ARTSAKH HISTORICAL MONUMENTS

Topalhasanli Monuments

Azerbaijan (Country) / Northern Artsakh (Area) / Khanlar (District) / Topalhasanli (Village)

Location

It extends on the left bank of the river Gandzak, 4 kilometres south-west of the district centre, at an altitude of 700 to 790 metres above sea level.

Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 433.

Historical Introduction
1880 y․

The settlement, dating back to the late 1880s.

Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 433.

Situated on the highway connecting the Armenian villages of Brajur, Mirzik, Voskanapat, and partly Murut with Gandzak City, Topalhasanli had a position of pivotal importance: “Some ten years ago, a den of bandits called Topal-Hasanlu was established immediately in the vicinity of Helenendorf, within ten versts of Gandzak City. The gangsters, whose activity is highly doubtful, hold the inhabitants of the neighbourhood in constant horror... Topal-Hasanlu is a true scourge for them: the only motto of that haunt of various criminal elements is ‘theft and murder,’ for they are unable to do any other work...”

“Mshak,” 1900, No. 92, p. 1.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 433.

Occupation

The main occupation of the people dwelling in Topal-Hasanli was to lie in ambush for passers-by and travellers for the purpose of robbing and killing them. What is even more noteworthy, they did the same in peaceful times as well: “...Topalhasanlu represents a den of bandits lying near the highway, within about three versts of Helenendorf. Even in peaceful times, it holds the adjacent Armenian villages as well as the German inhabitants of the colony and Gandzak Armenians in constant terror, always providing a considerable number of prisoners for the jails and Sakhalin.”

“Mshak,” 1906, No. 15, p. 1.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 433.

Armenian-Turkish Fights of 1905 to 1906
1905 y․

The Armeno-Turkish fights of 1905 to 1906 gave the Turkish residents of Topalhasanli “Village” a brilliant opportunity to manifest all their professional skills. The number of their victims increased with every single passing day: carters and travellers were killed on the roads; lumbermen were murdered in the woods, and shepherds in the mountains. They stole whatever fell into their hands: “...The people the Turks of Topalhasanlu have murdered since the foundation of their village far outnumber its present-day inhabitants. Baghmanlar and Topal-Hasanlu are like two vicious sisters...”

“Mshak,” 1906, No. 78, p. 2.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 433.

1905 y․

The Turkish inhabitants of Topalhasanli took an active part in the plunder and destruction of the Armenian shops of Gandzak’s market on 18 November 1905. “Encouraged by their success,” they also invaded the Armenian-populated villages in the vicinity of the city.

Varandian, M. History of Hay Heghapokhakan Dashnaktsutiun. Yerevan, 1992, p. 350.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 433.

1905 y․

Sooner or later, all forces of evil and vile are held to accountability: 22 December of 1905 marked a doomsday for the inhabitants of Topalhasanli who had been perpetrating various crimes for a decade and a half. With their patience exhausted, the Armenians of the neighbourhood taught a good lesson to them: “...That village gave birth to countless ordinary thieves, highwaymen and even gangs of criminals. ...Thinking that it was time they should get even with all that to restore peace in the region, the Armenians launched fighting on 22 December. ...after stubborn, but futile resistance, the brigands took to their heels, leaving about 20 corpses in the streets. In a gorge called Agh-Kyorpi, the Armenians also crushed some Turks from the city who were hurrying to rescue their compatriots in Topalhasanli. Having previously blocked the passage of the ravine, they made the Turks run away and scatter here and there...”

A-Do, The Armeno-Turkish Fights in Caucasia. Yerevan, 1907, pp. 338-339.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 433.

1905 y․

Below follows a record with interesting details relating to the aforementioned events: “22 December 1905. At sunrise a group of 160 warriors led by a courageous teacher758 walked towards Topal-Hasanlu, encircled it in three directions and started showering it with volleys. Although the Turks answered them from their positions, the number of those attacking and group leader Martiros’ trumpet had already terrified them. The enemy fired without any order and discipline so that they were not able to cause any injury to the Armenians. After having shot several volleys, they broke into the village and put the escaping Turkish mob (foreseeing that attack, the enemy had arranged for the evacuation of the women and children) to a merciless slaughter. The entire village represented a scene of unspeakable horror... Unwilling to confine himself to killing the Turks, at the first moments of the breakthrough, Hambo slipped into the remote corners of the village with one of his friends and burnt down a house with a pile of grass. With the fire quickly spreading, everybody ran away, except for an aged woman whom the Armenians spared and set free so that she would tell everybody about what had happened... Topal-Hasanlu was reduced to a heap of ruins. The Armenians, who had not suffered a single victim, took about a thousand sheep, 160 head of cattle, 30 horses and mules as well as some house property mostly robbed from Gandzak Armenians...”

That valorous teacher was fidayi Martiros from Yonjalu Village of Bulanekh District of Western Armenia, who had joined the ranks of Hay Heghapokhakan Dashnaktsutiun since 1891.
Varandian, M. History of Hay Heghapokhakan Dashnaktsutiun. Yerevan, 1992, p. 351.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, pp. 433-434.

Several months later, the authorities started discussing the issue of returning the Turkish refugees, but naturally, the Armenian and German inhabitants of the neighbourhood did not wish it at all: “You are aware that the Turkish village of Topalhasanlu has been destroyed and its inhabitants scattered in various places (most of them have resettled in Gandzak’s Baghmanlar Quarter). Now the question is whether or not the former residents of Topal-Hasanlu should be permitted to come back to their village. Among those opposing that are the inhabitants of the German colony, as they were constantly attacked and plundered by them. The local administrative bodies are to consider the issue.”

“Mshak,” No. 57, 15 March 1906, p. 1.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 434.

1914 y․

Despite the Armenians’ and Germans’ disapproval, the former inhabitants of Topalhasanli were granted permission to return and resettle in their village. On 1 January 1914, they totaled 430.

Caucasian Calendar for 1915, Tiflis, 1914, p. 189. The fact that in 1908 the village had 825 inhabitants is not trustworthy at all (Caucasian Calendar for 1910, Tiflis, 1909, p. 381).
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 434:

With the passing decades, the region underwent drastic changes: thus, in 1941 the Germans were banished, and in 1988 the Armenians deported so that the entire area shifted into Turkish possession. As for Topalhasanli, the number of the bandits living there grew from generation to generation, amounting to 1,406 in 1985. As alleged by the Soviet Azerbaijanian Encyclopedia, in the same year, the village had a library, a secondary school, a house of culture and a medical aid post. Its inhabitants grew corn, fruits and grapes.

Soviet Azerbaijanian Encyclopedia, vol. 9, Baku, 1986, p. 314.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 434.

20 c․

What abominable history in the early 20th century and what a “bright” mode of life at the end of the same century! It took many nations of the world long centuries to attain a high level of civilization, whereas the Azeri Turks acquired it within only several decades. May they be “glorified and highly honoured” for that great achievement!