ARTSAKH HISTORICAL MONUMENTS

Hartshangist 30 Monuments

Azerbaijan (Country) / Northern Artsakh (Area) / Dashkesan (District) / Hartshangist (Village)

Location

The village is situated 11 kilometres north of the district centre, at an altitude of 1,380 to 1,500 metres above sea level.

Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 156.

Mines

Its neighbourhood abounds in quarries providing stone for the adjacent villages and even Getabek, where it was used for the purpose of building furnaces.

Lalayan, Yer. Gandzak District. In: “Azgagrakan Handes,” vol. 5, Tiflis, 1899, No. 1, p. 309.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 156.

Monuments

Archaeological monuments. The territory of present-day Chovdar has been inhabited since time immemorial, which is attested by different archaeological finds discovered in the village and its vicinity. They include various clay vessels, bronze weapons, ornaments, etc., dating back to the period between the Bronze and Iron Ages and having their counterparts in the monuments of the late Bronze Age found in Armenia. Similar items were also unearthed in the cists D. M. Sharifov excavated in Chovdar in 1926.

Sadikhzade, Sh. G. About the Archaeological Finds Accidentally Unearthed in the Vicinity of Chovdar Village. In: “Izvestya Akademii Nauk Azerbaijanskoy SSR,” a series of social sciences, 1963, No. 6, pp. 13-25, in Russian.
Sharifov, D. M. Excavations near Chovdar Village of Touz District. In: “Proceedings of the Azerbaijanian Committee of Preservation of Ancient Historical and Natural Monuments,” part 4, copy-book 2, Baku, 1929, pp. 247-248, in Russian.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 156.

Name Origin
19 c․

The historical name of the village, i.e. Hartshangist, is repeatedly mentioned in the colophons of a number of manuscripts. It is also used parallel with its new name of Chovdar in the records of the late 19th century.

Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 156.

1886 y․

Touching upon the origin of the toponym, the correspondent of the “Ardzagank” periodical, who had, probably, previously spoken to the elderly inhabitants of the village on the subject, wrote the following in 1886, “It should be borne in mind that the local people resettled in this grave reposes from the village of Baghshik located within an hour’s distance of Chovdar... It is not clear whether ‘Hartshangist’ (‘Hartsankis’) is the name of their previous village or not. Presumably, present-day Chovdar had been a populated village named Hartsankis long before Baghshik inhabitants moved there. We are inclined to adhere to this presumption...”

"Ardzagank," 1886, No. 20, p. 296.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 156.

According to a viewpoint, ‘Hartshangist,’ literally meaning ‘Fathers’ Graves’ in the Armenian language, derives from a cemetery lying at the top of a mountain south-west of the village: “A lot of pagan and Christian graves are preserved on the mountain: perhaps, it is due to the existence of this cemetery that the village is called Harts-Hangist.”

‘Harts’ means ‘of fathers’ in Grabar, i.e. the classical Armenian language, and ‘hangist’ is the Armenian equivalent for ‘repose, eternal rest.’ Barkhutariants, M. Artsakh. Baku, 1895, p. 292.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 156.

As for the foreign word of ‘Chovdar,’ it literally means ‘animal dealer.’

Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 156.

Scriptoria
17 c․

Below follow excerpts from several 17th-century Gospels created in the adjacent monastery of Matznaberd and mentioning the toponym Hartshankis:

Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 156.

“...I again beg you ... to remember those who provided us with haven and gave us our piece of daily bread which we failed to find anywhere, wandering from Gandzasar to Hartshankis. Arriving at the village, we were given a cordial welcome. May God bestow all His grace upon the young and the old of this village and may their souls reach the kingdom of heaven” (from an undated Gospel).

"Ardzagank," 1886, No. 20, p. 296.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, pp. 157-158.

1666 y․

“...in Malaznaberd, Hartsankis Village of Gyanja, under Supreme Pontiff of Aghvank His Holiness Petros, ... Archimandrite Khachatur and Persian King Shah Abbas Junior, in the year 1666 of the Armenian era...” (from a Gospel created in 1666).

"Ardzagank," 1886, No. 20, p. 296.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 157.

1669 y․

This Holy Gospel was created by the Lord’s humble servant Hovhannes in the holy monastery of Malaznaberd located in Hartsanki Village of Gandzak under Supreme Pontiff of Aghvank His Holiness Petros and Persian Shah Suleyman. It was completed in bitter times when the base enemy constantly persecuted the Christian nation and increased taxes day after day... (from another Gospel dating back to 1669).

"Ardzagank," 1886, No. 20, p. 296.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 157.

1683 y․

Another Gospel created in 1683 and intended for a certain Nazar (copied and bound by Priest Hovhannes, illustrated by Priest Barsegh and Deacon Ghazar) mentions the village by the name of Hertsankis.

A Catalogue of Armenian Manuscripts of the Matenadaran after Mashtots, vol. 1, Yerevan, 1965, manuscript No. 3994.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 157.

Population
1804 y․

The data relating to the population of Hartshangist between 1804 and 1914 reveal that they mainly grew amounting to 1614, the greatest number ever recorded, in 1910. The reduction sometimes observed in their number was due to epidemics and resettlement: thus, from November 1899 until April 1900, 34 children fell victim to smallpox.

“Mshak,” 1900, No. 77, p. 2.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, pp. 157-158.

1839 y․

Below follows a list of the people living in Hartshangist in 1839:
“1 Widower Maki Sahakian as well as his sons Martiros, and Harutiun with his wife Horom;
2 Ghukas Hakobov, his wife Sultan as well as their children Arzuman, Hakob, Khallu and Vardi;
3 Maki Nazarov, his wife Herik as well as their daughters Khatayi and Tamam; Maki’s brothers Martiros, and Margar with his wife Voski;
4 Harutiun Nersesov, his wife Pari, their sons Nerses, Movses with his daughter Nazi, and Stepan with his wife Herik;
5 Aghajan Ohanov, his wife Margaret, their sons Ohannes and Karapet as well as their daughters Horomsim and Tangi; Aghajan’s brothers 1. Abraham with his wife Voski as well as his daughters Khatun, Pari and Javahir; 2. Hovsep with his spouse Aziz, his daughter Sharmagh as well as his sons Petros and Astvatzatur;
6 Malkhas Malkhasov, his wife Mariam, their son Grigor as well as their daughters Pari and Sabed; Malkhas’ brother Anton, his wife Herik as well as their children Mankasar and Nazlu;
7 Vardan Malkhasov, his wife Sandukht, their sons Gevorg and Sahak as well as their daughters Khatayi and Pari;
8 Arakel Shervanov, his wife Horomsim as well as their sons Yesayi and Arustam; Arakel’s brother Maki, his wife Herik and their son Harutiun;
9 Sargis Nazarov, his wife Anna, their sons Mesrop with his wife Pari, his children Maki and Salbi as well as Arakel with his wife Horomsim, his son Hakob and his daughter Voski;
10 Harutiun Yeghiazarian, his wife Aziz, their sons 1. Movses with his wife Herik as well as his children Sargis and Nazi; 2. Mateos with his wife Sultan as well as their children Ghazar, Khanum, Yasaman and Dovlat; 3. Hovhannes with his spouse Horomsim, his daughter Margaret, his daughter-in-law Mariam, her son Ohanes as well as her daughters Pari, Nakhshun, Khatun and Sharmagh;
11 Allahverdi Harutiunov, his mother Zani, his wife Khallu as well as their children Grigor, Harutiun, Annman and Sirunna;
12 Sahak Vardanov with his wife Sarah and his daughter Margaret;
13 Badal Grigorov, his wife Mariam as well as their son Sargis and their daughter Ghumash;
14 Babajan Grigorian, his wife Herik, their sons Grigor, and Stepan with his wife Herik and his daughter Zada; Babajan’s brothers 1. Hakob with his wife Sarah as well as his children Anton, Hovhannes, Margaret and Vardi; 2. Vardan with his wife Sarah, his daughter Anna as well as his sons Maki, Mateos and Baghdasar;
15 Gabriel Ter-Khachaturov, his wife Magtagh, his daughter Mariam as well as his sons Hakob and Avag;
16 Abgar Grigorov, his wife Mariam as well as their sons Simeon, Grigor and Nerses;
17 Michael Harutiunian, his wife Herik as well as their children Ghazar, Harutiun and Vardi; Michael’s brother Mesrop, his wife Sabet, their son Arzuman as well as their daughters Sultan and Anna;
18 Stepan Davidov, his wife Javahir, their sons David and Sargis as well as their daughters Shahgul, Margaret and Pari;
19 Abraham Ghazarov, his wife Horomsim, their daughter Annman as well as their sons Karapet and Movses;
20 Khachatur Kirakosov, his mother Murvat, his wife Sanam, their son Sargis as well as their daughters Sabed, Mariam and Zada; Khachatur’s brother Soghomon, his wife Zani, their daughter Khatum as well as their sons Sargis and Grigor;
21 Harutiun Voskanov, his wife Anna, their sons Mkhitar, Voskan and Michael as well as their daughters Sandukht and Nakhshun; Harutiun’s brothers 1. Martiros with his wife Guli, his son Vardazar as well as his daughters Javahir, Sultan and Herik; 2. Allahverdi with his wife Zarneshan as well as his sons Grigor, Sargis and Maki;
22 Arakel Abrahamian, his wife Sabet, their sons Ghevond and Sargis as well as their daughters Tellu and Tamam;
23 Sahak Ter-Avagian, his mother Mariam, his wife Khatayi, their daughter Sona as well as their sons Avag, Mkrtich, Poghos and Petros;
24 Vardanan Laliov, his wife Margaret, their son Harutiun as well as their daughters Gyuli and Sirunna.”

National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3800, p. 27.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 258.

Great Patriotic War

Hartshangist participated in World War II with 380 of its inhabitants, 178 of whom sacrificed their lives on the battle-field.

Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 159.

Their grateful fellow villagers built a memorial and a museum to perpetuate their memory.

Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 159.

One of them, First Lieutenant Ghazaros Avetis Avagian (1918 to 1945) was awarded the honourary title of Hero of the Soviet Union after his death.

Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 159.

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Date 1980 y․

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Name	Year/Century	Etymology
Chovdar

The available statistical records on the number of the population of Hartshangist during the aforementioned period are as follows:

Dates	Armenian Houses	Armenians (Male)	Armenians (Female)	Total (Armenians)	Notes	Source
1804	9	25	21	46		Collected Acts of the Caucasian Archaeological Commission, vol. 2, Tiflis, 1868, p. 596. In: Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 158.
1839	24	102	100	202		National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3800, p. 27. In: Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 158.
1845		173	155	328		National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3811, pp. 4-5. In: Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 158.
1847		175	180	355		National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3814, pp. 97-98. In: Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 158.
1849		186	160	346		National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3818, pp. 96-97. In: Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 158.
1850	32	192	189	381		National Archives of Armenia, fund 56, list 1, file 2596, p. 110. In: Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 158.
1852		199	194	393		National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3819, pp. 106-107. In: Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 158.
1861	35					National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3835, pp. 148-149. In: Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 158.
1862	35					National Archives of Armenia, fund 56, list 1, file 4254, p. 28. In: Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 159.
1866	62	297	226	523		National Archives of Armenia, fund 56, list 1, file 3848, p. 57. In: Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 159.
1869	63					National Archives of Armenia, fund 56, list 1, file 4254, p. 142. In: Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 159.
1870		312	236	548		National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3857, pp. 49-50. In: Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 159.
1872		385	254	639		National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3872, pp. 62-63. In: Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 159.
1873				573		National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3862, pp. 59-60. In: Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 159.
1875				545		National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3866, pp. 45-46. In: Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 159.
1876				563		National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3868, pp. 57-58. In: Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 159.
1877		358	223	581		National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3869, pp. 55-56. In: Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 159.
1878		361	229	590		National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3870, pp. 23-24. In: Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 159.
1881		393	266	659		National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3879, pp. 27-28. In: Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 159.
1882		398	274	672		National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3874, p. 30. In: Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 159.
1883		416	283	699		National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3875, pp. 56-57. In: Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 159.
1885	90	250	225	175		National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3877, p. 30. Also see "Ardzagank," 1885, No. 4, p. 51. In: Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 159.
1886	98	472	383	855	According to another source, the village had 60 houses in the same year (“Ardzagank,” 1886, No. 20, p. 295).	Yelizavetpol Province: A Statistical Survey Based on the Family Lists of Caucasia's Population. Tiflis, 1888, pp. 78-79. In: Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 159.
1887		284	265	549		National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3880, p. 74. In: Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 159.
1888		302	276	578		National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3882, p. 131. In: Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 159.
1889		224	303	527		National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3884, pp. 228-229. In: Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 159.
1890		236	319	555		National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3887, p. 150. In: Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 159.
1891		246	326	572		National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3889, p. 149. In: Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 159.
1892		366	332	698		National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3891, p. 121. In: Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 159.
1893		381	338	719		National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3895, pp. 78-79. In: Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 159.
1894		395	352	747		National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3896, pp. 174-175. In: Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 159.
1897		454	386	840		National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3899, pp. 147-148. In: Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 159.
1898		470	395	865		National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3897 p. 169. In: Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 159.
1899		476	401	877		National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3903, pp. 128-129. In: Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 159.
1900		509	421	930		National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3905, pp. 94-95. In: Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 159.
1901		519	425	944		National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3906, pp. 100-101. In: Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 159.
1902		532	435	967		National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3907, pp. 23-24. In: Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 159.
1905		536	434	970		National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3912, pp. 226-267. In: Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 159.
1906		592	475	1067		National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3915, p. 24. In: Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 159.
1907				1356		National Archives of Armenia, fund 56, list 1, file 240, p. 2. In: Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 159.
1908	170	905	622	1519	Another statistical source of 1908 mentions 1,095 inhabitants for that year (Caucasian Calendar for 1910, Tiflis, 1909, p. 416).	National Archives of Armenia, fund 35, list 1, file 559, p. 12. In: Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 159.
1909		620	482	1102	Another statistical source mentions 1,519 residents (Caucasian Calendar for 1910, Tiflis, 1909, p. 207).	National Archives of Armenia, fund 56, list 18, file 764, p. 117. In: Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 159.
1910		959	655	1614		National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3917, pp. 60-61. In: Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 159.
1912		631	485	1116		National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3919, pp. 62-63. In: Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 159.
1914				1227		Caucasian Calendar for 1915, Tiflis, 1914, p. 207. In: Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 159.
1917	99			1227		Avetissian, M. M. A Reference Book on the Settlements and Population Number of Nagorno Karabakh and Zangezur (1917). In: “Banber Hayastani Arkhivneri,” 1991, No. 3, p. 166. In: Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 159.