Ivan Lazarev

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Ivan Davidovich Lazarev

Ivan Davidovich Lazarev (Hovhannes Davti Lazaryan) (Russian: Иван Давыдович Лазарев) (1820–1878), was a Russian general of Armenian origin.

General Hovhnanes Lazarian (Ivan Lazarev)was born in 1820 in Shushi, Karabagh. In 1839 he began his military career in the Caucasus, where for his actions he was made an officer in 1842. Before the war in Western Armenia in 1877, General Lazarian made his name in the northern Caucasus. He was assigned, like many officers, to fight in Dagestan against the Shamil (chief) of the rebels. Lazarian, unlike most officers, took the time to study and learn the Tatar language. It was a language that was known throughout the Caucasus region by the peasants, and hence foot soldiers. With this knowledge he was the first to enter into communice with the Muslim rebels and was the one to set up the plans for the peace processes. His crowning achievement in that theater of action was the talks he held with the Shamil, who he led to choose peace and surrender to the governing forces. That diplomatic act made him a general after being bestowed military orders of the highest rank. Eleven years after his career in Dagestan, he was called to duty on the Armenian soil against the Turks. Finally his skills would be used to save his historic homeland. When Lazarian first got to the area of the military conflict, his role was quiet limited compared to the likes of Count Loris-Melikov and General Arzas Ter-Gusakian. Nevertheless, when duty called upon the general during the strike upon the Aladzhin position, he showed great promise on his front when given the command of the most avant garde divisions in the army, which was the only wheel-transport between Arpachay and Kegacha. With the given forces Lazarian drew back the Turkish forces towards their main location at the Kars province, forces composed of 25 battalions that later laid down their arms to Lazarian. These actions certainly added more ribbons and medals on the chest of the Karabagh general. An even more memorable occurrence took place during the night of 5 November to the 6 November. Before the divisions marched upon the fortresses around Kars: Hafiz, Kanlyi, Chimon, Taynasm abd Arab-Tabi, Lazarian rode in front of the divisions screaming "Now, with God!" and throwing his military cap in the air and making a sign of the cross. After this succeful storming of Kars on the fourth try, victory in the area was certain. On 14 August, 1879 General Hovhannes Lazarian died while on an expedition of the Eastern side of the Caspian Sea.