Gandzak :: ARTSAKH LOCATIONS

84 Monuments

Azerbaijan (Country) / Northern Artsakh (Area) / Gandzak (District) / Gandzak (District Centre)

Location
BC 6 — BC 3 mm․

The city is situated on an ancient commercial road extending along the right bank of the river Kur, on both banks of the river Gandzak, at an altitude of 320 to 500 metres above sea level.

Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 21.

Other Names
1804 y․

Known as Janza, Ganja, Kenja, Kechari and Gyanja at present, it was called Gandzak before 1804 as well as between 1918 and 1935, Yelizavetpol from 1804 till 1918, and was renamed Kirovabad in 1935.

13th-century Arab geographer Yakut-al-Hamavi (1178 to 1229) writes that one of the cities of Arran Province was “...Janza generally called Ganja...” (Yakut-al-Hamavi. Dictionary of Geographical Names. In: Arabic Sources about Armenia and the Neighbouring Countries, vol. 3, pp. 50, 68, 104). Colophons of the Armenian Manuscripts of the 17th century, vol. 1. Compiled by Hakobian, V., Hovhannissian, A. Yerevan, 1974, p. 448, all volumes in Armenian.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 21.

Foundation
17 c․

The original city of Gandzak was founded about 3 kilometres north-west of the present-day one: it was only at the beginning of the 17th century that Shah Abbas built the latter in its actual location.

Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 21.

844 y․

The available sources trace the establishment of the city as far back as the year 844: “In 844 Mohammed ibn Khalid founded Gandzak City and inhabited it by some Arabs from Diarbekir.”

Laurent J., L’ Arménie entre Byzance et l’ isiam depuis la conquête arabe, p. 177.
Markwart J., Ost-europäishe und Ostasiatische Streifzüge, Leipzig, 1903, p. 462.
Manandian, H. A Critical Theory of the History of the Armenian Nation, vol. 2, part 2, Yerevan, 1960, p. 297, all volumes in Armenian.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 21.

846 y․

Other records mention the year 846: “...Returning thence at the king’s command and expense, he built the city of Ganjak in the canton of Aršakašen.” Gandzak was founded in 846.

The History of the Caucasian Albanians by Movse-s Dasxuranci. Translated by C. J. F. Dowsett. London, 1961, p. 218.
Brief Chronicles, vol. 1. Compiled by Hakobian, V. A. Yerevan, 1951, p. 391, all volumes in Armenian.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 21.

853 — 854 yy․

According to Ghazvini, the foundation date of the city oscillates between 853 and 854, while a Turkish source states that “the city was established by Rumi Iskender and reconstructed by Kubad Bin-Firuz.”

Arabic Sources about Armenia and the Neighbouring Countries, vol. 3. Translated from the Arabic original into Armenian by Nalbandian, H., Yerevan, 1965, p. 153, note No. 130.
Turkish Sources about Armenia, Armenians and Other Peoples of Transcaucasia. Translated from the Turkish original into Armenian with a foreword and notes by Safrastian, A. vol. 2, Yerevan, 1964, p. 14.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 21.

1804 y․

The existing sources are not unanimous in mentioning the circumstances under which Gandzak was founded; nor do they provide any comprehensive information concerning the numerous toponyms used with reference to it. Thus, according to L. Lazarev, before Gandzak’s being renamed Yelizavetpol in 1804, it was known as Ganja, which, however, did not refer to the present-day city but the site of an ancient one located within 7.5 versts of it (the latter allegedly dates back to the times of Alexandre of Macedonia). In response to this viewpoint, S. Patkanian states that the oldest records on Gandzak trace back to 1088, but he does not exclude the possibility that it may have been founded at a still earlier period. In the meantime, he finds it groundless to ascribe its establishment to the times of Alexandre of Macedonia: according to him, that hypothesis based on Persian folk-lore may mean another Alexandre, i.e. the son of Ghara-Yusuf, the ruler of Tabriz, who lived in the 15th century.

Lazarev, L. Ganja. In: “Kavkaz,” 1846, No. 37, pp. 146-147, in Russian.
Patkanov, S. Some Remarks on the Article Entitled Ganja. In: “Kavkaz,” 1846, No. 41, p. 164, in Russian.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 21.

17 c․

The “Ardzagank” correspondent maintains the view that the site of present-day Gandzak was originally occupied by another city: according to him, however, Shah Abbas did not destroy the old one replacing it by another: “...Those ruins occupy such a small area that they can hardly constitute a city site; besides, present-day Gandzak is located in a flat plain like that city site so that it was of no strategical advantage to Shah Abbas to demolish the old one and establish another in the same open plain. Thirdly, the remnants of the buildings, ramparts and castle of a city devastated and deserted in the early 17th century could not have been obliterated to an extent of being totally levelled with the ground. Moreover..., it retains the grave of Khosrov the Martyr, whose tragic death is described in the following way, ‘he was taken out of the city and ...stoned to death ..., the Christians moving his remains and burying them with high honours.’ However, a Christian stoned to death outside the city could not be brought back to the city and interred there; therefore, he was entombed in the place of his martyrdom that was ‘outside the city.’ Finally, the centuries-old huge platans and the vestiges of some ancient buildings preserved in Gandzak are living proof of the fact that the city existed long before Shah Abbas’ times.”

“Ardzagank,” 1886, No. 19, p. 278, in Armenian.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, pp. 21, 23.

Historical Introduction
9 c․

Gandzak between in 10th and 11th ceturies. In the mid-9th century, Gandzak was captured by the representatives of one of the branches of Sheddadian Arabic family: “That period marked the strengthening of Gandzak Emir Padlon, who started subjugating the princes of Heret and Kakhet, also committing raids in some other places from time to time.” To put it more exactly, “between 951 and 952, the city was ruled by the Sheddadians.”

Melikset-Bek, L. M., vol. 1, Yerevan, 1934, pp. 203-204.
Arabic Sources about Armenia and Armenians, vol. 3, p. 153, note 130.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 23.

989 — 1020 yy․

Gandzak between in 10th and 11th ceturies. Under Armenian King Gagik (989 to 1020), the Armeno-Abkhazian united forces mounted a major offensive against the aforementioned emir, who would periodically invade North-Eastern Armenia: “Fortifying his positions, Gandzak Emir Patlun started imposing heavy taxes on the princes of Kakhet and Heret. In order to somehow counterattack him, Abkhazian king Bagrat sent envoys to Armenian monarch Gagik with a suggestion that they should unite against him. Launching an attack against Gandzak, they returned with victory and a lot of trophies.”

A Brief History of Georgia by historian Juansher. Venice, 1884, p. 110, in Armenian.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 23.

1044 y․

Gandzak between in 10th and 11th ceturies. In c1044 “...Gandzak Emir Khelaziz was killed and the city captured.”

History by Vardan Vardapet. Venice, 1862, p. 100, in Armenian.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 23.

1054 y․

Gandzak between in 10th and 11th ceturies. In 1054 Seljuk Bey Tughrul subdued the emir of Gandzak: “During his invasion of 1054, Tughrul Bey subjugated Emir Abulsuvar of Dvin and Gandzak...” From 1054 till 1055, Gandzak (Janza) was governed by Emir Abu-l-Asuar.

Manandian, H. A Critical Theory of the History of the Armenian Nation, vol. 3, Yerevan, 1952, p. 52.
Foreign Sources about Armenia and the Armenians: Arabic Sources by Ibn-al-Asir, vol. 2. Translated from the original into Armenian with a foreword and notes by Ter-Ghevondian, A. Yerevan, 1981, p. 215.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 23.

1061 — 1071 yy․

Gandzak between in 10th and 11th ceturies. Between 1061 and 1071, “the Huns slaughtered the inhabitants of Gandzak Plain...”

History by Mkhitar Ayrivanetsy. Moscow, 1861, p. 59, in Armenian.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 23.

1068 y․

Gandzak between in 10th and 11th ceturies. In 1068 Gandzak Emir Patlun took possession of Tpghis City, that had been conquered by Alpaslan.

Manandian, H. A Critical Theory of the History of the Armenian Nation, vol. 3, Yerevan, 1952, p. 64.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 23.

1072 y․

Gandzak between in 10th and 11th ceturies. In 1072 the same emir bought Armenian capital Ani from the aforementioned Seljuk sultan: “The purchase of Ani from Alpaslan and its delivery to Gandzak Emir Patlun’s grandson Manuche.”

Manandian, H. A Critical Theory of the History of the Armenian Nation, vol. 3, Yerevan, 1952, pp. 406, 81.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 23.

1088 y․

Gandzak between in 10th and 11th ceturies. Having conquered the city of Urha in 1088, Arab Emir Bugha invaded Transcaucasia with a huge army, obeying Sultan Melikshah’s (1072 to 1092) order. Occupying Gandzak, then belonging to the Sheddadian Patlunians, he turned it into the seat of the atabek: “In this same year Buzan with a tremendous number of troops encamped before the city of Gandzak in Armenia. He vehemently besieged the city, having gathered together all the Persians against it. During a severe assault the Persians undermined one of the city’s towers, thus demolishing it; by assaults such as this they captured Gandzak, but slaughtered only a small portion of its inhabitants, because Buzan ordered the swords sheathed and peace restored. At that time his lordship Stephen, the catholicos of the Albanians, was in the city, but through the help of God he was able to get away, for he was protected by the Armenian troops who were in Buzan’s army.”

A title conferred upon governors and commanders in the Seljuk emirates. The Chronicle of Matthew of Edessa. Translated from the Original Armenian with a Commentary and Introduction by Ara Edmond Dostourian. University Press of America (Lanham. New York. London), 1993, p. 155.
Also see A Collection of Historiographical Works compiled by Priest Samuel Anrtsy. Vagharshapat, 1893, p. 118, in Armenian.
Arabic Sources about Armenia and Armenians, vol. 3, p. 153.
Manandian, H. A Critical Theory of the History of the Armenian Nation, vol. 3, Yerevan, 1952, vol. 3, p. 69.
History by Vardan Vardapet. Venice, 1862, p. 106 (“On Melikshah’s order in the year 537, Emir Puzan took Gandzak from the Patluniants who were called Shatatik”).
Chamchiants, M. History of Armenia from the Creation of the World until 1784 A.D., vol. 3, Venice, 1786 (republished in Yerevan in 1984), p. 13, all volumes in Armenian (“...Gandzak, that was also called ‘Kenje,’ was a splendid city with the residence of Aghvank Catholicos Stepanos there. The following year [1088], the same Persian War-Lord Puzan attacked those areas, conquered some places and laid siege to Gandzak. Fighting a heavy battle, he perpetrated formidable carnage there, Catholicos Stepanos hardly having a narrow escape through the assistance of some Armenians serving in the foreigners’ army”). The available sources are not unanimous in mentioning the date of Gandzak’s conquest by Bugha. Thus, one of them states that in 1082 “Emir Bugha occupied Gandzak and took Patlun to the sultan as prisoner” (Chronicles by Stepanos Orbelian. Prepared for publication by Abrahamian, A. Yerevan, 1942, p. 15, in Armenian).
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 23.

Gandzak between in 10th and 11th ceturies. The first atabek of Gandzak was Emir Ismayil: “...Melikshah appointed his wife’s brother, Emir Ismayil ibn Akut, Governor of Atropatene, Aghvank and Armenia, his residence being located in Gandzak City”.

Manandian, H. A Critical Theory of the History of the Armenian Nation, vol. 3, Yerevan, 1952, p. 70.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 23.

1092 y․

Gandzak between in 10th and 11th ceturies. In 1092 Sultan Melikshah’s successor Barkiarukh nominated his brother Governor of Gandzak. In 1099, however, the ruler of the city rose in rebellion against his brother and declared himself sultan.

Manandian, H. A Critical Theory of the History of the Armenian Nation, vol. 3, Yerevan, 1952, p. 78.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 23.

1118 y․

Gandzak before the 30s of the 12th century. In 1118 Seljuk Sultan Mohammed-Tapar appointed his younger son Melik “Governor of Gandzak Armenians.”

History by Vardan Vardapet. Venice, 1862, p. 118.
Also see Manandian, H. A Critical Theory of the History of the Armenian Nation, vol. 3, Yerevan, 1952, p. 91.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 23.

1118 y․

Gandzak before the 30s of the 12th century. In 1118, however, Georgian King David “...launched a major attack and killed Gandzak Governor Melik...”, after which the city was captured by Abulet’s son Patlun.

History by Vardan Vardapet. Venice, 1862, pp. 118-119, 166.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, pp. 23-24.

1128 y․

Gandzak before the 30s of the 12th century. In 1128 Georgian King Demetre I struggled against Gandzak’s Seljuk governor.

Manandian, H. A Critical Theory of the History of the Armenian Nation, vol. 3, Yerevan, 1952, p. 407.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 24.

1130 y․

Gandzak before the 30s of the 12th century. In 1130 “...holy enlightener David the Archimandrite, Alavka’s son, died” in Gandzak.

History of Armenia by Kirakos Gandzaketsy. Prepared for publication by Melik-Ohanjanian K. Yerevan, 1961, p. 116.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 24.

Earthquakes
1139 y․

On 17 March 1139, the city was struck by a terrible earthquake of a magnitude unprecedented in the Armenian Plateau. Almost all the contemporary and subsequent historians touched upon that great disaster: “On 17 Areg (a month in the ancient Armenian calendar, equal to the period between 7 March and 9 April of the modern one) 1139, a fatal earthquake befell Gandzak City, holy archimandrites Grigor and Sargis being entombed under the ruins...” “At that hour all the fields and mountains were suddenly shrouded in mist, the area being struck by a calamitous earthquake that destroyed the capital of Gandzak...” “In the year 588 (1139), an earthquake reduced Gandzak City to ruins.” “...a severe earthquake in Gandzak.” “...on 18 Areg, on the night between Friday and Saturday, when the feast of St. Gevorg was to be celebrated, God gave vent to His wrath and sent gale-force winds to the earth, striking it by an unprecedented earthquake that devastated the land of Aghvank. ... a violent quake shook the earth and its pillars up to their very foundations and “the Armenian land was severely shaken.” “The earthquake ravaged almost the entire districts of Khachen and Parisos, capital city Gandzak being levelled with the ground and its inhabitants buried under the ruins, in the bosom of their native soil. A great many castles, churches and villages collapsed over the priors and the local residents, a huge number of people being entombed under the falling towers and buildings...” “An earthquake destroyed Gandzak in the year 1139.”

A Collection of Historiographical Works compiled by Priest Samuel Anetsy. Vagharshapat, 1893, p. 132.
History of Armenia by Kirakos Gandzaketsy. Prepared for publication by Melik-Ohanjanian K. Yerevan, 1961, p. 200.
Also see History by Vardan Vardapet. Venice, 1862, p. 124 (“In the year 588, an earthquake reduced Gandzak to ruins”).
Abrahamian, A. Historiographical Works by historian Hovhannes. Yerevan, 1956, p. 133, in Armenian.
History by Mkhitar Ayrivanetsy. Moscow, 1861, p. 61.
Movses Dasxuranc.i: Appendix by Mkhitar Gosh. Yerevan, 1983, p. 352, in Armenian;.
Brief Chronicles, vol. 1. Compiled by Hakobian, V. A. Yerevan, 1951, p. 25.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 24.

A record by Ibn-al-Asir is of particularly great importance, for it provides information on the number of the victims: “That year marked a harrowing earthquake in Arran, Atropatene and Gandzak (Kanja, Janja), but it was the last of them that suffered particularly extensive damage, with many houses reduced to heaps of ruins. It took away thousands of lives, the number of the victims being said to have totaled two hundred and thirty thousand, including both sons of the ruler of the country, Karasunkar.”

Foreign Sources about Armenia and the Armenians: Arabic Sources by Ibn-al-Asir, vol. 2. Translated from the original into Armenian with a foreword and notes by Ter-Ghevondian, A. Yerevan, 1981, p. 250.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 24.

Historical Introduction
1139 y․

Gandzak during the period between the Earthquake and the 13th century. Taking advantage of the devastation and turmoil reigning in the city after the aforementioned earthquake, the Georgian troops launched an invasion against it, plundered the ruined city, killing or capturing the survivors of the disaster: “...coming to Gandzak under the leadership of their commander Ivane, they took absolutely no pity in the deplorable plight of the once splendid city, that now represented a true hell with heaps of gold and human remains lying side by side, and a countless number of corpses scattered here and there. Instead, they started ransacking for gold and silver treasure there, slaughtering the rest of the inhabitants and taking them captive, thus causing the city even greater damage than the earthquake had.”

Movses Dasxuranci: Appendix by Mkhitar Gosh. Yerevan, 1983, p. 352.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 24.

1139 y․

Gandzak during the period between the Earthquake and the 13th century. In the same year (1139), the depredated city was reconstructed by Emir Kharasngur (Karasungur), who is known to have died in 1141: “...coming from the Persian land to Arran District, he embarked upon its restoration, rebuilding its destroyed ramparts and establishing peace there...”

Movses Dasxuranci: Appendix by Mkhitar Gosh. Yerevan, 1983, p. 352.
Also see Arabic Sources about Armenia and the Neighbouring Countries, vol. 3. Translated from the Arabic original into Armenian by Nalbandian, H., Yerevan, 1965, p. 153.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 24.

1142 y․

Gandzak during the period between the Earthquake and the 13th century. In 1142 a certain Khuhtughti, deputy shahap (‘district head,’ “chief of nobles’) of Gandzak, rose in rebellion against the local principality. In the aftermath of that, Seljuk War-Lord Choli occupied the city in 1143: “...in the head of a large army, he arrived in Gandzak where Khuhtughti had revolted. Holding the city under siege for a month, he conquered it, captured Khuhtughti and had his eyes pricked out, establishing his dominion there in the year 1143.”

Mkhitar Gosh provides a briefer account of the events: “Holding the city under siege for a month, he eventually conquered it...” (Movses Dasxuranci: Appendix by Mkhitar Gosh. Yerevan, 1983, p. 353).
Also see Manandian, H. A Critical Theory of the History of the Armenian Nation, vol. 3, Yerevan, 1952, pp. 100, 407.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 24.

1146 y․

Gandzak during the period between the Earthquake and the 13th century. Choli, who suddenly yielded up his spirit in 1146/1147, was succeeded by Pakhradin, who, however, was killed in 1147/1148, Emir Rovadi assuming his post and supervising the further reconstruction of the city: “The condition of Gandzak improved in the year 1148.”

Brief Chronicles, vol. 1. Compiled by Hakobian, V. A. Yerevan, 1951, p. 25.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 24.

12 c․

Gandzak during the period between the Earthquake and the 13th century. The city was again ravaged in the second half of the 12th century and, particularly, in 1165/1166, when it fell under the Georgians’ rule: “...Invading many districts, the large Georgian army reached Gandzak (Kanja, Ganja), where it perpetrated widespread plunder and slaughter, some of the survivors being taken captive.”

Foreign Sources about Armenia and the Armenians: Arabic Sources by Ibn-al-Asir, vol. 2. Translated from the original into Armenian with a foreword and notes by Ter-Ghevondian, A. Yerevan, 1981, p 262.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, pp. 24-25.

Outstanding Personalities
12 — 13 cc․

Gandzak gave birth to many outstanding personalities such as Mkhitar Gosh (“a renowned scholar and the son of Christian parents, he was from Gandzak City...”), scribe Thoros Areveltsy (“...God’s humble servant Thoros, serving as a worthless worker of philology, was from an eastern district, namely Gandzak City...”), architect Mkhitarich, the designer of one of the towers of Ani’s enclosure, and others.

History of Armenia by Kirakos Gandzaketsy. Prepared for publication by Melik-Ohanjanian K. Yerevan, 1961, p. 207.
Colophons of the Armenian Manuscripts of the 13th century. Compiled by Matevossian, A. Yerevan, 1984, p. 313, in Armenian. The works by scribe Thoros also comprise a manuscript New Testament (Rome, 1262).
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 25.

Historical Introduction
1220 y․

Gandzak in the 13th century. The 1220s marked a heavy period of subsequent hostilities in Gandzak, something unprecedented in the city.

Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 25.

1220 y․

Gandzak in the 13th century. In Emir Kushkhara’s times (1220/1221), the Mongols made some attempts to conquer it, but eventually they had to confine themselves to only collecting some taxes there: “...they reached Gandzak (Kanja) City, the capital of the country of Arran: however, having heard about the large number of the local population and the fighting skills they had acquired in the course of their continual struggle against the Georgians, they did not dare to attack it. Instead, they demanded that the citizens should give them some money and clothes: that order being fulfilled, the Tartars went away.”

Foreign Sources about Armenia and the Armenians: Arabic Sources by Ibn-al-Asir, vol. 2. Translated from the original into Armenian with a foreword and notes by Ter-Ghevondian, A. Yerevan, 1981, pp. 303, 310.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 25.

1225 — 1226 yy․

Gandzak in the 13th century. In 1225/1226 Gandzak inhabitants again crushed the Georgian troops that had reached the city ramparts with the intention of a raid: “The Georgians had to engage in a heavy battle, for the frequent fighting against them had turned Gandzak inhabitants, quite large in number, into courageous warriors. For several days, the invaders struggled against the local residents who were unseen and protected behind the fortified walls. One day, however, the latter came out of the city together with their troops and a severe battle ensued outside the ramparts. Realizing that they would not be able to take the city, the Georgians abandoned it having suffered total defeat.”

Foreign Sources about Armenia and the Armenians: Arabic Sources by Ibn-al-Asir, vol. 2. Translated from the original into Armenian with a foreword and notes by Ter-Ghevondian, A. Yerevan, 1981, p. 317.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 25.

1225 y․

Gandzak in the 13th century. In 1225 Gandzak was captured by Sultan Jalal-ed-Din of Khorezm: “...coming to Gandzak City, he conquered it.”

History of Armenia by Kirakos Gandzaketsy. Prepared for publication by Melik-Ohanjanian K. Yerevan, 1961, p. 224.
Also see Foreign Sources about Armenia and the Armenians: Arabic Sources by Ibn-al-Asir, vol. 2. Translated from the original into Armenian with a foreword and notes by Ter-Ghevondian, A. Yerevan, 1981, p. 322.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 25.

1229 y․

Gandzak in the 13th century. In 1229 Gandzak was devastated by the Mongol-Tartars: “Arriving in the city all of a sudden, the Tartars encircled it in all directions and engaged in a harsh battle with many catapults ... the gardens extending in the neighbourhood of the city. Then the enemy demolished the ramparts..., but none of them entered Gandzak, which continued defending itself heroically throughout a week. Witnessing the conquest of the city, the local inhabitants burnt down everything they had once erected to the very last article that could fall prey to fire. Seeing that, the enemy grew even more furious and launched a harrowing slaughter there, without sparing men, women and children. Nobody could escape that carnage, except for a small number of armed people who broke through the siege and fled. As for the wretches who had stayed there, they were kept alive and tortured so that they would show where they had hidden their treasure. Then the enemy killed some of them and captured the others, they themselves ransacking the ashes of the burnt dwellings to find what had been kept there. Thus, plundering and depredating the city for many days, they finally left it.”

The available sources trace the destruction of Gandzak by the Mongols to the period between 1229 and 1235. See Brief Chronicles, vol. 1. Compiled by Hakobian, V. A. Yerevan, 1951, pp. 29-30, note No. 30 for the discrepancies in the date of that event.
History of Armenia by Kirakos Gandzaketsy. Prepared for publication by Melik-Ohanjanian K. Yerevan, 1961, pp. 236-237. Below follow some records providing further information on the conquest of the city, “...a war-lord named Charmaghan led a huge army to the magnificent city of Gandzak in the year 674 (1225). Holding it in a state of siege for several days, he finally took it and started slaughtering the local inhabitants mercilessly, sparing only the young boys and women who had won his liking” (Universal History by Vardan Areveltsy. Yerevan, 2001, pp. 192-193, in Armenian).
“In 1229 a large Tartar horde led by Charmaghan reached the kingly city of Gandzak, conquered it and put the local people to ruthless massacre, the women and boys being taken captive” (Brief Chronicles, vol. 2. Compiled by Hakobian, V. A. Yerevan, 1956, p. 139).
“They crossed the Arax and advanced to Gandzak, that was strongly fortified. Fighting for three days, the Tartars captured the city, ravaged it and slaughtered a great many Muslims, for they considered Mohammed’s religion unacceptable” (Georgian Chronicles (1207 to 1318). Translated from old Georgian into Armenian with an introduction and notes by Muradian, P. Yerevan, 1971, p. 71).
“...The archers came and totally devastated capital city Gandzak, putting to sword both the animals and local people, including a great number of Christians” (Colophons of the Armenian Manuscripts of the 13th century (henceforward: Colophons, 13th century). Compiled by Matevossian, A. Yerevan, 1984, p. 183).
“In the year 1231, Gandzak City was conquered by the Tartars, a vast multitude of men, women and children being put to slaughter, with some Christians and Persians taken prisoner” (Brief Chronicles, vol. 1. Compiled by Hakobian, V. A. Yerevan, 1951, p. 26).
“In the year 1231, a Tartar named Khorazm took Gandzak and slaughtered its inhabitants” (History by Arakel Davrizhetsy (henceforward: Arakel Davrizhetsy). Yerevan, 1990, p. 469, in Armenian).
“The following year [1235], they [the Mongols] advanced towards Gandzak and launched a fierce battle on the approaches to the city, damaging its ramparts. At first the local residents bravely repelled the attacks, but seeing that the fighting did not abate at all, they lost all hopes of liberation and started thinking of a way of escaping captivity. First they buried their possessions underground and set their houses alight so that the greedy enemy would not seize their property ... Destroying some part of the ramparts from inside, they took to their heels. Upon seeing that, the Tartars burst into the city and killed all those who had stayed there, with the exception of the children and youngsters. Then they started ransacking the sites of burnt dwellings and found large trophies there. Leaving the city in ruins, they returned to their army in Mughan...” (Chamchiants, M. History of Armenia from the Creation of the World until 1784 A.D., vol. 3, Venice, 1786 (republished in Yerevan in 1984), p. 206).
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 25.

13 c․

Gandzak in the 13th century. Over four months, Gandzak lay in complete devastation until “an order was issued to reconstruct it: its former inhabitants gradually gathered there and embarked upon its restoration from the very ramparts.”

History of Armenia by Kirakos Gandzaketsy. Prepared for publication by Melik-Ohanjanian K. Yerevan, 1961, p. 237.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 26:

1253 — 1255 yy․

Gandzak in the 13th century. Flemish traveller William Rubruck, who visited Gandzak between 1253 and 1255, writes: “...a large city named Ganje (Gandzak) and situated at the foot of some mountains. Once the capital of the country, it hindered the Georgians from penetrating into this valley...”

Hakobian, Hovh. Travel Notes, vol. 1, Yerevan, 1932, p. 12.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 26.

1229 y․

Gandzak between the 14th and 15th centuries. Most presumably, the aforementioned Mongol-Tartar raid (1229) proved of such immense damage to the city that it completely disappeared from the historical records in the following two centuries.

Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 26.

1541 y․

Gandzak in the 16th century. In 1541 Gandzak was conquered by Persian Shah Tahmaz: “Shah Ismayil’s son Tahmaz, who had ascended the throne in 1526, occupied Yerevan, Ganja and Shamakhi in 1541.”

Brief Chronicles, vol. 2. Compiled by Hakobian, V. A. Yerevan, 1956, p. 427.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 26.

1552 y․

Gandzak in the 16th century. In 1552 “Sultan Shahverd was appointed Governor of Gandzak by the ghayen.”

Melikset-Bek, L. M. Georgian Sources about Armenia and Armenians, vol. 2, Yerevan, 1936, p. 111.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 26.

1578 — 1579 yy․

Gandzak in the 16th century. Between 1578 and 1579, Gandzak inhabitants suffered an epidemic and War-Lord Osman’s invasion: “In the year 266 (1578) ..., the khontkar’s army occupied Tabriz, Yerevan and Gandzak...”

A borrowing from the Persian language meaning ‘master,’ ‘ruler,’ ‘king.’ Melikset-Bek, L. M. Georgian Sources about Armenia and Armenians, vol. 2, Yerevan, 1936, p. 137; also see History by Arakel Davrizhetsy. Yerevan, 1990, pp. 458-459. As attested by another source, in 1578 Lala Pasha “...conquered Gandzak, that was also called Kenje...” and “...Osman Pasha reached the neighbourhood of Caucasia at the head of a huge army and entered Aghvank, then under the Tartars’ rule. Advancing to Shirvan, he crossed the river Kur, raided the adjacent areas and plundered the entire region, including Partaw and Gandzak...” (Chamchiants, M. History of Armenia from the Creation of the World until 1784 A.D., vol. 3, Venice, 1786, p. 530).
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 26.

1580 y․

Gandzak in the 16th century. In 1580 Tabriz, Yerevan, Arash and the territory between Shamakhi and Alania were conquered by Sultan Murad, Gandzak sharing their fate: “In the year 1029 (1580), on Sultan Murad’s order, a huge Byzantine army penetrated into the territory of the Persian Empire, capturing Tabriz, Yerevan, Gandzak, Arash, Shamkor and reaching the Alans’ land.”

History of Persia by Coenobite Khachatur Jughayetsy. Vagharshapat, 1905, p. 101.
Also see Brief Chronicles, vol. 2. Compiled by Hakobian, V. A. Yerevan, 1956, p. 516.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 26.

1585 y․

Gandzak in the 16th century. In 1585 “...Osman Pasha conquered ...Kanja with a countless army.”

Brief Chronicles, vol. 1. Compiled by Hakobian, V. A. Yerevan, 1951, p. 173.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 26.

1588 y․

Gandzak in the 16th century. In 1588/1589 “... Sultan Murat appointed a certain Fahrat commander of his eastern domains together with Lala ...and sent him to Ganja to punish the small number of the Red Heads surviving, build a stronghold there and return. Arriving there with a great army, he fulfilled all the instructions he had been given ..., erected a castle in Ganja and stationed some troops there...”

Deriving from the Persian word of ‘Kezel-baš,’ the name is used with reference to the Persians. Brief Chronicles, vol. 2. Compiled by Hakobian, V. A. Yerevan, 1956, p. 246.
Colophons of the Armenian Manuscripts of the 17th century, vol. 1. Compiled by Hakobian, V., Hovhannissian, A. Yerevan, 1974, p. 217. According to another record, “It was in 1589 that Pahrat Pasha captured Ganja” (Brief Chronicles, vol. 1. Compiled by Hakobian, V. A. Yerevan, 1951, p. 145).
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 26.

1603 y․

Gandzak in the first half of the 17th century. Having conquered Tabriz in 1603, Shah Abbas sent Amirguna Khan to Gandzak to counterattack the Turkish troops there: “...Going to Ganja, he stayed there for two months. Convinced that the Ottomans were not powerful enough to resist him, he burnt down many a building in the city, putting some of its inhabitants to sword and capturing others. He took all the plundered belongings of the citizens to Yerevan for the benefit and enjoyment of the Persian army.”

The available sources are not unanimous in mentioning the exact date of Gandzak’s conquest: it generally oscillates between 1603 and 1606.
History of Persia by Coenobite Khachatur Jughayetsy. Vagharshapat, 1905, p. 70. Below follow some other records relating to these events, “...In 1012 (1603) the Ajems occupied Genje and Shirvan...” (Foreign Sources about Armenia and the Armenians: Turkish Sources by Evliya Chelebi, vol. 3. Translated from the Turkish original into Armenian with a foreword and notes by Safrastian, A. Yerevan, 1967, p. 82).
“The year 1605 marked the conquest of Ganja” (Brief Chronicles, vol. 1. Compiled by Hakobian, V. A. Yerevan, 1951, p. 146).
“Gandzak was captured in 1605” (Brief Chronicles, vol. 1. Compiled by Hakobian, V. A. Yerevan, 1956, p. 272).
“Mohammed Pasha, the beklarbek of Genje, remained under siege for seven months, fighting day and night: eventually, however, those sieged lost all hopes of receiving outside aid and surrendered on condition that their lives should be spared” [Deriving from the Turkish word ‘beylerbeyi,’ the word ‘beklarbek’ means ‘head of beys,’ ‘commander-in-chief’] (Turkish Sources about Armenia, Armenians and Other Peoples of Transcaucasia, vol. 1. Translated from the Turkish original into Armenian by Safrastian, A. (henceforward: Turkish Sources..., vol. 1), Yerevan, 1961, p. 55; also see idem, vol. 2, p. 94.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 26.

17 c․

Gandzak in the first half of the 17th century. Portuguese clergyman Anthoine de Gouvea reports some interesting facts regarding the aforementioned events. Thus, while Yerevan was under siege, Shah Abbas sent one of his commanders, Husein Khan Ziyadoghli Kajar, to Shirvan and Karabakh for a raid. Reaching his destination, the latter “...started burning down the local villages and collecting the harvest. He also destroyed everything in the neighbourhood of Gyanja, which made the pasha stationed in the local castle engage in a battle against him... the Turkish casualties amounting to four thousand... Plundering the adjacent villages and townships and taking a lot of trophies, he presented them to the king, who was also given twelve thousand female slaves, mostly young girls.”

Relation des grandes guerres et victoires obtenues par le roy de Perse Chah Abbas contre les empereures de Turquie Mahomet et Achmet son fils. Par le P. Fr. Anthoine de Gouvea, traduit de l’originale portugais. Rouen, 1646, p. 246. Also see Zulalian, M. The European Scholars about Certain Issues of the History of the Armenian Nation: 13th to 18th centuries, vol. 1, Yerevan, 1990, p. 142, in Armenian.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 26-27.

1604 y․

Gandzak in the first half of the 17th century. In 1604 “Teretaman perpetrated a formidable carnage in Genje...” In the same year, the city is mentioned in connection with the trade of hostages: “In the city of Gandzak, the sons were sold to their fathers and the wives to their husbands, some of them costing 100 marchils, others 50 or so.”

Colophons of the Armenian Manuscripts of the 17th century, vol. 1. Compiled by Hakobian, V., Hovhannissian, A. Yerevan, 1974, p. 133, 134; The word derives from the Italian word ‘marsili’ and denotes a European silver coin.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 27.

1606 y․

Gandzak in the first half of the 17th century. In the spring of 1606, Shah Abbas “... gathered his troops and launched an invasion against the Ottoman army units that were still stationed in Gandzak (Ganja). Upon reaching the city, they laid siege to the castle and the entire city appeared under Persian control: as the shah had ordered, his soldiers tortured and captured the local people, while their animals and pillaged property were scattered here and there. Understanding that the siege of the stronghold might last for long, the Persians decided to resort to some ruse: they had two large, powerful shells cast, intending to destroy the ramparts and thus put the Ottomans in the danger of starvation. The defensors of the castle were all by themselves, without any hope of aid from either their fellow citizens or their king... (the pasha of Ganja, Zenjilgheran Ali, had fallen in the war). Faced with the newly-cast shells which could demolish the ramparts at any moment, the Ottomans found themselves in rather a grave situation and eventually surrendered. Crushing the resistance of the castle, the shah established his domination throughout the country, appointing Aghsagh Mahmat Khan ruler there.

History by Arakel Davrizhetsy. Yerevan, 1990, pp. 112-113, 478 (“...Shah Abbas attacked Ganja and took it from the Ottoman Turks). Also see Colophons of the Armenian Manuscripts of the 17th century, vol. 1. Compiled by Hakobian, V., Hovhannissian, A. Yerevan, 1974, p. 207 (This manuscript colophon provides only an incomplete account of the conquest of Gandzak Castle). Op. cit., pp. 218-219 (“...keeping the castle of Ganja under siege for four months, he captured and plundered it mercilessly”). Touching upon the same events, scribe David Geghametsy wrote the following rhymed lines in 1610: “Having won victory against the grand vizier, He attacked Ganja City, Encircled the local castle And took it in four months. They put the Turks of the castle to sword And slaughtered over twenty thousand of them” (Colophons of the Armenian Manuscripts of the 17th century, vol. 1. Compiled by Hakobian, V., Hovhannissian, A. Yerevan, 1974, p. 367). As stated by some other records, “...took Ganja ...from the Ottomans...” (vol. 2. Compiled by Hakobian, V. A. Yerevan, 1956, p. 428), and “Ganja was captured in 1606” (Brief Chronicles, vol. 1. Compiled by Hakobian, V. A. Yerevan, 1951, p. 145).
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 27.

17 c․

Գանձակը ԺԷ դարի առաջին կեսին. After the conquest of Gandzak, Shah Abbas embarked upon construction activity there: “...When Gyanja fell into the Persians’ power, Shah Abbas himself worked out a plan for the city, allocating a huge sum of money for its further construction (he ordered to build three mosques in Itamzade, where a green mosque is situated at present) and exempting the local inhabitants from taxes and obligations. To be remembered by the coming generations, he renamed Gandzak Abbas Abad, i.e. Abbas’ Buildings, and conferred the title of ‘Key to Shirvan’ on it so that it might have predominance over the other cities of the region.” Before his departure for Persia, Shah Abbas nominated Abbas Ghuli Khan Ziatkhanov Governor of Gyanja Khanate.

Caucasian Calendar for 1850, Tiflis, 1849, p. 48 (the original reads, “...Ганжа подпала подъ власть Шахь-Аббаса, который самъ начерталъ планъ города, выдал для устройства его огромную сумму, приказалъ построить три мечети въ Итамзаде, гдъ теперь зеленая мечеть, и освободилъ жителей отъ податей и повинностей. Въ память будущимъ поколъниямъ онъ далъ городу название Аббасъ-Абада, т. е. постройки Аббаса, а въ преимущество предъ другими городами, назвалъ его ключемъ Ширвана”).
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 27.

1607 y․

Gandzak in the first half of the 17th century. A certain paronter named Ohan is known to have set free many people “from Ganja City” captured in 1607.

An honourary title meaning ‘mister’ or ‘master’ and used with reference to prominent, wealthy people. Colophons of the Armenian Manuscripts of the 17th century, vol. 1. Compiled by Hakobian, V., Hovhannissian, A. Yerevan, 1974, p. 283. Paronter Ohan ransomed a number of manuscripts and donated them to St. Yeghishe Monastery.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 27.

1612 y․

Gandzak in the first half of the 17th century. In 1612 Turkey and Persia signed a peace treaty which, however, was broken four years later.

Leo. A Collection of Works, vol. 3, Yerevan, 1969, p. 264, in Armenian.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 27.

1626 y․

Gandzak in the first half of the 17th century. In 1626 the Georgians launched an attack against the city and the Persians ran away without offering any resistance to them: “...in punishment for our great sins, the Georgians, whose leader was said to be called Movrav, reached Gandzak City, nowadays named Ganja, with a large cavalry. The Red Heads, however, took to their heels as soon as they heard about the enemy’s advance.”

Colophons of the Armenian Manuscripts of the 17th century, vol. 2. Compiled by Hakobian, V., Hovhannissian, A. vol. 2, Yerevan, 1978, p. 206.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 27.

Gandzak in the first half of the 17th century. In 1626 the Turks led by Earif Pasha “...reconquered Gandzak after a heavy battle, but they showed mercy towards the local residents.”

A Collection of Armenian Historiographical Works, vol. 10. Compiled by Priest Gyut Aghaniants. Tiflis, 1912, p. 440, in Armenian.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 27.

1633 y․

Gandzak in the first half of the 17th century. In 1633 “...Tamuraz reduced Gandzak to total ruins.”

Colophons of the Armenian Manuscripts of the 17th century, vol. 2. Compiled by Hakobian, V., Hovhannissian, A. Yerevan, 1978, p. 519.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 27.

1636 y․

Gandzak in the first half of the 17th century. In 1636 Gandzak was ruled by Mohammed Khan.

Turkish Sources about Armenia, Armenians and Other Peoples of Transcaucasia. Translated from the Turkish original into Armenian with a foreword and notes by Safrastian, A. Vol. 1, Yerevan, 1961, p. 109.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 27.

Description
17 c․

Gandzak in the first half of the 17th century. Some topographers of the mid-17th century write the following about Gandzak: “The city, once dominated by Iran’s Shah Tahmas Khan, fell into Ferhad Pasha’s power in 1014 (1605) and Mohammed Pasha was appointed Governor there. The Ajems’ large forces, however, held the city under siege throughout six months so that the Muslim troops, desperate for outside help, had to yield up the local castle and withdraw. They, however, were not saved, for the Ajems exterminated all of them: Sultan Eyri Fatih Mohammed Khan attempted to take some action in retaliation for that, but in vain. At present Genje, that is under the Ajems’ sway, represents a large city of 6,000 houses: it has a mosque, a caravanserai, public baths ... and a well-built market. It is situated in a plain rich in fields and gardens, with some mountains in the south (they are all covered with gardens). Genje, famous for its silk, ...is the centre of the principality, with 3,000 servants, a secretary, a kalantar, a darugha, a kadi and some judges...” Genje, located in a plain four merheles east of Yerevan, is a city abounding in fields and gardens: it is particularly rich in fig, delicious pomegranate, grapes, acorn and other fruits. It used to be a thriving city, the remnants of some large buildings being still preserved there.

Foreign Sources about Armenia and the Armenians: Turkish Sources by Evliya Chelebi, vol. 3. Translated from the Turkish original into Armenian with a foreword and notes by Safrastian, A. Yerevan, 1967, p. 86.
Turkish Sources about Armenia, Armenians and Other Peoples of Transcaucasia. Translated from the Turkish original into Armenian with a foreword and notes by Safrastian, A. vol. 2, Yerevan, 1964, p. 14.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 28.

Historical Introduction
1663 y․

In the second half of the 17th century, namely “in 1663, Mertuza Ghuli Khan yielded up his spirit to God, being replaced by Yogherlu Khan.”

Brief Chronicles, vol. 1. Compiled by Hakobian, V. A. Yerevan, 1951, p. 289.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 28.

Earthquakes
1668 y․

On 4 January 1668, Gandzak was struck by another earthquake: “...the year was 1668. At dawn, on the eve of the Holy Feast of the Apparition of Our Lord, a tremendous roar shook Shamakhi, Ganja, Tiflis and Yerevan.”

Chronicles of the 17th century by Hakob Karnetsy, In: Brief Chronicles, vol. 1. Compiled by Hakobian, V. A. Yerevan, 1951, pp. 243-244.
Also see History by Arakel Davrizhetsy. Yerevan, 1990, pp. 522-523.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 28.

Historical Introduction
18 c․

The 18th century marked as turbulent a period for Gandzak as, perhaps, all the preceding ones. In 1721 “...the Lezghins, not less than eight thousand in number, invaded Ganja City and reached Sutokulan Village. The citizens, however, put them to slaughter..., the enemy fatalities amounting to about a thousand and twenty. They did not take any pillage and ran away empty-handed and shameful.”

A Brief History of Aghvank by His Holiness Yesayi Hasan Jalaliants Catholicos of Aghvank. Jerusalem, 1868, p. 24, in Armenian.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 28.

1724 y․

Gandzak in the 18th century. A year after the conquest of Tiflis, in the autumn of 1724, Erzrum Governor Ibrahim Pasha sieged Gandzak: “At first the invasion was a success and the Turkish troops occupied the Armenian suburb without encountering any resistance. The other inhabitants of the city, however, plucked up courage and even attacked the place they had stationed themselves in. That daring offensive proved of great importance: surrounded in all directions, the Turks abandoned their artillery and luggage and took to their hells in broad daylight. The Turkish victims totaling three thousand, the leader of their panic-stricken troops was forced to withdraw to his seat in Erzrum together with the remnants of his army.”

Mamiye-Clairac, Histoire de Perse depuis le commencement de ce siecle, t. II, Paris, 1750, pp. 121-122.
Also see Zulalian, M. The European Scholars about Certain Issues of the History of the Armenian Nation: 13th to 18th centuries, vol. 1, Yerevan, 1990, p. 199.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 28.

1734 y․

Gandzak in the 18th century. In the autumn of 1734, “...Ganja suffered an invasion by Nadir Shah.” In 1the same year, “Ugurlu Khan of Gane” participated in a great assembly held in the plain of Mughan.

Brief Chronicles, vol. 1. Compiled by Hakobian, V. A. Yerevan, 1951, p. 396.
The Chronicle of Abraham of Crete. Annotated Translation from the Critical Text by George A. Bournoutian. California, 1999, p. 74.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 28.

1735 y․

Gandzak in the 18th century. In 1735 Gandzak, “then sieged by the Persians,” is mentioned in connection with the Turko-Persian wars which ended in the Persian troops’ withdrawal from the city: they had been staying there over two months.

The Chronicle of Abraham of Crete. Annotated Translation from the Critical Text by George A. Bournoutian. California, 1999, p. 47.
Also see Zulalian, M. The European Scholars about Certain Issues of the History of the Armenian Nation: 13th to 18th centuries, vol. 1, Yerevan, 1990, p. 215.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 28.

1735 y․

Gandzak in the 18th century. On 10 March 1735, Russian Prince Sergei Dmitriyevich Golitsin endorsed an agreement upon which Russia was to return the pre-Caspian regions to Persia (the document was signed in a Persian army camp located in the vicinity of Gandzak).

“Kavkaz,” 1903, No. 261, p. 3.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 28.

1736 y․

Gandzak in the 18th century. As is known, “Tahmaz Ghuli took Kanja in 1736,” and “Hajji Chalabi invaded the city in 1752.”

Hakhumian, Ash. Records from National History. In: “Ararat,” 1914, p. 373, in Armenian.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 28.

1758 y․

Gandzak in the 18th century. On 13 September 1758, Panah Khan, the founder of Karabakh Khanate, “...conquered Ganja during the feast of the Holy Cross.”

Brief Chronicles, vol. 1. Compiled by Hakobian, V. A. Yerevan, 1951, p. 396.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 28.

1795 y․

Gandzak in the 18th century. Having occupied and ravaged Tiflis in 1795, Persian Khan Agha Mohammed attacked and conquered Gandzak as well.

Mirza Yusuf Nersesov. A Truthful History. Translated from the original Persian into Armenian with an introduction and notes by Kostikian, K. P.Yerevan, 2000, p. 69.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 28.

1796 y․

Gandzak in the 18th century. In 1796 Russian General Valerian Zubov captured the city without encountering any resistance: “...the Council of the gracious Russian empress decided to send some troops under Zupov’s leadership to Gandzak. It was conquered in December 1796..., with the Governor of the city, Javad Khan, recognizing Russia’s power and domination.” When Empress Yekaterina Alexeyevna died in the same year, Zubov returned to Russia and Javad Khan restored his ruling position in Gandzak: “...after Her Imperial Majesty had yielded up her soul to God and Alexandre I ascended the throne, the troops were called back, leaving the city in the hands of the forces that had first devastated it.” Taking advantage of the situation reigning in Gandzak, Ibrahim Khan of Shushi suggested that Georgian King Heracle and he should mount a joint offensive against the city: “Since the depredation of Tiflis and the subsequent carnage are the handiwork of Javad Khan of Gandzak and Melik Mejlum of Jraberd, Karabakh’s and Georgia’s armies should attack Gandzak together and punish them.” The Georgian king accepting that proposal, the allies “sieged Gandzak Castle and captured it some time later. Melik Mejlum was killed, while Javad Khan surrendered delivering up his son and sister as hostages to Ibrahim Khan.” Historiographer Vardan Odznetsy reports some important data concerning the aforementioned events: “...Artsakh’s Ibrahim Khan, who was in Daghestan at that time, entered into alliance with Georgian king Heracle and hired twelve thousand warriors of Caucasian Gheks for three months (each of them was to receive a payment of seven to ten canvas dadaks and a litre of sheep fat). In 1796 the Ghek mercenaries launched an assault against Gandzak’s Javad Khan together with eight thousand Georgians. The goal of the allied troops, now totaling twenty thousand, was to take vengeance upon the Persian ruler for the depredation of Tpkhis City. “Javad Khan, who failed to put up a proper resistance against them and drive them away from his territories, fortified himself in the local castle. Laying siege to it, Heracle started periodically bombarding it and covering it with smoke and flames, the soldiers garrisoned in the stronghold fighting with similar furiosity. Their leader was Armenian war-lord Melik Mejlum, who was killed in one of the towers of the castle by Heracle’s soldiers... Eventually, after fifty days of siege, Javad Khan yielded up the fort and concluded a peace treaty, committing himself to paying the Caucasian Gheks and returning the prisoners of war that he, Melik Mejlum and others had been keeping in Gandzak. Despite these concessions, however, most of the local inhabitants were deported to Georgia...”

A Collection of Armenian Historiographical Works (1780 to 1834), vols. 1-2. Compiled by Priest Gyut Aghaniants. Tiflis, 1893, p. 30, in Armenian.
Mirza Yusuf Nersesov. A Truthful History. Translated from the original Persian into Armenian with an introduction and notes by Kostikian, K. P. Yerevan, 2000, p. 72-73.
The Lezghins were also known by the name of ‘Ghek.’ Armenian Sources about Agha Mohammed Khan’s Invasions of Transcaucasia (1795 to 1797). Compiled by Titanian, R. T. Yerevan, 1981, p. 191, in Armenian.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, pp. 28-29.

1800 y․

Unable to resist the Russian army, in 1800 the Lezghins, led by Omar Khan, escaped to Gandzak, but the citizens met them “with swords” and slaughtered most of them.

Mirza Yusuf Nersesov. A Truthful History. Translated from the original Persian into Armenian with an introduction and notes by Kostikian, K. P. Yerevan, 2000, pp. 81-82.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 29.

19 c․

The Conquest of Gandzak in 1804 and 1826. The early 19th century found Transcaucasia again reduced to a theatre of political struggle. In late 1803, the Russian troops, led by General of Infantry P. D. Tsitsianov (1754 to 1806), advanced to Gandzak via Tiflis, sieged the local castle and captured it on 3 January 1804: “The courageous Russian army, led by Tpkhis’ Governor Dmitrich Tsitsianov, sieged the stronghold of Gandzak (Kenje), where foreign tyrant Javad Khan had fortified himself. After a heavy battle, on 3 January 1804, the Russians won brilliant victory, killing the aforementioned despot and his younger son, and burning down more than a thousand six hundred foreign soldiers. Seven Armenians who happened to be outside the city ramparts were shot dead by the Russians, while the rest of the local Armenian population was put to merciless carnage. Only those who had found refuge in the local church and its neighbourhood had a narrow escape.” Mirza Nersesov provides a detailed report of these events: “In 1803/1220 (Tsitsianov - S. K.) moved to Gandzak in the head of quite a large army unit. Hearing about the impending invasion, Javad Khan gathered all his officials and dignitaries for a consultation. Everybody, including the akhund and seids, agreed upon offering resistance [against Tsitsianov], pointing out that the Russian troops would not be able to conquer Gandzak Castle, for even Nadir Shah had failed to do so despite all his power. When the Russian troops reached the neighbourhood of Gandzak and Javad Khan saw how small their number was, he decided to engage his army in a battle. ...Some time later, however, he took to his heels, this time fortifying himself in Gandzak’s citadel. Entering the city, the Russians surrounded it from all sides and blocked all the ways leading to the sieged. Soon the Persians ran out of their resources which were now limited to only cartridges. A month after the beginning of the Persian encirclement, the citizens of Gandzak found themselves in a grave situation. The Russians’ commander-in-chief prepared his troops for a major offensive, and the victorious Russian army ... launched an attack during the night of the festival of Eid-ul-Fitr. The soldiers started climbing up both sides of the ramparts. At first Javad Khan bravely defended the citadel, but a bullet shot by Russian officer Lisanchev put an end to his life, and the Russians took the stronghold. ...The war-lord ordered his troops to slaughter the local population, the massacre lasting for three hours.”

A Collection of Armenian Historiographical Works (1780 to 1834), vols. 1-2, p. 174.
Mirza Yusuf Nersesov. A Truthful History. Translated from the original Persian into Armenian with an introduction and notes by Kostikian, K. P. Yerevan, 2000, pp. 81, 86-87.
Also see Hakhumian, Ash. Records from National History. In: “Ararat,” 1914, p. 373 (“The Russians took Kanja ... 1804”).
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, pp. 29-30.

The Conquest of Gandzak in 1804 and 1826. After the conquest of Gandzak, Tsitsianov “renamed it Yelizavetpol in honour of Empress Elizabeth.”

The Conquest of Gandzak in 1804 and 1826. Mirza Yusuf Nersesov. A Truthful History. Translated from the original Persian into Armenian with an introduction and notes by Kostikian, K. P. Yerevan, 2000, p. 87.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 30.

1814 y․

The Conquest of Gandzak in 1804 and 1826. By the Treaty of Gyulistan signed on 12 October 1813, the city became part of Gandza Khanate within the borders of Russia.

Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 30.

1826 y․

The Conquest of Gandzak in 1804 and 1826. On 4 September 1826, “a day after the battle of Shamkhor, General Madatov arrived in Gandzak and established its system of governance. ...He freed the Armenian population of Kilisakend, who had fortified themselves in their quarter out of concern over their lives and property. The senior citizens and village heads introduced themselves [to Madatov], welcoming his arrival in the city.”

Mirza Yusuf Nersesov. A Truthful History. Translated from the original Persian into Armenian with an introduction and notes by Kostikian, K. P. Yerevan, 2000, p. 131.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 30.

19 c․

Gandzak in the second half of te 19th century. In 1861 and 1872, Gandzak was again struck by earthquakes which, fortunately, did not cause any damage to the city. After the second one that befell it on 2 September, the local Armenians found refuge in St. Hovhannes Church.

Caucasian Calendar for 1863, Tiflis, 1862, p. 74.
“Ararat,” 1872, p. 371.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 30.

1868 y․

Gandzak in the second half of te 19th century. On 19 February 1868, Gandzak became the centre of the newly-established province of Yelizavetpol.

Ix. The Principal City of the Province: Yelizavetpol. In: “Kavkaz,” 1880, No. 243, p. 1, in Russian.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 30.

Description
1870 y․

Gandzak in the second half of te 19th century. A correspondent of the “Kavkas” who visited Gandzak (Yelizavetpol) in the late 1870s describes it in the following way, “From an architectural standpoint, it is difficult, if not impossible, to call Yelizavetpol a city: it represents a heap of rambling ruins amidst a sea of gardens. ...On the left ...a Christian cemetery, surrounded by a stone enclosure, can be seen, with some gardens in front and a chapel whose architectural features clearly suggest a European style. The city proper, which forms a continuation of the grave-yard, amazes visitors by the complete absence of streets: instead, it has some crooked, incredibly narrow, irregular and dirty lanes, with high earthen fences on both sides. Beyond these enclosures, on the left and right, can be seen some shabby diggings, punctuated with small dwellings in the style of ancient Asian architecture. ...The chaotic labyrinth of the lanes temporarily disappears, being replaced by a field or a most irregular square. On the right stands an ancient Persian castle in a semi-ruined state: at present it comprises some miserable buildings of barracks housing Yelizavetpol’s regular army detachments and the local prison. A little farther, a small Orthodox church can be seen. Left of the former stronghold rises a large, two-storey, unplastered structure, i.e. Yelizavetpol’s District Court. The local market-place, Yelizavetpol’s renowned ‘Sheytan Market,’ is another sight worthy of mention... ...South of it stands Aliyev’s mosque, an edifice of quite large dimensions, with a cauldron-shaped dome and two minarets on both sides of its yard entrance. ...That square leads to the city’s only large macadam street built on former governor, Prince N. Z. Javjavadze’s initiative. A pearl among Yelizavetpol’s poor, crooked streets and the pride of the entire city, it extends along a roundabout line up to Gyanja Bridge and an ancient Armenian church in the Armenian quarter lying on the right bank of the river. ...Not far from the aforementioned mosque, the city’s only hotel Kovkas is located. Quite a large building, it is absolutely devoid of any architectural forms, bearing a close resemblance to an Oriental caravanserai rather than a hotel in a provincial city.

Ix. The Principal City of the Province: Yelizavetpol. In: “Kavkaz,” 1880, No. 243, pp. 1-2 (the original reads, “В архитектурном отношении трудно или, вернее сказать, решительно невозможно назвать Елисаветополь городом. Это какой-то безпорядочный хаос развалин, утопающих в целом море садов. ...Слева... расположено христианское кладбище, обнесенное каменным забором, с возвышающейся на нем часовней европейской архитектуры. Впереди сады. Тотчас после кладбища начинается самый город. Въезжающаго поражает отсутствие улиц. Перед ним какие-то извилистые, невероятно узкие переулки-грязные и неровные. Эти переулки обставлены с обеих сторон высокими земляными заборами. Направо и налево, за заборами, виднеются жалкия сакли чисто-аульнаго типа и кое-где попадаются домики допотопно-азиятской архитектуры. ...безпорядочный лабиринт переулков на время исчезает, уступая место чему-то в виде поля или площади с самыми неправильными очертаниями. Справа показывается старая персидская крепость, в настоящее время на половину разобранная. Внутри ея виднеются невзрачныя казарменныя постройки, в которых помещается Елисаветопольская местная кадровая команда и тюрьма. За ними православная церковь. Влево от крепости, одиноко, стоит размером в двух-этажное нештукатуренное здание-помещение Елисаветопольскаго окружнаго кладбища. Далее останавливает на себе внимание большая базарная площадь... Это знаменитый Елисаветопольский “Шайтанъ-базар”. ...На южной стороне площади-мусульманская Алиева учения мечеть, довольно обширных размеров, с котлообразным куполом и двумя, расположенными по обеим сторонам входа во дворе мечети, минаретами. ...От этой площади начинается, недавно возникшая на развалинах, единственная в городе шоссированная и уширенная улица, проложенная по инициативе бывшаго губернатора кн. Н. З. Чавчавадзе. Улица эта тянется ломанною линиею вплоть до моста через Ганжинку и продолжается далее, до старой армянской церкви, в армянской-же части города, расположенной на правом берегу речки. Это, так-сказать, перлъ елисаветопольских улиц и гордость всего города. ...Недалеко от мечети, на продолжении новой улицы, по левую ея сторону, стоит почти единственная въ городе гостиница “Кавказ”-здание, правда, довольно обширное, но в высшей степени безобразное, скорее тип восточнаго караван-сарая, нежели гостиницы в губернском городе”).
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 30.

Armenian-Turkish Fights of 1905 to 1906
1905 y․

The nomadic and sedentary Turkish tribes inhabiting Gandzak and its neighbourhood had been long waiting for 18 November 1905, since on that day they were finally able to realize what they had always longed for: “Within several hours, hundreds of Armenian shops were plundered up to the very last thread, after which they were destroyed and set alight. Like in the other places, the local authorities were merely indifferent witnesses to what was going on. The police comprised only Turks, while Georgian Governor Takayshvili apparently held the bandits under his auspices to such an extent that he even allowed notorious gang-leader Dali Ali, a long-persecuted criminal, to enter the city. Invading Gandzak together with 300 brigands, Dali Ali joined his fellow tribesmen in perpetrating a harrowing blood-shed on 18 November. Even the local churches did not escape the pillage that was accompanied with massacres, fire and depredation. Many magnificent residences belonging to wealthy Armenians were consigned to flames, and a great number of shop-keepers fell prey to the atrocities which proved especially tragic for the Armenian ploughmen working in their gardens and fields. On the whole, the victims totaled more than a hundred.” Encouraged by the trophies they had gained, the Turkish mob restored their forces within three days with the intention of capturing the Armenian quarter of the city, that lay on the right bank of the river. On the evening of 22 November, they launched a decisive attack under Dali Ali’s leadership, but after a heavy battle that lasted until sunrise, they were crushed and repelled: “At 9 o’clock some abrupt reports were heard from Baghmanlar’s Turkish positions. Although they gradually increased and became continuous, our fighters answered them rapidly and decisively, and our forces managed to surround the Armenian quarter that occupied quite a spacious area. Soon a considerable number of Armenian warriors concentrated in our positions located opposite the Turkish quarter, with Commander Hamazasp and the heads of all the smaller and larger units following the unfolding of the events with beating hearts. The lives of twenty thousand Armenians were put at stake, and they had to settle the question of their survival or extermination... The Headquarters shared all that responsibility, with Rostom, Abraham and others walking from one position to another and issuing the necessary instructions. The shooting grew still intenser, the Turks now firing from all their positions stretching along the left bank of the river and our warriors answering from theirs along the right bank. Soon regular volleys of shots rang out from both sides, the Turks accompanying them with their usual cries, “Ya, Ali!” The enemy strove hard to penetrate into the Armenian quarter so that at 10 o’clock the intensity of the fighting redoubled, the entire city roaring with volleys, sometimes accompanied by the thunder of the Russian cannons directed either against the Armenians or the Turks... on the order of the “fair,” “objective” authorities, the shells fired against the Armenians were far greater in number. “At half past 10, most of the enemy forces moved to Dik-Kucha Street, whence they could possibly penetrate into the quarter. With some of our groups rushing there, the Turks retreated and positioned themselves in the nearby gardens. Two courageous peasants, Khachatur from Pib, and Nikol Tonunts from Banants, dashed into the Turkish throng without any fear and drove them away from the gardens, by slaughtering them far and wide... Finally, however, they were killed, sacrificing their lives in an unusual feat of valour...” Suffering some other fatalities, the Armenian side won brilliant victory over the enemy.

Varandian, M. History of Hay Heghapokhakan Dashnaktsutiun. Yerevan, 1992, pp. 348-350, in Armenian.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 31.

Historical Introduction
1914 y․

Gandzak between 1918 and 1920. Beginning with 1914, the adherents of Pan-Turkism and Pan-Islamism unfolded active work in Transcaucasia to disseminate their ideology among the local Muslims. As for Gandzak, a certain teacher named Mirza Husein Raffi-zade played a particularly great role there with that regard.

Sargissian, E. Turkey and Its Policy of Occupation. Yerevan, 1964, p. 110, in Armenian.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 31.

1918 y․

Gandzak between 1918 and 1920. Declaring Azerbaijan an independent republic on 27 May 1918, the Musavatists established their government in Gandzak under the leadership of Khan Khoyski, one of the local beys and a flagrant nationalist. That government, which was, in fact, a puppet of the Turkish army, moved to Baku only after the Turks had occupied it in September 1918.

Sargissian, E. Turkey and Its Policy of Occupation. Yerevan, 1964, pp. 375, 442.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 31.

1918 y․

Gandzak between 1918 and 1920. The first Turkish army units entered Gandzak on 9 June 1918 under Nuri Pasha’s (notorious Enver Pasha’s stepbrother) leadership. The following day, the sub-units of the 5th division joined them, and the Turkish troops, consisting of two columns, came to comprise 257 officers and 5,576 soldiers. Immediately after having stationed themselves in the city, the Turks started applying special measures with regard to the local Armenians. According to Ryushtu Bey, first of all the Turkish High Command issued a written warning demanding that the Armenians “should immediately collect all the arms they possessed and hand them to the Turks; otherwise, those who would be discovered as keeping arms secretly would be shot on the spot.” Despite the threats, however, not only did the Armenians (or at least most of them) disobey that order but also some of them dared to declare an unequal war on the enemy. As the aforementioned bey reports, “Today we have suffered 13 victims and 6 casualties, the former including an officer.” On Nuri Pasha’s order, all the Armenian quarters of Gandzak suffered heavy bombardment, but there is no information available on the number of the Armenian fatalities. As attested by some records, the Turkish military leadership spent an incredible number of cartridges to “pacify” the local Armenians.

According to another eye-witness, “it was on 28 May 1918 that the Turks invaded the Armenian part of Gandzak City. The local fighting forces, however, moved to Getashen without offering any resistance to them” (National Archives of Armenia, fund 409, list 1, file 2644, p. 23).
Harutiunian, A. H. The Turkish Intervention in Trnascaucasia in 1918 and the Fighting for Self-Defence. Yerevan, 1984, pp. 221-223, in Armenian.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, pp. 31-32.

1920 y․

Gandzak between 1918 and 1920. With the active participation of Noy Zhordania, the leader of the Georgian Mensheviks, on 9 January 1920, the Musavatists attacked some Russian soldiers concentrated in the stations of Shamkhor, Dalyar, Aghstafa, etc. on their way back from the front: “...In Shamkhor Station only, thousands of Russians were brutally shot in the trains, the entire railway line being covered with corpses. The Musavatists appropriated all the arms and ammunition of the echelons. That carnage, that was also perpetrated in many other stations where Russian echelons were concentrated, lasted untill 12 January.” As St. Shahumian writes, “what has been perpetrated is a dreadful crime against the Russian army.” In the spring of the same year, the Turks slaughtered Russian solders in Gandzak City as well.

Sargissian, E. Turkey and Its Policy of Occupation. Yerevan, 1964, pp. 341-342.
Shahumian, St. Selected Works. Yerevan, 1948, p. 545, in Armenian.
For details see Grigorian, B. Mirzik or Vardashen? (An excerpt from a book of memoirs entitled The Traces are Lost). In: “Lragir,” 3 May 1995, in Armenian.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 32.

Construction Activity
17 c․

The history of Gandzak’s quarters dates back to the foundation of Nor Gandzak in the early 17th century. The plan of the new city clearly envisaged the allocation of separate territories to the local Armenian and Turkish quarters which were to adjoin each other.

Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 32.

1804 y․

Gandzak had the following quarters in 1804: Kilisakyand, Jraberd, Igirmidort and Norashen.

Collected Acts of the Caucasian Archaeological Commission, vol. 2, Tiflis, 1868, p. 596.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 32.

1858 y․

In 1858 Russian traveller G. Tkachev described Gandzak and its quarters in the following way, “The entire city, that lies in a large plain, represents a spacious garden, if we may put it so. The river Gandzak divides it in two parts, Kilisakend and Norashen, the former being mainly inhabited by the Armenians, and the latter by the Tartars. Its crooked, narrow streets are surrounded by earthen ramparts.” Another record, dating back to almost the same period, states, “The city comprises three quarters named Kilisakand, Yerevantsots and Norashen.”

Tkachev, G. Travel Notes. In: “Kavkaz,” 1859, No. 9, p. 41, in Russian (the original reads, “Весь город раскинулся на огромное пространство и, если можно так сказать, представляет обширный сад. Река Ганжа, на которой расположен город, разделяет его на две части: одна носит название Килисия-кент, а другая Норашен; в первой преимущественно живут Армяне, а в последней-Татары. Город разделен кривыми и узкими улицами, обстроенными по преимуществу стенами, сложенными из глины...”).
‘Of Yerevan inhabitants.’ Jalaliants, S. A Travel to Great Armenia, part 1, Tpghis, 1842, p. 172, all parts in Armenian.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 32.

1864 y․

A traveller who visited Gandzak in the summer of 1864 provides rather a gloomy picture of its two main quarters: “...crooked streets that are hardly a sazhen [a sazhen is equal to 213.36 centimetres] wide; the remnants of some earthen ruins; earthen ramparts preserved to a height of 5 arshins [i.e. about 3.5 metres] in certain places and punctuated with canals abounding in the rotten remains of plants and animals. No dwellings are seen in the streets, for they are located behind the fortified walls. They, however, are only an apology for houses, representing cabins of earthen vaults, devoid of any stove and windows. It is damp, dark and dirty inside these huts that abound in vermin. Outside these dwelling-graves, your eye is caught by a sea of fruit-bearing trees and vines... ...the Armenian part of the city is the true image of the Tartar one with the only difference that the local Gregorian church is in a most deplorable state, whereas the mosque of the latter is in comparatively better conditions...”

Meves, V. Articles on Yelizavetpol District. In: "Kavkaz," 1865, No. 35, pp. 198-199 (The original reads, “Кривыя улицы, часто не шире сажени, формируются местами из остатков развалин каких то строений из земли, местами из земляных стен до пяти аршин вышиною, во иных местах из канав, заваленных животными и растительными разлагающимися телами; собственно по улицам домов не видно; они стоят внутри оград, да и то не дома, а чаще всего какия-то конуры с земляными сводами, без печей и окон; в них смрад, сырость, нечистота и паразиты человеческаго тела. За этими домами-могилами везде видна богатая зелень фруктовых деревьев и виноградных лоз... армянская часть города точная фотография с татарской части, с тою только разницею, что здесь церковь Григорианская, находящаяся в самом жалком положении, а там мечеть сносно содержанная”).
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 32.

19 c․

A visitor of the late 19th century writes: “Most of the houses are built of brick, for there is no quarry in the neighbourhood. The newly-erected ones are quite fine, cosy and high, while the old ones, that extend in an irregular row, are low and unattractive, like the Turkish dwellings.”

Lalayan, Yer. Gandzak District. In: “Azgagrakan Handes,” vol. 5, Tiflis, 1899, No. 1, p. 298.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, pp. 32-33.

Waterwork
18 c․

The entire system of Gandzak’s water service was mainly based on the river of the same name: “Between four and five miles above the city, twelve large channels take source in the river and run to the city where they are divided into about sixty branches so that there is one flowing in almost every yard. The city also has a number of wells, some of fine, others of salty water. In the early 18th century, when the city was under the Turkish rule, an underground canal was built there in order to provide the local people with high-quality water. Its water, that was a blend of the waters of many mountain springs, reached the local castle, but the canal twice suffered destruction...”

“Krunk Hayots Ashkhari,” 1861, Tpkhis, p. 361.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, pp. 35-36.

It was “Mr. Poghos Hamaspyuriants who enabled the city to use its resources of underground water, for which he was awarded a gold medal by the gracious Russian emperor...”

Jalaliants, S. A Travel to Great Armenia, part 1, Tpghis, 1842, p. 172.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 36.

The inhabitants of Norashen Quarter received water through wells.

Lalayan, Yer. Gandzak District. In: “Azgagrakan Handes,” vol. 5, Tiflis, 1899, No. 1, p. 301.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 36.

A certain Nanassian living in Gandzak arranged the conveyance of water up to the yard of St. Hovhannes Church with his own means. The baths belonging to that sanctuary functioned at the expense of that water.

“Nor-Dar,” 1902, No. 49, p. 3.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 36.

1912 y․

Thanks to a similar act of charity, in 1912 water was provided for St. Grigor Lusavorich Church as well: “Gandzak vicar Levon the Archimandrite received a note from the spiritual powers to convey the blessing and gratitude of His Holiness to Gandzak inhabitant, Mr. Aghajan Ohanian, who had supplied water for the gavit of the church of the Holy Enlightener through his own means.”

A square (quadrangular) chamber placed in front of the church and on the same axis, destined for both civil and religious use. “Ararat,” 1912, p. 870.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 36.

Estates

The Domains of Echmiatzin in Gandzak. The monastery of Holy Echmiatzin had two income-yielding estates in Gandzak. One of them was a caravanserai located in the centre of the city, and the other a vineyard having its own waterwork and occupying 10 dessiatinas in the west of the city.

Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 37.

1804 y․

The Holy See took possession of it in the early 19th century: ...after Gandzak City had been liberated from Javad Khan’s dominion under Governor of Caucasia Prince Tsitsianov’s leadership in 1804, it shifted into Holy Echmiatzin’s control. As attested by some competent people, the necessary documents endorsing that act of donation were sent there in due time. Before the Armeno-Turkish fights between 1905 and 1906, the annual income the vineyard yielded to the Holy See amounted to 1,500 rubles. Since it was situated near the Turkish quarters of the city, no Armenians ever wished to work it out of security considerations. In 1910 it was rented out to two Turks by 500 rubles per year, and the new tenants started using it as a kitchen garden.

National Archives of Armenia, fund 56, list 6, file 775, pp. 2-3.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, pp. 37-38.

1804 y․

The caravanserai located in the city’s first residential area was one of the most profitable domains of Holy Echmiatzin not only in the city but throughout the entire district of Gandzak. It comprised 59 stands, 2 basements, 2 cattle-houses, a rest-room and 3 gates. In 1804 Archbishop Hovhannes bought it from a Muslim for 25 tumans, the bargain being ratified by a legal bill.

A Persian monetary unit. National Archives of Armenia, fund 56, list 6, file 775, p. 8.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 38:

1897 y․

In 1897 the caravanserai was in a state of utter dilapidation and in bad need of repairs. Until the period between 1905 and 1906, some Turks held tenancy of the caravanserai. In the 1910s, it yielded an annual income of 2,500 rubles. Situated in Gandzak’s Turkish quarter, it escaped destruction in the days of the Armeno-Turkish clashes.

National Archives of Armenia, fund P-56, list 18, file 405, pp. 1-2.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 38.

1900 y․

In the late 1900s, contractor Agha Ali Mahmed Irza oghli built two new rooms with their basements in the caravanserai having previously agreed to cover all the expenses of construction amounting to 550 rubles, if the Holy See committed itself to repairing its stands.

National Archives of Armenia, fund 56, list 6, file 775, pp. 6-7.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 38.

1917 y․

In 1917 the building of the caravanserai lay in decrepitude, and the estimate of expenditures necessary for its repairs was being worked out.

National Archives of Armenia, fund P-56, list 18, file 1143, p. 1.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 38.

Mayors
10 c․

The available data regarding the governors of the city, known by the title of ‘Emir’ in the Middle Ages, and ‘Mayor’ between the 19th and 20th centuries, represent the following chronological picture: Between the ‘40s and ‘50s of the 10th century, Emir Khelaziz (Alaziz) is mentioned.

History by Vardan Vardapet. Venice, 1862, p. 100.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 38.

1074 y․

The same source makes reference to Emir Patlu in 1074, when Grigor the Master’s son received an order to occupy the castles of Baghk and Kapan.

History by Vardan Vardapet. Venice, 1862, p. 146.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 38.

1147 y․

In 1147 “...a certain emir named Rovad served as shahap of Gandzak City...”

Movses Dasxuranci: Appendix by Mkhitar Gosh. Yerevan, 1983, p. 354.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 38.

1880 y․

Ghahraman Sergei Hovhannissiants was famous for his love of antiquities: according to a record of 1880, he spent his own means on conducting excavations in a site called Arablu Hogh and located “within 3 versts” of Gandzak. The digging unearthed several tombs as well as some pottery and figurines.

“Meghu Hayastani,” 1880, No. 50, p. 2.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 38.

1898 — 1899 yy․

In 1898 and 1899 Gh. S. Hovhannissiants worked as a deputy of the Municipal Council.

Caucasian Calendar for 1899, Tiflis, 1898, p. 180.
Caucasian Calendar for 1900, Tiflis, 1899, p. 190.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 38.

1896 y․

Ivan Osipovich Kognovitski was elected mayor on 12 April 1896 with 32 votes. One of his opponents, Lazarian, received 30 voices, but the other, Afanassian, refused to accept those given in his behalf. During the same elections, Accountant of the Municipal Police Khojayan was elected Secretary of the Municipal Council, Hovhannissian and K. S. Tsiralian being elected members of the City Administration.

“Murj,” 1896, Nos. 3-4, p. 523.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 38.

1897 y․

Kognovitski also held office in 1897, 1898, 1899, 1902 and 1904.

Caucasian Calendar for 1898, Tiflis, 1897, p. 171.
Caucasian Calendar for 1899, Tiflis, 1898, p. 179.
Caucasian Calendar for 1900, Tiflis, 1899, p. 190.
Caucasian Calendar for 1903, Tiflis, 1902, p. 198.
Caucasian Calendar for 1905, Tiflis, 1904, p. 205.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 38.

Population
11 c․

A spate of historiographical sources the earliest of which date from at least the 11th century mention Gandzak as a populous city where a great number of Armenians lived side by side with the Muslims. By the 12th century, it had grown into one of the largest cities in Transcaucasia, this being proved by the number of victims (230,000) it suffered in the aftermath of the earthquake of 1139.

Foreign Sources about Armenia and the Armenians: Arabic Sources by Ibn-al-Asir, vol. 2. Translated from the original into Armenian with a foreword and notes by Ter-Ghevondian, A. Yerevan, 1981, p. 250.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 38.

1231 y․

The Mongol conquest of Gandzak in 1231 took a heavy toll on the city, “many of the local Christians and Persians being taken captive.” The word ‘Christians’ stands for the Armenians, and the ‘Persians’ indicates the Turkish-speaking Shiite Muslims. Indeed, Gandzak might have been populated by some other nationalities who, probably, formed a small number.

Brief Chronicles, vol. 1. Compiled by Hakobian, V. A. Yerevan, 1951, p. 26.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 38.

There exist only some scanty records on the number of Gandzak’s population: thus, in 1640 the city comprised 6,000 houses. According to a report (1769) by Georgian Prince Artem Andronikov, “...the local Christians include a great number of Armenians...” After Gandzak had joined Russia in 1804, the city had only 1,015 houses, with its male citizens totaling 5,079.

Foreign Sources about Armenia and the Armenians: Turkish Sources by Evliya Chelebi, vol. 3. Translated from the Turkish original into Armenian with a foreword and notes by Safrastian, A. Yerevan, 1967, p. 86. It is generally assumed that during the last period of Shah Abbas’ reign, the city had “...40,000 valorous inhabitants who were engaged in crafts...” (“Krunk Hayots Ashkhari,” 1861, p. 358).
The 18th-century Decrees and Other Historical Documents Relating to Georgia, vol. 1 (1768 to 1774). Edited by Tsagareli, A. A. St. Petersburg, 1891, p. 434, in Russian (the original reads, “...в нем народа християнь многое число армянскаго, все места плодовиты, тамо правитель хан самовладетельной...”).
Collected Acts of the Caucasian Archaeological Commission, vol. 4, Tiflis, 1870, p. 9.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, pp. 38-39.

1873 y․

In 1873 “Mshak” correspondent Mazhak wrote the following about Gandzak’s Turkish inhabitants: “The Turks, who constitute a larger number, total 1,800, but that numerical superiority does not add to their significance at all: they share the features of all Asian tribes without any difference... The only place where they get education, if any, is their mosque where a sokhta, a mirza, or a mullah gathers several children and incessantly squeaks something, meanwhile also foaming at the mouth. The pupils listen to him sitting scattered on the floor, but that lasts for only certain periods of the year. They are educated, but in what... In extremely formidable features... The representatives of their upper, noble class send their children to a royal college where they are indoctrinated with some unstable, groundless ideology, without ever trying to find anything positive and useful in it. They leave that institution having picked up a distorted language alleged to be Russian, and make use of every possible opportunity to crow about their excellent knowledge.”

Mazhak. A Letter from Gandzak. In: “Mshak,” 1873, No. 14, p. 2.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 40.

1873 y․

The Turkish inhabitants of Gandzak were occupied with blacksmithing, carpentry as well as partly sericulture and trade. They mainly dealt in fruits, but “they are even meaner in that business.”

Mazhak. A Letter from Gandzak. In: “Mshak,” 1873, No. 14, p. 2.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 40.

Apart from its main population comprising Armenians and Turks, Gandzak also had some Russian residents. In 1886 they amounted to 131, their number growing to 4,261 in 1906 (11.54 %), and 4,815 in 1916 (8.34 %). It should be mentioned, however, that their increase was evidently due to immigration rather than a natural rate of growth.

Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 41.

1849 y․

Gandzak was also inhabited by some other nationalities, including 30 Gypsies in 1849 as well as 103 Georgians (77 males, 26 females), 3 Germans and 2 Jews in 1886. In 1916 the local population also included some sectarians totaling 1,276 (2.2 %).

Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 41.

Trade
943 — 944 yy․

With the Russians’ conquest of Partaw between 913 and 914, the city “lost its significance, being relegated to an unimportant place” and yielding up its place to Gandzak, which had had a history of several decades by then.

Arabic Sources about Armenia and the Neighbouring Countries, vol. 3. Translated from the Arabic original into Armenian by Nalbandian, H., Yerevan, 1965, p. 145, note 97.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 18.

Situated at the junction of the most important commercial routes (Tpghis-Shamkor-Gandzak; Dvin-Parisos-Gandzak; Shamakhi-Arash-Gandzak; Shaki-Arash-Gandzak and Belukan-Partaw-Gandzak), Gandzak grew into one of the most populous trade centres in Transcaucasia.

Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 18.

Although the following centuries marked great devastation in the city due to various invasions and earthquakes, it never lost predominance over the other towns and villages of the region.

Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 18.

Gandzak or “Genje was famous for its horseshoes, iron and silk,” also boasting delicious “...pomegranate, grapes and acorn.”

Foreign Sources about Armenia and the Armenians: Turkish Sources by Evliya Chelebi, vol. 3. Translated from the Turkish original into Armenian with a foreword and notes by Safrastian, A. Yerevan, 1967, p. 86.
Turkish Sources about Armenia, Armenians and Other Peoples of Transcaucasia, vol. 2. Translated from the Turkish original into Armenian with a foreword and notes by Safrastian, A., vol. 2, Yerevan, 1964, p. 14.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 18.

1591 — 1592 yy․

Between 1591 and 1592, Khadim Hasan Pasha, the ruler of Anatolia Elayet, held the post of vizier in Gandzak Elayet. During that period, he sustained his army, amounting to several thousands, on the profit received from silk sale; besides, “he annually sent 150 bers of silk ... to the State Treasury.”

An ancient unit of weight. Turkish Sources about Armenia, Armenians and Other Peoples of Transcaucasia. Translated from the Turkish original into Armenian with a foreword and notes by Safrastian, A. vol. 2, Yerevan, 1964, p. 148.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 18.

1640 y․

A large commercial centre, Gandzak, indeed, must have had a market since earliest times, but it is only some visitors of a comparatively later period that mention it: thus, in 1640 the city had “a fine market.”

Foreign Sources about Armenia and the Armenians: Turkish Sources by Evliya Chelebi, vol. 3. Translated from the Turkish original into Armenian with a foreword and notes by Safrastian, A. Yerevan, 1967, p. 86.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 18.

Despite the continual hostilities, Gandzak retained its high fame up till the year 1827, after which “it lost its importance as a commercial centre.”

Hakobian, Hovh. Travel Notes, vol. 1, Yerevan, 1932, p. 375, note 7, in Armenian.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 18.

19 c․

Most presumably, both in the Middle Ages and in the 19th century, Gandzak’s “...trade... was concentrated in the Armenians’ hands, the Tartars mainly dealing in fruits.” The market-place, located in Gandzak’s Turkish quarter, on the right bank of the river, “...comprised all the Armenian and Turkish stores: one could freely state that it represented a most beautiful sight in the city... ”

“Kavkaz,” 1859, No. 9, p. 42 (the original reads, “...Торговля, по обыкновению, сосредоточена в руках Армян. Занимаются, правда, торговлею и Татары, но преимущественно фруктами”).
“Krunk Hayots Ashkhari,” Tpkhis, 1861, p. 360, in Armenian.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 18.

1870 y․

The local trade was entirely conducted in the aforementioned market-place so that when on 26 June 1870 the river, flowing between the Armenian and Turkish quarters, burst its banks threatening to destroy the bridge lying over it, the inhabitants of the former were faced with the grave danger of famine: “...we, the residents of Kilisakend, would starve for several days, since the local trade is entirely concentrated in Gyanja. Surprisingly enough, the local Armenians, known as a comparatively developed people of initiative, are not engaged in commerce in their village of Kilisakend, almost all of them being employees.”

“Kavkaz,” 1870, No. 76, p. 2 (the original reads, “...мы, живущие на Килисакенте, остались бы голодными на несколько дней, так как здесь вся торговля производится в Ганже. Удивительно, что здешние армяне, народ сравнительно подвижной и предприимчивый не переносят торговли в Килисакент, где живут они сами и почти все служащие здесь”).
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, pp. 18-19.

19 c․

In the late 19th century, some Gandzak merchants also unfolded their activity in the international arena, mainly exporting iron and silk, for which the city was renowned for hundreds of years. The following press publication comes to prove this, “Mahtesy102 Kerovbe Ter-Martirossiants, a wealthy trader from Gandzak, was to export a vast amount of insured iron, but the baggage recently suffered shipwreck in the river Volga... Well, he should remember what befell V. E. (formerly serving in the police), another merchant living in the same city, and thank his lucky stars: the latter was to convey silk chests of 10,000 rubles from Gandzak to Warsaw (his luggage was insured, too), but what reached that destination comprised merely some stones instead of silk...”

A title used with reference to Christian believers who are known to have gone to Jerusalem on pilgrimage. “Nor-Dar,” 1895, No. 114.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 19.

Silk weaving involved both the Armenian and Turkish inhabitants of Gandzak and the adjacent villages, while iron ore industry was mainly concentrated in the hands of the Armenians and the German immigrants working in Getabek’s and Karhat’s (Dashkesan) mines.

Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 19.

Yelizavetpol Province imported paper and metal tools, mainly exporting cereal products (8,312 poods per year), dried fruit (5,428 poods per year), as well as textiles and leather goods into Persia.

An ancient Russian unit of weight equal to 16.38 kgs. “Kavkaz,” 1904, No. 228, p. 3.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 19.

The Armenian traders also “imported goods from Turkey, Persia, Tiflis, Baku and different Russian cities, such as Moscow and Nizhni Novgorod. The merchandise imported was sold in their villages as well as in the adjacent Armenian and Turkish ones.”

Mazhak. A Letter from Gandzak. In: “Mshak,” 1873, No. 14, p. 2, in Armenian.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 19.

Description
19 c․

In the late 19th century, the administrative buildings of the city, including the Province Governor’s Office, the Provincial Administration, the Post Office and a progymnasia, were located on the right bank of the river Gandzak.

Ix. The Principal City of the Province: Yelizavetpol. In: “Kavkaz,” 1880, No. 243, pp. 1-2.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 36.

Monuments

The Armenian Churches in Gandzak. Given the fact that even small villages in Armenia had their own churches, we can imagine how great their number was in Gandzak, a city with a large Armenian population which also served as a Patriarchal seat between the 9th and 12th centuries. Despite that, however, in 1989 the oldest of the churches preserved there dated back to the 17th century.

Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 45.

19 c․

The Armenian Churches in Gandzak. In the 19th century, when Gandzak became part of the Russian Empire, the local Armenians started repairing the city’s old churches and building new ones. Before the mid-19th century, Gandzak had four Armenian churches built of stone, three of them parish ones and the other belonging to a local cemetery. An archive document of 1849 mentions them by name: St. Hovhannes Church; St. Gevorg Church in Yerevantsots Quarter; Sourb Astvatzatzin Church in Norashen Quarter, and St. Sargis Church standing in the cemetery of the same quarter. The city also had several other church-chapels considered pilgrimage destinations: among them Cholak’s Sourb Astvatzatzin Church was particularly famous.

National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3818, pp. 95-96.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 45.

1870 — 1885 yy․

The Armenian Churches in Gandzak. According to some archive documents tracing back to the 1870s, Gandzak had four parish churches, including St. Grigor Lusavorich. In 1885 the city boasted six churches: St. Hovhannes, St. Gevorg, St. Grigor Lusavorich, Sourb Astvatzatzin, St. Sargis of Norashen’s grave-yard, and Cholak’s Sourb Astvatzatzin.

National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3877, p. 29.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 45.

The Armenian Churches in Gandzak. The Armenians had the following pilgrimage sites in Gandzak proper: Sourb Astvatzatzin and Sts. Kirakos and Yughita.

Barkhutariants, M. Artsakh. Baku, 1895, pp. 51-52.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 45.

19 c․

Gandzak's Armenian Cemeteries. In the mid-19th century, the territory of Gandzak retained 24 cemeteries, most of which were destroyed parallel with the city’s development and expansion. At the close of the century, Gandzak’s (indeed, we mean Nor Gandzak dating from 1606) oldest grave-yard extended around St. Hovhannes Church.
Beginning with the 1820s, some 3 to 4 new cemeteries came into being in the city, a record of 1887 stating the following with that regard, “Some 50 to 60 years ago, before the establishment of the present-day grave-yards, called Nerki and Barkhudarants, funerals were held in a cemetery located within 30 feet of the local main church of St. Hovhannes.”
Interestingly enough, Gandzak’s Armenian cemeteries lay either on the outskirts of the city or in the neighbourhood of churches. Thus, the grave-yard of Norashen Quarter had a church/pilgrimage site dedicated to St. Sargis. St. Hovhannes and St. Grigor Lusavorich Churches also had their own cemeteries: according to a record of 1854, that of the latter existed even before the construction of the monument.
The Barkhudariants’ grave-yard, that was the only Armenian cemetery in Gandzak in the Soviet years, once retained more than 3,000 tombstones. In the 1980s, however, most of the city’s grave-yards lay in ruins.

“Krunk Hayots Ashkhari,” 1861, p. 357.
“Nor-Dar,” 1887, No. 46, p. 1.
National Archives of Armenia, fund 56, list 1, file 3245, p. 15.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 57.

The history of Gandzak’s parish schools dates back to 1844, when Mesropian Spiritual School of males opened at the local church of St. Hovhannes. The year 1859 marked the establishment of the city’s first female school and another private male school. In 1867 a male school was founded at Sourb Astvatzatzin Church of Norashen Quarter, another two schools, one for males and the other for females, opening at St. Grigor Lusavorich in 1889. In 1906 all the aforementioned schools that had been functioning independently by then merged into unisex educational institutions. In the course of some years, the Armenian parish schools of Gandzak, that were, as a rule, attached to the churches, amounted to 10. Despite the efforts of the local Armenian clergymen, intellectuals and individual benefactors, many of them often closed and reopened. That was due not only to their financial predicament but also the pressure of the Tsarist authorities: thus, in 1885 as well as between 1895 and 1905, all the Armenian educational institutions in the Russian Empire closed on a Government order.

Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 41.

19 c․

Gandzak also had 6 Turkish mosques tracing back to the late 19th century: Ghezel-Hajali was built in 1877; Ozan and Bala-Baghman in 1884; Shah-Sevan, Gherekhlar and Ghazakhlar in the 1880s. As a traveller pointed out, they “...were not distinguished for any architecural or archaeological merits.”

Lalayan, Yer. Gandzak District. In: “Azgagrakan Handes,” vol. 5, Tiflis, 1899, No. 1, p. 299; Fatullayev, Sh. S. Urban Planning and Architecture of Azerbaijan between the 19th and the early 20th centuries. Baku, 1986, p. 434, in Russian. Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 61.

Archaeological Monuments. The neighbourhood of Gandzak and the entire region in general are rich in Bronze Age monuments and, particularly, burial mounds.

Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 58.

Archaeological Monuments. In the 1870s, Ghahraman Sargissian Hovhannissiants, an archaeologist who later worked as mayor of Gandzak, conducted excavations in the site of Arablu Hogh located within 3 versts of the city: “...Those graves are recognized thanks to some huge blocks of stone once scattered over the tombs. Some of them were dug out by Mr. Ghahraman Sergei Ovannissian for the purpose of finding the antiquities they were alleged to retain. Truly, that honourable person’s efforts and means spent were not futile: he discovered several ancient relics which can be of great use to those interested in the study of their Armenian ancestors’ lives, their faith and customs. The archaeological finds include a dagger, representations of the sun, the moon, a snake, two birds as well as three bracelets, a thin belt, an incensory and two jugs, all of them cast in an alloy of gold...”

“Meghu Hayastani,” 1880, No. 50, p. 2.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 58.

1899 y․

Archaeological Monuments. In 1899 German archaeologist E. Resler commenced investigation into some tumuli situated in the vicinity of Gandzak: “Working near Yelizavetpol, on May I, I unearthed 12 large, very interesting steppe tombs bearing the traces of cremation.”

Resler, E. Archaeological Research in Transcaucasia. In: “Kavkaz,” Tiflis, 1903, No. 179, p. 2, in Russian (the original reads, “В мае месяце я около г. Елисаветполя открыл 12 больших очень интересных степных курганов, частию с признаками трупосожжения, относящихся к бронзовому веку”).
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 58.

Gandzak also boasted several memorials, including those dedicated to Captain P. Kotlyarevski (1850), Marshal H. Baghramian (1983), poet H. Hakobian and others. At present all of them have been totally annihilated and replaced by others perpetuating different notorious bandits regarded as national heroes.

Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 62.

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Source Sketch

Name	Year/Century	Etymology
Janza	13 c․
Ganja
Kenja
Kechari
Yelizavetpol	1804 — 1918 yy․
Kirovabad	1935 — 1991 yy․
Gyanja	1991 y․

Gandzak’s population underwent the following numerical changes between the 19th and 20th centuries:

Dates	Houses	Inhabitants	Notes	Source
1835	2515	16200		Dubrovin, N. Transcaucasia between 1803 and 1806. St. Petersburg, 1866, p. 149, in Russian; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 39.
1849		12996		Caucasian Calendar for 1850, Tiflis, 1849, p. 48; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 39.
1851		13000		Caucasian Calendar for 1852, Tiflis, 1851, p. 82; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 39.
1852		10938		Caucasian Calendar for 1853, Tiflis, 1852, p. 117; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 39.
1865	3080	15081		Voronov, N. A. Collection of Statistical Data on Caucasia, vol. 1, chapter 1, part 4, Tiflis, 1869, p. 74, in Russian; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 39.
1868		16039		Caucasian Calendar for 1870, Tiflis, 1869, pp. 406-407; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 39.
1874		18505		Caucasian Calendar for 1879, Tiflis, 1878, p. 328; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 39.
1884		18976		Caucasian Calendar for 1886, Tiflis, 1885, p. 124; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 39.
1887		20294		Yelizavetpol Province: A Statistical Survey Based on the Family Lists of Caucasia's Population. Tiflis, 1888, p. 76, in Russian; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 39.
1896		27206		Caucasian Calendar for 1898, Tiflis, 1897, pp. 28-29; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 39.
1897		33090		Caucasian Calendar for 1905, Tiflis, 1904, p. 22; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 39.
1906		36895		Caucasian Calendar for 1907, Tiflis, 1906, p. 322; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 39.
1908		46297		Caucasian Calendar for 1910, Tiflis, 1909, p. 251; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 39.
1914		59586		Caucasian Calendar for 1915, Tiflis, 1914, p. 123; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 39.
1916		57731		Caucasian Calendar for 1917, Tiflis, 1916, pp. 190-193; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 39.
1920		42500		Soviet Azerbaijanian Encyclopedia, vol. 5, Baku, 1981, p. 397; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 39.
1921		43502		Grand Soviet Encyclopedia, vol. 1, Moscow, 1929, p. 642, all volumes in Russian; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 39.
1923		38880		Grand Soviet Encyclopedia, vol. 1, Moscow, 1929, p. 642, all volumes in Russian; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 39.
1926		136000		Soviet Azerbaijanian Encyclopedia, vol. 5, Baku, 1981, p. 397; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 39.
1931		76000		Brief Soviet Encyclopedia, vol. 1, Moscow, 1933, p. 174, in Russian; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 39.
1939		99000		Soviet Azerbaijanian Encyclopedia, vol. 5, Baku, 1981, p. 397; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 39.
1959		136000		Soviet Azerbaijanian Encyclopedia, vol. 5, Baku, 1981, p. 397; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 39.
1970		190200		Soviet Azerbaijanian Encyclopedia, vol. 5, Baku, 1981, p. 397; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 39.
1979		232000		Soviet Armenian Encyclopedia, vol. 5, Yerevan, 1979, p. 462, all volumes in Armenian; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 39.
1980		237000		Soviet Azerbaijanian Encyclopedia, vol. 5, Baku, 1981, p. 397; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 39.

Below follow the available statistical data on the number of the local Armenian population between the 19th and 20th centuries:

Dates	Armenian Houses	Armenians (Male)	Armenians (Female)	Total (Armenians)	Notes	Source
1804	828	2239	1759	3998		Collected Acts of the Caucasian Archaeological Commission, vol. 2, Tiflis, 1868, p. 596; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 39.
1822				5100		National Archives of Armenia, fund 332, list 1, file 866, p. 1; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 39.
1835	957	2397	2150	4547		Dubrovin, N. Transcaucasia between 1803 and 1806. St. Petersburg, 1866, p. 149; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 39.
1839		2412	2164	4576		National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3800, pp. 14-26; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 39.
1841		2316	2129	4445		National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3802, pp. 168-169; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 39.
1845		2334	2116	4450		National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3811, pp. 4-5; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 39.
1847	909	1327	967	2294		National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3814, pp. 95-96; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 39.
1849		2531	2393	4924	According to another statistical source, the Armenians totaled 4,985 (Caucasian Calendar for 1850, Tiflis, 1849, p. 49).	National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3818, pp. 95-96; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 39.
1850	986	2642	2551	5193		National Archives of Armenia, fund 56, list 1, file 2596, pp. 107-108; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 39.
1852		2636	2608	5244		National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3819, pp. 105-106; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 39.
1853		2650	2442	5092		National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 2743, pp. 16-18; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 39.
1854		2659	2470	5129		National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3825, pp. 68-69; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 39.
1857		2749	2511	5260		National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3830, pp. 74-75; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 39.
1858		2754	2521	5275		National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3831, pp. 41-42; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 39.
1860		2783	2524	5307		National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3833, pp. 108-109; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 39.
1861	902					National Archives of Armenia, fund 56, list 1, file 4254, p. 68; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 39.
1863	950	2780	2560	5340		National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3843, pp. 15-16; fund 56, list 1, file 4254, p. 76; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 39.
1864		2791	2574	5365		National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3846, pp. 23-24; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 39.
1865		2800	2578	5378		National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3848, p. 50; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 39.
1866	1045	3013	2689	5702		National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3848, p. 57; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 39.
1870		5200	4108	9308		National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3857, pp. 49-50; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 39.
1872		3805	3285	7090		National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3872, pp. 62-63; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 39.
1873				6506		National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3862, pp. 58-59; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 39.
1874				6626		National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3864, pp. 39-40; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 40.
1875				6719		National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3866, pp. 44-45; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 40.
1876				6759		National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3868, pp. 57-58; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 40.
1877		3562	3200	6762		National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3869, pp. 54-55; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 40.
1878		3528	3178	6706		National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3870, pp. 22-23; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 40.
1881		4195	3370	7565		National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3873, pp. 27-28; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 40.
1882		4297	3487	7784		National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3874, p. 30; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 40.
1883		4247	3403	7650		National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3875, pp. 56-57; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 40.
1884		4050	3854	7904		Caucasian Calendar for 1886, Tiflis, 1885, p. 124; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 40.
1885		4038	3818	7856		National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3877, p. 29; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 40.
1886		4837	4077	8914		Caucasian Calendar for 1898, Tiflis, 1897, pp. 28-29; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 40.
1887		4338	3987	8325		National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3880, p. 72; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 40.
1888		4408	4064	8472		National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3882, p. 130; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 40.
1889		4516	4166	8682		National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3884, pp. 226-227; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 40.
1890		4614	4294	8908		National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3887, p. 149; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 40.
1891		4751	4456	9207		National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3889, p. 148; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 40.
1892		4925	4482	9407		National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3891, p. 120; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 40.
1893		5002	5392	10394		National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3895, pp. 77-78; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 40.
1894		5103	5445	10548		National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3896, pp. 71-72; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 40.
1897		5426	5799	11225		National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3899, pp. 146-147; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 40.
1898		5538	5906	11444		National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3897, p. 168; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 40.
1899		5754	6125	11879		National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3903, pp. 125-126; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 40.
1900		5589	6270	11859		National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3905, pp. 89-90; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 40.
1901		5609	6354	11963		National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3906, pp. 96-97; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 40.
1902		5887	6546	12433		National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3907, pp. 22-23; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 40.
1905		5912	6570	12482		National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3912, pp. 265-266; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 40.
1906		5269	4820	10089		National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3915, p. 24; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 40.
1907				10382		National Archives of Armenia, fund 56, list 1, file 240, p. 2; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 40.
1908	1649	4736	4304	9040		National Archives of Armenia, fund 35, list 1, file 559, pp. 6-7; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 40.
1909		6135	6484	12619		National Archives of Armenia, fund Պ56, list 18, file 764, p. 116; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 40.
1910		3719	3548	7267		National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3917, pp. 55-56; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 40.
1912		6213	6482	12697		National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3919, pp. 61-62; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 40.
1916				12125		Caucasian Calendar for 1917, Tiflis, 1916, pp. 191-193; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 40.
1957				70000		“Sion,” 1957, April-May, p. 112; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 40.

Below follow the available statistical data regarding Gandzak’s Turkish citizens:

Dates	Total (Turks)	Notes	Source
1804	2367	50.79 % of the citizens were Turks.	Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 40.
1835	11100	68.51 % of the citizens were Turks.	Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 40.
1849	6590	50.70 % of the citizens were Turks.	Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 40.
1865	7133	47.29 % of the citizens were Turks.	Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 41.
1884	10320	54.38 % of the citizens were Turks.	Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 41.
1887	11139	54.88 % of the citizens were Turks.	Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 41.
1916	35619	61.69 % of the citizens were Turks.	Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 41.

Apart from its main population comprising Armenians and Turks, Gandzak also had some Russian residents.

Dates	Total (Russians)	Notes	Source
1886	131		Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 41.
1906	4261	11.54 % of the citizens were Russians.	Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 41.
1916	4815	8.34 % of the citizens were Russians.	Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 41.

Statistical reports relating to the quarters of Gandzak City:

Dates	Houses	Notes	Source
1804	28	Igirmidort Quarter	Collected Acts of the Caucasian Archaeological Commission, vol. 2, Tiflis, 1868, Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 35.
1804	15	Jraberd Quarter	Collected Acts of the Caucasian Archaeological Commission, vol. 2, Tiflis, 1868, p. 596; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 35.
1804	74	Norashen Quarter	Collected Acts of the Caucasian Archaeological Commission, vol. 2, Tiflis, 1868, p. 596; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 35.
1804	792	Kilisakyand Quarter	Collected Acts of the Caucasian Archaeological Commission, vol. 2, Tiflis, 1868, p. 596; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 34.
1861	53	Yerevantsots Quarter	National Archives of Armenia, fund 56, list 1, file 4254, p. 68; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 35.
1861	99	Norashen Quarter	National Archives of Armenia, fund 56, list 1, file 4254, p. 68; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 35.
1861	750	Kilisakyand Quarter	National Archives of Armenia, fund 56, list 1, file 4254, p. 68; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 35.
1866	40	Yerevantsots Quarter	National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3848, p. 57; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 35.
1866	124	Norashen Quarter	National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3848, p. 57; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 35.
1866	881	Kilisakyand Quarter	National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3848, p. 57; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 35.
1888	136	Chaylu Quarter	“Nor-Dar,” 1888, No. 158, p. 2; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 35.
1889	150	Norashen Quarter	National Archives of Armenia, fund 35, list 1, file 13, p. 78; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 35.
1897	31	Yerevantsots Quarter	“Ardzagank,” 1897, No. 9, p. 3; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 35.

The statistical records for several years enable us to calculate what percentage the Armenians formed among the citizens of other nationalities:

Dates	Notes	Source
1804	49.21 % of the citizens were Armenians.	Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 40.
1835	31.48 % of the citizens were Armenians.	Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 40.
1849	37.88 % of the citizens were Armenians.	Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 40.
1852	47.94 % of the citizens were Armenians.	Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 40.
1865	35.66 % of the citizens were Armenians.	Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 40.
1874	35.80 % of the citizens were Armenians.	Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 40.
1884	41.65 % of the citizens were Armenians.	Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 40.
1887	41.02 % of the citizens were Armenians.	Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 40.
1897	33.92 % of the citizens were Armenians.	Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 40.
1906	27.34 % of the citizens were Armenians.	Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 40.
1908	19.48 % of the citizens were Armenians.	Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 40.
1916	21.00 % of the citizens were Armenians.	Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 40.

Below follows a table representing the number of Gandzak’s schools, their pupils and teachers:

Dates	Schools	Teachers	Pupils	Notes	Source
1874	2	6	201		National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3864, pp. 49-50; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 41.
1875	2	10	210		National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3866, pp. 97-98; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 41.
1876	3	16	210		National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3850, p. 52; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 41.
1877	3	16	223		National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3850, p. 130; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 41.
1878	3	17			National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3850, p. 178; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 41.
1883	2	8	221		National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3875, pp. 136-137; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 41.
1894	5	22	622		National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3896, pp. 173-174; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 41.
1909	3	20	560		National Archives of Armenia, fund 57, list 2, file 1849, p. 17; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 41.
1911	4	23	722		National Archives of Armenia, fund 35, list 1, file 682, p. 57; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 41.