku.
February 27 - The National Council of Mountainous Karabagh is elected at the congress of peasants of Karabagh. It is delegated with the absolute power in all political, economic and military issues in Mountainous Karabagh which de facto is sovereign.
June 4 - The massacres in the neighboring Armenian villages of Shushi (Kaybalushen, Karkazhan, Pakhlur, Khanatsakh, Karashen) perpetrated by Khosrovbek Soultanov who is supported Tompson.
August 26 – Conclusion of the Interim Agreement between the National Council of Mountainous Karabagh and the government of Mousafat Azerbaijan. Establishment of relations between Mountainous Karabagh and Azerbaijan as stipulated in the agreement.
Comment: Under the Interim Agreement an armistice was enacted between Azerbaijan and Mountainous Karabagh. It was agreed that the issue of the status of Mountainous Karabagh would be finalized at the Peace Conference in Paris. However, the cease-fire was broken by the Mousafat Azerbaijan.

1920 - 1992 (as a member of USSR) / 1992 - ... (period of NKR)

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