History of the Armenians in the Ottoman Empire

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Patriarch Harutyun I

The Ottoman rule of Armenia or Ottoman Armenia, beginning with the rule of Selim II (1524 – 1574) becomes the integral part of the Ottoman Empire. However, the initial accession begins with Mehmed II, who also offered the Ottoman support to initiate Armenian Patriarch in Constantinople. This rule continued 300 years till the following the Russo–Turkish War (1828–1829), when the Eastern Armenia of this territory was ceded to the Russian Empire. The remaining Ottoman Armenia, till World War I, under Ottoman rule was also referred to as Western Armenia.

1 Religion
2 Culture
- 2.1 Architects
3 History: 1453 to 1829
- 3.1 Timeline
4 See also

[edit] Religion

Main article: List of Armenian Patriarchs of Constantinople

This article is part of the series on: History of Armenia
Early History
Haik
Hayasa-Azzi
Nairi
Kingdom of Urartu
Kingdom of Armenia
Orontid Armenia
Artaxiad Dynasty
Arsacid Dynasty
Medieval History
Marzpanate Period
Byzantine Armenia
Bagratuni Armenia
Kingdom of Vaspurakan
Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia
Foreign Rule
Persian Rule
Ottoman Rule
Russian Rule
Hamidian Massacres
Armenian Genocide
Early Independence
Democratic Republic of Armenia
Soviet Armenia
Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic
Modern Armenia
Republic of Armenia

[edit] Culture

Armenian-Woman

Armenian & Turkish Retailers

[edit] Architects

Balyan family

[edit] History: 1453 to 1829

Armenians preserved their culture, history, and language regardless of Ottoman oppression, largely thanks to their distinct religious identity from the neighbouring Kurds and Turks. After many centuries of Turkish occupation, the centres with a high concentration of Armenians lost their geographic continuity (parts of Van, Bitlis, and Kharput vilayets), because over the years, pockets of Kurds and Turks infiltrated into traditionally Armenian land. Regardless of Ottoman rule and an increasingly strong presence of Muslims, Armenians continued to be the majority group in Western Armenia well into the 19th century. They kept and defended factual autonomy in certain isolated areas like Sassoun, Shatakh, and parts of Dersim. An Armenian stronghold and a symbol of factual Armenian autonomy, Zeitoun (Ulnia) was located between the Six Vilayets and Cilicia, which also had a strong Armenian presence ever since the creation of the Pricipality (and then Kingdom) of Lesser Armenia. However, due to Ottoman interference and genocide, the autonomous areas were disintegrated.

There were also significant communities in parts of Trabzon and Ankara vilayets bordering Six Vilayets (like in Kayseri (Gessaria)). Many Armenians settled in Western Anatolia, in the traditionally Greek cities of Constantinople and Smyrna. The Sultan promoted Armenian migration within the borders of the empire in order to reduce the native Armenian population of historic Armenia, and reduce the Greek majority population of Western Anatolia by adding non-Greeks.

Western Armenia had lost its Armenian majority during the Armenian Genocide of World War I.

Most Western Armenians died during the genocide of 1915 (1.5 million out of a pre-war population of approximately 2 million or more). However, many escaped to the Middle East and Balkans, and eventually became organized communities with certain degrees of political influence in their host countries. Many also moved to Europe and North America to find better living conditions. During these migrations, most Western Armenians preserved their culture due to their life being traditionally revolved around the Armenian church and adjacent community centres. However, some Armenians distanced themselves from the community and became assimilated.

[edit] Timeline

1461 Armenian Patriarchate of Constantinople established
1478 Armenian migration to Bruges, Belgium
1489-1588 Sinan, greatest architect of Ottoman Empire
1512 Printing of first Armenian books
1519 Decree of King Sigismund I that Armenians in Poland by governed under code of laws by Mkhitar Gosh
1547-1575 Secret Church meetings to seek ways to help Armenia
1555 Ottoman-Persian partition of Armenia
1567 Establishment of Armenian printing press in Constantinople
1637-1695 Eremia Kiumurjian, historian, poet, musician
1648 Major earthquake in Van
1712-1795 Sayat Nova, renowned Armenian poet troubadour
1759 Arrival of Hovsep Emin in Armenia
1778 Establishment of Nor Nakhichevan
1809-1848 Khachatur Abovian, novelist poet, playwright
1810,1818 Zeitountsi revolts
1811 Mkhitarist order of Vienna founded
1813 Treaty of Gulistan
1824 Founding of Nersessian Academy in Tiflis
1826-1858 Nickolas Balian, architect in Constantinople
1827 Occupation of Yerevan by Russian forces
1828 Treaty of Turkmanchay awards Nakhichevan and area around Erevan to Russia, strengthening Russian control of Transcaucasus and beginning period of modernization and security.