Фидаинская борьба в провинции Карин в последней четверти XIX века

ИСТОРИЯ

Abstract

The dissemination of patriotic ideas by Armenian libertarian figures, as well as the fact, that the Armenian people didn’t receive anything during the Summit of Berlin in return for the huge sacrifices, made during the Russian-Turkish war (1877-78), caused Armenians to heed the Mkrtich Khrimyan’s calls for “iron ladle” and take up arms. Another noteworthy fact is that Ottoman Empire, having lost its European territories during the war and now being an Asian country, feared liberation movements and intensified the economic, political and national repressions. Unarmed and helpless villagers, with no other way out, killed a Kurdish Agha or Turkish Policemen, left their houses and families and head off to mountains. This fight was quite justified; it came as an outburst and was against injustice, it was a struggle for survival, honor and dignity. Armenian self-devoted offsprings consciously engaged in an unequal struggle against the powerful enemy for the sake of their nation and homeland. During the last quarter of the XIX century Armenians of Karin province, mainly populated by Armenians, near the region Karin and the Russian border, were in a tough situation. That is why the libertarian ideas easily permeated and the wave of fedayi’s struggle was spread more rapidly and vigorously than in other parts of Western Armenia. The liberation processes which first appeared in the form of Constitutional Movement subsequently grew into an armed fedayi struggle, and the national liberation struggle entered a practical phase. The outstanding hayduks were Tigran Okonyan, Sepouh (Baberdtsi) Turbakh, Kaytsak Arakel, Anton Gosh, Hovhannes Korkotian, Vahan Shahinian, Nicole, Melkon, Gerasim, Armen Garo, Gaspari Gisak, Garegin Karnetsi, Michael, Baberdtsi Gevorg, Karnetsi Yeghish, Balajan, Vani Sargis, Aram Aramyan and many others, whose names remained unknown to future generations.