ARTSAKH HISTORICAL MONUMENTS

Chardakhlu 9 Monuments

Azerbaijan (Country) / Northern Artsakh (Area) / Shamkhor (District) / Chardakhlu (Village)

Location

The village is situated in the middle of the highway of Shamkor-Getabek, 15 kilometres southwest of the district centre, at an altitude of 1,240 to 1,360 metres above sea level.

Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 470.

Historical Introduction

Chardakhlu and its neighbourhood abound in a wide variety of monuments, including the remnants of some cyclopean and funerary structures. The territory of the village is also rich in metalware and clay ceramics dating from different periods. These archaeological findings, that were unearthed as a result of precipitation and the rotting of the soil stratum, are silent proof of the fact that the territory of Chardakhlu has been inhabited since time immemorial. These artefacts were studied by a number of scholars, including V. Belk, academicians Nikolski, Ivanovski and others.

Martirossian, G. My Heart is in Your Mountains, Chardakhlu. In: “Dashnaktsutiun,” 1991, No. 18, p. 2.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 470.

The territory of the village also abounds in specimens of material culture tracing back to the Christian era, but they have come down to us in a deplorable state of preservation.

Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 470.

Population

Living in a village devoid of woodland and impregnable mountains, the inhabitants of Chardakhlu often failed to put up a proper resistance against the enemy in case of necessity so that they were sometimes obliged to abandon their houses in search of a better place of residence. Thus, the continual Lezghin, Georgian and Turkish raids of the 18th century put them into harrowing living conditions, which eventually led to the total devastation of the village.

Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 470.

Resettlement
17 c․

In the mid-17th century, 200 families from Kanaker Village of Yerevan District moved to Tiflis and resettled “in the part of Havlabar which is occupied by some barracks at present.” Some time later, however, the Government suggested that they should move somewhere else in Tiflis, but the Armenians chose to take up living in Chardakhlu Village of Gandzak Khanate, thinking that they might face further resettlement if they stayed in Georgia: “...Chardakhlu was founded in 1794, i.e. a year before Hasan Khan’s invasion. Its present-day residents, who are emigrants from Tiflis, once lived in a site presently occupied by the barracks of Pokrovski in Havlabar. They cultivated soil in Kukia and the colony at present populated by German immigrants. Finding that place quite appropriate for the construction of barracks, the Russian authorities, who wanted to have such military installations in Tiflis, offered them free permanent residence in Kukia and the colony. These “clever” fellows (they constituted about 200 houses), however, found that suggestion unacceptable and left Tiflis, moving to Chardakhlu...”

“Meghu Hayastani,” 1884, No. 99, p. 2.
Gasparian, Hovh. Chardakhlu and Its History. In: “Nor-Dar,” 1889, No. 197, p. 3, in Armenian. The cemetery of Metz Shulaver retains a rectangular tombstone (154 x 63 x 25 centimetres) covering the remains of an Armenian from Chardakhlu. The following is a translation of the epitaph carved on it, “In this grave reposes Father Avak, the son of Arusdam from Chardakhlu. 1801.”
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 470.

Population

The only reminders of the existence of the former village the newcomers found in its site comprised “a ruined church and an ancient cemetery.” It is not certain whether the Armenians of Kanaker met any natives in Chardakhlu or not: they themselves might be from this village in origin, but there are no records to substantiate this presumption. Anyway, “hardly had a year passed when blood-thirsty Hasan Khan invaded its territory at a time when the local inhabitants were occupied with agricultural work. Horrified at his raids, they left everything at the mercy of destiny and fled away, finding refuge first in the gorge of Barsum and then in Garnaker, where they stayed for three years. Armenia eventually falling into Russian dominion, in 1826 50 out of these 200 families returned to the newly-built village of Chardakhlu, which was also later populated by some people from Yerevan, Gyunash and other places.”

Gasparian, Hovh. Chardakhlu and Its History. In: “Nor-Dar,” 1889, No. 197, p. 3.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 470.

Foundation
1822 — 1823 yy․

According to another record, “The village of Chardakhlu was established between 1822 and 1823...”
Without referring to any sources, Lalayan definitely states that “some of the inhabitants of Chardakhlu are resettlers from Persia and Karabakh. The others are the former Armenian residents of Havlabar, who took up residence in the village in 1823...”

“Nor-Dar,” 1896, No. 77, p. 2.
Lalayan, Yer. Gandzak District. In: “Azgagrakan Handes,” vol. 5, Tiflis, 1899, No. 1, p. 327.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 471.

Historical Introduction
1820 y․

All the aforementioned gives us grounds to suppose that the last influx of resettlers arrived in Chardakhlu in the mid-1820s.

Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 471.

Name Origin

Even today the Armenians of Chardakhlu remember how the name of their village is etymologized: “According to some people, the toponym comes from the word ‘chardakh,’ or the Persian word of ‘chhardagh.’ Probably, it derives from the existence of four mountains in the village: Chakher-yoli, Gharadagh, Gharam-oghli and Bardzr Khach (Khacheal).”

‘Char’ (‘chahar’) is the Persian equivalent for ‘four,’ and ‘dagh’ is that for ‘mountain’ in Turkish. The Armenian equivalent for ‘High Cross.’ Gasparian, Hovh. Chardakhlu and Its History. In: “Nor-Dar,” 1889, No. 197, p. 3.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 471.

Construction Activity

Chardakhlu is divided into three quarters which are situated at an altitude of 1,280 to 1,350 metres above sea level, each of them more than 3 kilometres long and a kilometre wide. The oldest of them are Gyunash and Khachi Sar extending respectively on the left and right banks of a tributary flowing in a south-northerly direction. Norashen lies north-eastward, around the highway leading to Shamkor. The oldest of the local houses, that predominantly represent double-storey stone structures, date back to the 1880s, the village mainly having single-floor earthen dwellings before that. A traveller who visited it in 1864 describes it in the following way, “Like the other villages, Chardakhlu mostly consists of huts housing both people and animals in winter... ...about the construction activity typical of Chardakhlu, considered one of the best Armenian villages: it represents a group of rambling diggings amidst some earthen cabins or others built of clay and stone.”

The Armenian equivalent for ‘Mount of Cross.’ Meves, V. Articles on Yelizavetpol District. In: “Kavkaz,” 1865, No. 44, p. 239 (the original reads, “Деревня Чардахлы состоит также большею частью из землянок, которых хозьяева живут зимою вместе с своим скотом... ...объ устройстве Чардахлы-лучшей изъ армянскихъ деревенъ. Чардахлы - это безпорядочная куча норъ, перемешанныхъ съ саклями, сложенными изъ земли, или глины и камней”).
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, pp. 471-472.

Waterwork
1900 y․

Originally, Chardakhlu did not know any shortage of water, but with its further enlargement, the local people faced the necessity of conveying the water of the nearby springs to their village. Despite its financial predicament, in 1900 “the poor quarter of the village has spent about 1,500 rubles for the establishment of its waterwork...”

“Mshak,” 1900, No. 132, p. 4.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 472.

Population
1840 — 1910 yy․

The study of a variety of sources containing information on Chardakhlu’s population reveals that it was a purely Armenian village whose inhabitants grew particularly numerous between 1840 and the 1910s. In the course of some years, certain reduction could be observed in their number due to epidemics and migration: thus, in 1878 “...about one hundred children fell prey to smallpox within a month and a half.”

“Mshak,” 1878, No. 169, p. 2.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 472:

Armenian-Turkish Fights of 1905 to 1906
1905 y․

On 30 November, the Turks mounted a major offensive against Chardakhlu, but the local people managed to repel it: “...between 25 and 30 November, the Turkish mob incessantly attacked Chardakhlu. Although each time their onslaughts were successfully warded off, they resumed fighting with still larger forces. ...On 30 November, the sides were engaged in a decisive fighting, during which the Turkish bandits suffered great losses. The Armenians had a single victim whose loss was a great blow to them: it was Shahen from Chardakhlu.” Having repelled the enemy from their village, the inhabitants of Chardakhlu went to rescue Barsum, whence they drove away the brigands with united forces on 5 December.

A-Do, The Armeno-Turkish Fights in Caucasia. Yerevan, 1907, pp. 341, 353.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, pp. 472-473.

1906 y․

The last Turkish assault against Chardakhlu was launched on 18 January 1906. The enemy occupied positions at the top of a hill called Sangyar-Tapa, 5 kilometres north-east of the village. Noticing them in due time, the Armenians attacked them bravely from both sides and parried them with a small number of forces. The shooting raged until 5 o’clock in the evening, the Turks eventually running away, leaving 6 horses to the Armenians and gathering the corpses of their fellow bandits instead of pillage. Unfortunately, the Armenians suffered a victim and two casualties during this fighting.

“Mshak,” No. 52, 9 March 1906, p. 1.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 473.

Great Patriotic War

As courageous patriots, the Armenians of Chardakhlu manifested their valour and devotion to their homeland in the days of World War II as well. Marshals Hovhannes Baghramian and Hamazasp Babajanian, both natives of this village, made an immense contribution to the victory won against the Nazi invaders. Mention should also be made of General-Major Gurgen Manassian, Alexandre Martirossian, Guards Colonel Smbat Danielian, H. Babajanian’s elder brother, Lieutenant Colonel Gurgen Babajanian, and others, who were commanders of different regiments and divisions. On the whole, Chardakhlu participated in the war with 1,500 of its inhabitants, 350 of whom did not return from the battle-field. The village is also known to have reared 20 colonels and lieutenant colonels, 35 majors, 28 captains... In perpetuation of the memory of their compatriots who had sacrificed their lives on the front, the grateful Armenians of Chardakhlu erected a memorial in the centre of the village and founded a Museum of Military Glory in the site of Hovhannes Baghramian’s paternal house.

Ghalachian, K. Memorials of Glory: An Album. Yerevan, 1986, p. 12.
Also see Chardakhlu in Raphael Manassian’s Memoirs, in Armenian. In: “Gardmank,” 1996, No. 2, p. 3.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 473.

Outstanding Personalities

The village boasts the high reputation of being a cradle of Armenian military glory: it is the birthplace of Marshals Hovhannes Baghramian and Hamazasp Babajanian, Senior Adviser of the Russian Empire and Major-General of Medical Service Jahan Khachatur Margarian as well as many other distinguished army commanders.

Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 477.

Jahan (Ivan) Margarian (born on 5 May 1844, he died in 1934) received primary education at the parish school of his native village, after which he continued his studies in the Aristocratic Gymnasium of Tiflis and the Imperial Academy of Medicine and Surgery of St. Petersburg, Russia. He participated in a great number of battles particularly during the Russo-Turkish war of 1877 to 1878 and was awarded the highest medals for his valour and heroism. During his service, Margarian did not forget his birthplace and made a great contribution to its welfare and prosperity. After he had saved Nikolai II’s wife from certain death, the emperor fulfilled his request in token of gratitude: “...Remembering that the Turks of Shamkhor had illegally appropriated about a thousand hectares of orchards belonging to his native village, that Armenian from Chardakhlu asked the king to return those lands to his compatriots. On the tsar’s order, they were restituted to their proper owners and were afterwards referred to as ‘Jahan Bey’s Lands.’” In the years of famine, Jahan Margarian rendered aid to his fellow villagers through his own means: he allocated them corn, agricultural machinery and means to exterminate vermin.

Chardakhlu in Raphael Manassian’s Memoirs, p. 3. Another record states the following with this regard, “King Nikolai II’s wife Shura was seriously ill and the doctors of Moscow were very pessimistic about her recovery. After an elderly serviceman had told the king about Jahanbek Margarian, he was invited to the court and stayed there for three months, eventually curing the queen and saving her life” (Chardakhlu in Raphael Manassian’s Memoirs. In: “Gardmank,” No. 2, 1996, p. 3). Nahatakian, R. The Forefather of Glorious Marshals. In: “Hay Ashkhar,” No. 5 (23), 1992. Jahan Margarian founded a children’s hospital in Kojor, a summer resort situated near Tiflis.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 477.

Type Photo
View Partial view
Author Samvel Karapetyan
Source Black-and-white negative
Date 1980 — 1982 yy․

The available statistical data on the number of the local population are as follows:

Dates	Armenian Houses	Armenians (Male)	Armenians (Female)	Total (Armenians)	Notes	Source
1840	40	158	136	294		National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3800, p. 7; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 472.
1841		162	152	314		National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3802, pp. 57-58; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 472.
1842		160	140	300		National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3805, pp. 84-85; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 472.
1844		206	184	390		National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3809, pp. 73-74; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 472.
1849		246	203	449		National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3818, pp. 75-76; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 472.
1851	65	240	183	423		National Archives of Armenia, fund 56, list 1, file 2596, p. 53; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 472.
1853		315	281	596		National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 2743, pp. 102-103; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 472.
1866	90					National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3848, p. 86; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 472.
1872		548	330	878		National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3872, pp. 63-64; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 472.
1877		522	326	848		National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3869, pp. 55-56; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 472.
1878	120	502	306	808		National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3870, pp. 23-24; “Mshak,”, 1878, No. 169, p. 2; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 472.
1880		548	330	878		National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3872, pp. 31-32; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 472.
1881		565	343	908		National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3873, pp. 27-28; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 472.
1882		589	360	949		National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3874, p. 30; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 472.
1883		608	377	985		National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3875, pp. 56-57; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 472.
1884	120					“Meghu Hayastani,” 1884, No. 99, p. 2; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 472.
1885	118	602	403	1005		National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3877, p. 30; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 472.
1886	202	753	561	1314	Another source reports 118 houses (“Ardzagank,” 1888, No. 7, p. 87).	Yelizavetpol Province: A Statistical Survey Based on the Family Lists of Caucasia's Population. Tiflis, 1888, pp. 88-89; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 472.
1887		685	469	1154		National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3880, p. 74; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 472.
1888		713	487	1200		National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3882, p. 131; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 472.
1889	204	742	501	1243		National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3884, pp. 227-228. Also see “Nor-Dar,” 1889, No. 197, p. 3; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 472.
1890		760	520	1280		National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3887, p. 150; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 472.
1891		757	528	1285	Another source reports 200 houses with 1,320 inhabitants, including 770 males and 550 females (Barkhutariants, M. Artsakh. Baku, 1895, p. 321).	National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3889, p. 149; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 472.
1892		779	357	1136		National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3891, p. 121; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 472.
1893		821	381	1202		National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3895, pp. 78-79; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 472.
1894		838	405	1243		National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3896, pp. 174-175; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 472.
1897		921	501	1422		National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3899, pp. 147-148; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 472.
1898		946	526	1472		National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3897, p. 170; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 472.
1899		941	521	1462		National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3903, pp. 127-128; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 472.
1900		982	538	1520		National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3905, pp. 93-94; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 472.
1901		1008	569	1577		National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3906, pp. 99-100; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 472.
1902		1025	600	1625		National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3907, pp. 24-25; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 472.
1905		1033	608	1641		National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3912, pp. 267-268; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 472.
1906		1056	934	1990		National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3915, p. 24; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 472.
1907				1101		National Archives of Armenia, fund 56, list 1, file 240, p. 2; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 472.
1908	200	1299	1111	2410	According to another statistical source of 1908, the village had 2,400 residents (Caucasian Calendar for 1910, Tiflis, 1909, p. 411).	National Archives of Armenia, fund 35, list 1, file 559, p. 11; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 472.
1909		1135	742	1877		National Archives of Armenia, fund 56, list 18, file 764, p. 118; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 472.
1910		1355	1162	2517		National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3917, pp. 59-60; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 472.
1912		1139	752	1891		National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3919, pp. 63-64; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 472.
1914				2400		Caucasian Calendar for 1915, Tiflis, 1914, p. 205; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 472.
1917	331			1841		National Archives of Armenia, fund 150, list 1, file 59, p. 5; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 472.
1976				1526		Soviet Azerbaijanian Encyclopedia, vol. 1, Baku, 1976, p. 535; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 472.
1985	663			2527		As attested by the Village Council. Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 472.