NakhichevanMonuments AzerbaijaniHistoryHe ritage

Azerbaijani Historic and Cultural Heritage: The Case of Monuments in Nakhchivan (Naxçıvan)by Adil Baguirov, Ph.D.: 

Azerbaijani Historic and Cultural Heritage: The Case of Monuments in Nakhchivan (Naxçıvan) by Adil Baguirov, Ph.D. “Role of History and Literature in the Formation of Azerbaijani National Identity” panel at the SECOND ANNUAL AZERBAIJANI AMERICAN SCHOLARLY FORUM (AASF’2007), University of California at Berkeley, San Francisco, California, USA, December 1, 2007 http://www.NakhichevanMonuments.com

Contents of the presentation: 

Contents of the presentation

History of Nakhchivan (Naxçıvan): 

History of Nakhchivan (Naxçıvan)

Map of Caucasian Albania, V c. A.D.: 

Map of Caucasian Albania, V c. A.D. Map copyright © 2005 by Prof. Farida Mamedova

Armenian chronology of Nakhichevan political history: 

Armenian chronology of Nakhichevan political history Photo courtesy of B.Hajiyev, taken at an Armenian exhibition at Davis Center at the Harvard University in November 2007

Real chronology of Nakhichevan political history: 

Real chronology of Nakhichevan political history

Demographics – manipulation of statistics by certain authors: 

Demographics – manipulation of statistics by certain authors After the second Russo-Iranian-Azerbaijani War and the Treaty of Turkmanchai, the Nakhichevan khanate passed into Russian possession in 1828. With the onset of Russian rule, the Tsarist authorities encouraged resettlement of Armenians to Nakhichevan and other areas of the Caucasus from the Iranian and Ottoman Empires. Special clauses of the Turkmanchai and Adrianople treaties allowed for this.[1] Alexandr Griboyedov, the Russian envoy to Iran, stated that by the time Nakhichevan came under Russian rule, only 17% of its residents were Armenians, while the remainder of the population (83%) were Muslims. After the resettlement initiative, the number of Armenians had increased to almost 45% while Muslims remained the majority at 55%. With such a dramatic increase in population, Griboyedov noted friction arising between the Armenian and Muslim populations. He requested Russian army commander Count Ivan Paskevich to give orders on resettlement of some of the arriving people further to the region of Daralayaz to quiet the tensions.[2] The Nakhichevan khanate was dissolved in 1828, its territory was merged with the territory of the Erivan khanate and the area became the Nakhichevan uezd of the new Armenian oblast, which later became the Erivan Governorate in 1849. By the time of Sovietization in 1920’s, Naxcivan’s territory was reduced by awarding some of its parts to Armenia. According to official statistics of the Russian Empire, by the turn of the 20th century Azerbaijanis made up 57% of the uezd's population, while Armenians constituted 42%.[3] At the same time in the Sharur-Daralagez uyezd, the territory of which would form part of modern-day Nakhichevan, Azeris constituted 70.5% of the population, while Armenians made up 27.5%. [4] In 1926 there were 11276 (10,8%) Armenians, in 1979 - 3406 (1,4%). Sources: 1) Great Soviet Encyclopedia. Treaty of Turkmanchai. 2) A.S. Griboyedov. Letter to Count I.F.Paskevich. 3) Brockhaus and Efron Encyclopedic Dictionary. "Nakhichevan". St. Petersburg, Russia, 1890-1907. 4) Brockhaus and Efron Encyclopedic Dictionary. "Sharur-Daralagez uyezd". St. Petersburg, Russia, 1890-1907.

Atabakan-e Adarbayjan (Ildeniz Atabek State of Azerbaijan) and the Atabakan-e Azam (Great Atabeks): 

Atabakan-e Adarbayjan (Ildeniz Atabek State of Azerbaijan) and the Atabakan-e Azam (Great Atabeks)

Distinct Nakhichevani Azerbaijani Architecture Style and School: 

Distinct Nakhichevani Azerbaijani Architecture Style and School

Early Azerbaijani Muslim Architecture:the great Ajami Nakhchivani: 

Early Azerbaijani Muslim Architecture: the great Ajami Nakhchivani

Great Azerbaijani architects of the Nakhichevan school in XII-XIII c.: 

Great Azerbaijani architects of the Nakhichevan school in XII-XIII c.

“We Need to Defend Ourselves from Ourselves” say Armenian journalists after witnessing destruction of khachkars by Armenians themselves: 

“We Need to Defend Ourselves from Ourselves” say Armenian journalists after witnessing destruction of khachkars by Armenians themselves

Khachkar vs. Khachdash (according to Prof. Akhundov): 

Khachkar vs. Khachdash (according to Prof. Akhundov) Khachkar – Armenian Christian cross stone (grave stones). Cross stones were used extensively in other Christian nations, such as Georgia and Ethiopia Khachdash – term used to designate Caucasian Albanian Christian grave stones by Prof. Akhundov Bashdash – Azerbaijani Muslim grave stones

Christian heritage of Azerbaijan remaining from its predecessor state, the Caucasian Albania: 

Christian heritage of Azerbaijan remaining from its predecessor state, the Caucasian Albania

Christian and Muslim monuments in Nakhichevan since Mongol conquest: 

Christian and Muslim monuments in Nakhichevan since Mongol conquest

Some early references to Armenian churches and khachkars in Naxcivan region (Julfa) from Armenian and European sources: 

Some early references to Armenian churches and khachkars in Naxcivan region (Julfa) from Armenian and European sources “Shahbuz region which historically was Jauk [Julfa] Province of Syunik District, is part of Nakhichevan. Jauk [Julfa, Jugha] was the hereditary estate of the reigning princes of Syunik (St. Orbelyan). Josepho Barbaro, a Venetian traveler wrote during his visit to Jauk in 1471-1473, ‘Town Jagri (Jauk) lies in front of me. Here Armenians live… they have [only] two monasteries…with fifty monks’.” Source: Armenian propaganda website, “Karabagh and region”, Yerevan, 2002 (accessed November 2007), http://www.karabagh.am/eng/7Naxichevan.htm “Examples of the final period of khachkar development can be seen at the cemetery in Jugha [Julfa]. This is a large set of khachkars, created in XVI-XVIII centuries, and occupies a special place in the art history of Armenian khachkars.” Source: Аrmenian khachkars, Noev Kovcheg newspaper (in Russian), #46 (12), December 2001 (accessed November 2007), http://noev-kovcheg.1gb.ru/article.asp?n=46&a=13

By the end of 19th century, number of Armenian churches, schools, etc., increased dramatically: 

By the end of 19th century, number of Armenian churches, schools, etc., increased dramatically “К 1896 г. в Н.[Naxcivan town] было 7433 жителя (3988 мужчин и 3445 женщин): армян 2376, адербейджанских татар 4512, русских 52 человека. 1 православная церковь, 3 армяно-григорианских, мечетей, 1 мужское городское училище, 1 мусульманское городское училище, 2 армяно-григорианские церковно-приходские училища; на народное образование расходуется до 9876 руб. в год. Климат нездоровый (лихорадка). Жители занимаются садоводством и частью ремеслами. Достопримечательности Н. — развалины крепости, мечеть из тесаного камня, с барельефными украшениями, и Атабегова башня в 13 саженей высоты, в виде 10-гранной призмы, украшенная изразцами и покрытая барельефными куфическими надписями. Постройка башни относится к XIV в.” “В городе Ордубате (см.) 1-классное городское училище, в уезде — 3 нормальных 2-классных училища, 3 начальных сельских и 19 армяно-григорианских церковно-приходских школ. На народное образование расходуется в год до 21 1/2 тыс. руб. 1 православная церковь, 58 армяно-григорианских церквей, 66 мечетей.” Source: Vladimir Minorsky, “Nakhichevan”, Brokgauz and Efron Encyclopedia, in Russian, 1907. Note: By the decree of the Russian tsar Nicholas I, in 1836, and of the Russian Holly Synod in 1909-10, all property of the Caucasian Albanian Apostolic Church and the church itself was abolished and confiscated in favor of the Armenian Apostolic Gregorian Church. (See The Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume V. Published 1909. New York: Robert Appleton Company. Nihil Obstat, May 1, 1909. Remy Lafort, Censor. Imprimatur. +John M. Farley, Archbishop of New York, http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/05571a.htm)

Conclusion: 

Conclusion