Gavazan Castle :: ARTSAKH HISTORICAL MONUMENTS

Gavazan Castle

Azerbaijan / Northern Artsakh / Ghazakh / Abasbeyli

Location

The stronghold towers at the summit of a lofty mountain, within 1.5 kilometres of the left bank of the river Voskepar, a kilometre north-west of Abasbeyli, 15 kilometres west of the district centre.

Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 294.

Historical Introduction
11 c․

The earliest record on the monument, also known by the names of Gavarzin, Gevarzin, Kavazin and Kozin, dates back to the ‘60s of the 11th century, when Georgian King Bagrat IV (1027 to 1072) attacked Tpkhis, then under the dominion of Gandzak Emir Patlun. The latter was taken captive by Ivane Orbelian’s troops and was set free only after he had returned “…Tpkhis, Gag and Kozin…” to the Georgian king.

A Brief History of Georgia by historian Juansher. Venice, 1884, p. 114.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 294.

1123 y․

In 1123 Georgian King David the Builder (1073 to 1125) “...reconquered the Armenian forts of Dmanis, Gag, Terunakan and Kavazin…” from the Seljuks.

Melikset-Bek, L. M. Georgian Sources about Armenia and Armenians, vol. 1, Yerevan, 1934, p. 218.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 294.

13 c․

In the ‘30s of the 13th century, the Mongol-Tartars, led by Molar Nuin, also occupied “…the impregnable castle of Kavazin…”

History by Vardan Vardapet. Venice, 1862, p. 145.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 294.

1436 y․

In 1436 Gavazan provided haven for some Christians escaping the enemy invasions: “…When we reached Aghstev, we were attacked by Mongol Jaghat’s horsemen, who robbed us to the very last shreds of clothing, stripping us even of our shoes and leaving us almost stark naked in that severe cold. Then we got to the stronghold of Gavazan, where we were given some garments to hide our naked bodies.”

Colophons, 15th century, vol. 1, Yerevan, 1974, p. 461. Compiled by Hakobian, V., Hovhannissian, A.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 294.

Description
19 c․

Topographical Records. The earliest description of the monument dates back to the first half of the 19th century. A visitor who saw it writes, “The castle, which is built of a single block of rock, towers high in the plain of Gag. It has a water basin and quite a number of dwelling rooms, which served as haven at different periods. This is rather an impregnable fortification, its only accessible section being strengthened by ramparts.”

Jalaliants, S. A Travel to Great Armenia, part 1, Tpghis, 1842, p. 156.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, pp. 294-295.

Topographical Records. Another visitor describes Gavazan in the following manner, “On the left bank of the stream Voskepar (Joghaz) towers a simple, lofty, greyish rock, which is both amazing and formidable. In times bygone, some fortified walls were built at its eastern foot, with rooms and cells inside. It is only one of them that has a well to provide the entire castle with water that is kept in two stone reservoirs. You can ascend the top of the rock only if you overcome an extremely dangerous, narrow, utterly steep and dreadful path in the north. Its surface, which is almost entirely plain, is about two kals8 long… This is what is known as the famous stronghold of Gavarzin. In the west of the rock can be seen a large crevice behind which a cave of rather great dimensions is said to be located, but at present there is no road leading to it. Time and again, eagles find some rotten shreds of carpets in these caves and throw them down.”

‘Kal,’ i.e. the Armenian equivalent for ‘threshing-floor,’ is an ancient unit of area equal to about 50 square metres.
Barkhutariants, M. Artsakh. Baku, 1895, p. 395.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 295.

Historical Introduction
1960 — 1961 yy․

Gavazan's Defense System. The castle, rising high on the north-eastern slanting slope of a rocky mountain peak (400 metres), has a dominating position over the area, where at present the ruins of its citadel and a fortress town are preserved. Between 1960 and 1961, the territory was investigated by a group of researchers from the Institute of Archaeology of the Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Armenia.

Barseghian, L., Khachatrian, Zh. About Two Castles of Medieval Armenia. In: “Bulletin of the Academy of Sciences of the Armenian SSR,” 1962, No. 7, pp. 74-76, in Armenian.
Also see Archimandrite Michael Hovhannissian. The Castles of Armenia. Venice, 1970, pp. 493-494, in Armenian; 295.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 295.

Architectural Description

The citadel (exterior dimensions: 140 x 40 metres) was built of yellow limestone. With its entrance opening in the west, it used to be fortified by 7 semi-circular towers, which have survived to a height of 4 to 7 metres.

Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 295.

The fortress town, which used to be surrounded by ramparts, extended 400 metres north of the citadel. Its fortified walls were built of yellow limestone and rough blocks of rock.

Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, pp. 295-296.

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Author Archive
Source Graphical Drawing

GAVAZAN (GAVARZIN). Reprinted from: Alishan, Gh. History of the Armenians. Venice, 1901, p. 389 (in Armenian).

Type Photo
View Exterior
Direction From the north
Author Samvel Karapetyan
Source Black-and-white negative
Date 1980 — 1982 yy․

GAVAZAN (GAVARZIN). The mountain seen from the north

Type Photo
View Exterior
Direction From the north
Author Samvel Karapetyan
Source Black-and-white negative
Date 1980 — 1982 yy․

GAVAZAN (GAVARZIN). The mountain seen from the north

Type Photo
View Exterior
Author Samvel Karapetyan
Source Black-and-white negative
Date 1980 y․

GAVAZAN (GAVARZIN). Partial views of the ramparts.

Type Photo
View Exterior
Author Samvel Karapetyan
Source Black-and-white negative
Date 1980 y․

GAVAZAN (GAVARZIN). Partial views of the ramparts

Type Photo
View Exterior
Author Samvel Karapetyan
Source Black-and-white negative
Date 1980 y․

GAVAZAN (GAVARZIN). Partial views of the ramparts.

Type Photo
View Exterior
Author Samvel Karapetyan
Source Black-and-white negative
Date 1980 y․

GAVAZAN (GAVARZIN). A vaulted structure on the northern slope of the mountain of the castle

Type Measurement
View Exterior
Author Samvel Karapetyan
Source Sketch

The plan of the citadel

Name	Year/Century	Etymology
Gavarzin
Gevarzin
Kavazin
Kozin