Hemşin

Hemşin
—  Town  —
Location of Rize Province within Turkey.
Country  Turkey
Region Black Sea
Province Rize
Area
 • Total 120 km2 (46.3 sq mi)
Population
 • Total 4,435
Time zone EET (UTC+2)
 • Summer (DST) EEST (UTC+3)
Postal code 53
Area code(s) (0090)+ 464
Licence plate 53

Hemşin (Armenian: Համշէն (Hamshen) or Համամաշէն (Hamamashen; literally meaning Hamam's Hamlet); also known as Tambur) is a town and district of Rize Province in the Black Sea region of Turkey, 57 km from the city of Rize.

Hemşin is a district of green hills 19 km inland from the Black Sea.

Contents

History

Main article: Rize Province

As part of the Rize province, Hemshin had been a refuge for some Cimmerians and was a site of early Greek settlements and once part of the Roman Empire and the succeeding Byzantine Empire.

History until the Ottoman Conquest

The American historian Robert H. Hewsen shows the region where today's Hemshin is located to be populated by a people with different ethnic background throughout the ancient and early medieval history. He indicates thereby that some designations may have alternative forms and partially presents the names used with question marks. In summary from 13th century to 6th century BC Kolkhians,[1] 550 to 330 BC Kolkhiansa and Makrones,[2] 180 BC to 14 AD Laz (Chanian tribes),[3] in the Arsacid Period (63 AD-298 AD) Heniokhians, Makhelones, Heptakometians, Mossynoikins[4] as well as Sannians, Drilles and,Makrones[5] are mentioned.

The Hemshin region is shown as part of Kolkhis (299 AD- 387 AD),[6] Tzannoi ( 387 AD – 591 AD)[7] and Khaldiya ( 654 AD – 750 AD).[8] The specific location of Hemşin is indicated as Tambur/Hamamašen as a fort and town for the first time in the map covering the period 654-750.

Those two names (Tambur and Hamamašen ) are included in the History of Taron by Ps. Hovhannes Mamikonian in a short passage[9] about a war between the ruler of Tambur, Hamam, and his maternal uncle the Georgian Prince, which resulted in the destruction of the town to be rebuild by Hamam and be named after him namely Hamamshen. This event is declared by Mamikonian to have taken place in early seventh century. Hamamashen became with time Hamshen. The Swiiss-American history specialist Hovann H. Simonian who conveys this story reports also that the date given by the author may be wrong.[10]

Two other Armenian chronicles Ghevond and Stephan Asoghik of Taron, report in short passages in their histories about a migration from Armenia/Oshakan led by prince Shapuh Amatuni and his son Hamam. Ghevond conveys this immigration to be to avoid heavy taxes imposed on Armenians by the Arab rulers. The Amatuni lords are offered fertile land to settle down by the Byzantine Emperor, after they crossed the Corukh river. This migration is dated to be after 789 by Ghevond and as 750 by Stephan Asoghik of Taron.[11][12]

Benninghaus specifies “Tambur” as the destination of the migration led by Hamam and his father Shapuh Amaduni and says that they have seemingly met people there who were already Christians, possibly Greeks.[13] Redgate informs about possible symbolism used in the Ghewond’s history and possible garbling in Mamikonian’s history, and cautions not to take everything at face value.[14] Hachikian states “There is no clue as to where Tambur, the legendary capital of Hamshen, was located. The only certain thing about it is that it clearly belonged to a much earlier time- if it existed at all”.[15] He also mentions in the footnote the name similarity between Tambur and a yayla known as Tahpur or Tagpur, located in the heights of Kaptanpasa. Simonian states that Tambur is probably in the vicinity of Varoşkale (altitude 1800 m).[16]

A description of "Haynsen" in the Kingdom of Georgia, its inhabitants and history is contained in "La Fleur des histoires de la terre d'Orient" by Hetu'm of Corycos, written around 1307, translated into English in 1520, and later reproduced in the travellers' tales of Samuel Purchas published in 1614. Purrchas uses the term "Hamsem" to designate the region and concludes that this is the place of the original Cimmerian gloom of Homer's Odyssey[17][18] The translation of He'tums related passage to modern English uses the term Hamshen.[19] He'tum describes the region to be "miraculous and strange place" unbelievable unless seen by own eyes, dark and without roads. Signs of human settlement are that "...People in those parts say that one frequently hears the sounds of men bellowing, of cocks crowing, of horses neighing in the forest," Those people are described by He'tum, leaning upon Georgian and Armenian Histories, to be the descendants of the men of the "wicked" Iranian Emperor Shaworeos who had chased and harassed Christian people. The referenced translation suggests this Emperor could be Shapuhr II, [A.D. 309-79].[20]

Simonian considers the so described difficulty in access not to imply total isolation. On the contrary, he reports, Hemshin served sometimes as a transit route between the coastal regions and the Armenian plateau.[21]

Further theories of medieval settlement to Hemşin are that

Sources of the ruling powers in the region, (Byzantine Trapezuntine, Georgian, Armenian and Turkish) are silent about Hemshin; until the conquest by the Ottomans.[23] It is deduced that Hemşin has been governed by local lords under the umbrella of the greater regional powers changing by the time namely the Bagratid Armenian kingdom, the Byzantine Empire, its successor the Empire of Trebizond, the Georgian Kingdom, the Kara Koyunlu and Ak Koyunlu Turkmen Confederations[24] until it was annexed by the Ottoman Empire which collapsed as a result of the WW1 and gave birth to the Republic of Turkey.

The Ottoman conquest of Hamshen occurred sometime in the 1480s: an Ottoman register dated around 1486 calls it Hemshin and mentions it as being an Ottoman possession.[25]

Demographics

The Ottoman era has witnessed two major developments in the Hemshin region: Islamization and population movements.[26][27][28] Islam faith has commenced to spread possibly prior to the Ottoman rule but it has become the general religion not before the end of the 16 th century. A number of population movements (both into and out of the region) are also known to have happened during the Ottoman era. Even though detailed information regarding the nature of these movements is missing, in summary:

The present community of Hemşinli thus surfacing is exclusively of Islam faith and Turkish speaking. This goes for the people living in Hemşin or people still maintaining links to the area although they live all over in Turkey.[29][30][31]

A distinct community settled about 50 km east of Hemşin in 22 or 23 villages around Hopa and Borçka call themselves also “Hemşinli” and they are often referred to as the “Hopa Hemşinli”. Professor of Linguistics Bert Vaux at the University of Cambridge refers to this group as the “Eastern Hamshenis”. Hemşinli and Hopa Hemşinli are separated not only by geography but also by language and some features of culture and are almost oblivious to one anothers existence. Simonian reports about existence of various theories regarding the appearance of the Hope Hemshinli group. Those are related to whether they migrated from Hemshin or they were settled by the Ottoman authorities; whether the migration/settlement was early 16th or late 17th centuries; whether the migration took place in one step or two waves. The Hopa Hemşinli are Muslims as well, although they tend to be regarded as "lax" in their attitude to religion.

Simonian reports that there is a controversy regarding whether they arrived in the Hopa region as Moslems or converted to Islam after arrival.[32]

The Hopa Hemşinli speak a language called "Hemşince" or (“Homşetsi” and/or Homshetsma in some sources). This language is a dialect of Western Armenian, influenced by Turkish and Laz, to the extent that it is almost mutually unintelligible with mainstream Armenian.[33][34]

In addition to these groups there are people speaking Hemşince / Homshetsma in the countries of the former USSR whose ancestors have probably originated from Hemşin and/or Hopa Hemşin in course of the various population movements to the Caucasus.

Those among them who confess to the Islam have been deported from the Adjara area of Georgia at the Stalin era to Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan. A considerable number of these deportees have moved to Krasnodar Krai since 1989, along with the Meskhetians.

Most of those of Christian faith currently live in Abkhazia and in the Krasnodar Krai region of Russia, in particular, the Sochi area, and Adygeya.

See also

References

  1. ^ Robert H. Hewsen, Armenia: A Historical Atlas, University Of Chicago Press, 2000 maps 10,13
  2. ^ Robert H. Hewsen, Armenia: A Historical Atlas, University Of Chicago Press, 2000 map 17
  3. ^ Robert H. Hewsen, Armenia: A Historical Atlas, University Of Chicago Press, 2000 map 21
  4. ^ Robert H. Hewsen, Armenia: A Historical Atlas, University Of Chicago Press, 2000 map 42
  5. ^ Robert H. Hewsen, Armenia: A Historical Atlas, University Of Chicago Press, 2000 map 55
  6. ^ Robert H. Hewsen, Armenia: A Historical Atlas, University Of Chicago Press, 2000 map 62
  7. ^ Robert H. Hewsen, Armenia: A Historical Atlas, University Of Chicago Press, 2000 map 65
  8. ^ Robert H. Hewsen, Armenia: A Historical Atlas, University Of Chicago Press, 2000 map 78
  9. ^ [1]: "As soon as [Tiran] read the letter, another letter arrived the same day from Vashdean's sister's son, Hamam, acquainting [Tiran] with the treachery before him from the troops who had come from Iran. He immediately wrote a letter to Vashdean reprimanding him for his plot. Vashdean grew angry and had Hamam's feet and hands loped off. Then, taking the Iranians, [Vashdean] crossed the Chorox river and went to Hamam's city, named Tambur, which he attacked with fire and sword and enslaved. Now the blessed bishop of the city, Manknos, severely cursed the prince. [Vashdean] ordered the Iranians to kill the priests in the church named Holy Zion. The bishop had silently prayed to God to ask only that the city be turned into a desert and a ruin and that for all eternity no one reside there. He threw himself on the altar and [the Iranlans] sacrificed him on Pentecost before mass was offered to Christ. On the next day there was a cloudburst and [Vashdean] was consumed by fire as he sat by the city gates of Tambur. Hamam subsequently [re]built this [city] calling it after himself, Hamamashen. And Mangnos' prayer was realized. In one night 3,000 men died, others fled, and the city remained a ruin."
  10. ^ Hovann H. Simonian (Ed.),"The Hemshin: History, society and identity in the Highlands of Northeast Turkey", Routledge, London and New York., pp. 20-21
  11. ^ Hovann H. Simonian (Ed.),"The Hemshin: History, society and identity in the Highlands of Northeast Turkey", Routledge, London and New York., pp. 20-21
  12. ^ [2]: "[Sulaiman] so increased the yoke [of taxation] on people that they could not endure it. For even if they gave all that they possessed, it was not enough to save themselves. This same Sulaiman sent to the city of Dwin his son-in-law, a certain Ibn Ducas (Ibndoke'), an impious and malevolent man, son of one of his maid-servants, who was of Greek nationality. He imposed unendurably heavy taxes on the residents of our land. All the lords, common folk, bishops and the kat'oghikos Esayi [Esayi I Eghipatrushets'i, 775-788] came and pleaded with [Ibn Ducas] to reduce the onerous level of taxation, but it was of no avail. For the wrath of the Lord had delivered the Christians into merciless hands. [Ibn Ducas instead] sent tax collectors to the different parts of the land with the order to double the yearly collection and to take it immediately, and they implemented the command. Once this was accomplished, this son of satan devised another wicked scheme. He had lead seals put around the necks of everyone, demanding many zuzas for each [seal].Thus did this wicked executioner reduce everyone to the worst extremes of bankruptcy through his intolerant measures. [g167]."
  13. ^ Peter Alford Andrews, Ethnic Groups in the Republic of Turkey, Dr. Ludwig Reichert Verlag, Wiesbaden, 1989. p.92
  14. ^ Hovann H. Simonian (Ed.),"The Hemshin: History, society and identity in the Highlands of Northeast Turkey", Routledge, London and New York., pp. 3-13
  15. ^ Hovann H. Simonian (Ed.),"The Hemshin: History, society and identity in the Highlands of Northeast Turkey", Routledge, London and New York., p. 147
  16. ^ Hovann H. Simonian (Ed.),"The Hemshin: History, society and identity in the Highlands of Northeast Turkey", Routledge, London and New York., p. 22
  17. ^ Hovann H. Simonian (Ed.),"The Hemshin: History, society and identity in the Highlands of Northeast Turkey", Routledge, London and New York., p.4
  18. ^ [3]
  19. ^ http://rbedrosian.com/hetumint.htm
  20. ^ There is a miraculous and strange place in the realm of Georgia which—had I not seen it with by own eyes—I would neither dare to speak about it nor to believe in it. But since I was there in person and saw it, I shall discuss it. There is a district named Hamshen in that area, its circumference being a three day's journey. And despite the district's extent, the place is so foggy and dark that no one can see anything. For no road goes through it. People in those parts say that one frequently hears the sounds of men bellowing, of cocks crowing, of horses neighing in the forest, and the murmuring of a river which flows thence. These are all regarded as trustworthy signs there that a settlement of people exists in the area. This much is true: [g15] in the histories of the kingdoms of Armenia and Georgia it may be read that a certain wicked Emperor Shaworeos [?Shapuhr II, A.D. 309-79], an idolator and ferocious persecutor of Christians, one day ordered that all the inhabitants of Asia come and worship the idols. Those who ignored the command were to be burned with fire. Whereupon it transpired that some of the Christians chose martyrdom to worshipping the idols. Some chose to convert temporarily and, out of fear, worshipped the idols, so that they not be deprived of their lives and worldly goods. Meanwhile others took to the mountains and deserted places and somehow kept themselves alive. The group of the best Christians who lived in the Moghon [Mughan] plain thought to leave their belongings and to pass to Greece [Byzantium]. While they were so resolved, the [Persian] Emperor arose before them, ordering that those refusing to sacrifice to the idols should be pulled apart, limb by limb. Now the people cried out to the Lord Jesus Christ and, going by the straight path, they survived. However, the infidels have resided in that gloomy valley to the present. [And then the Christians made a great cry to Our Lord God, and soon after came this great darkness that blinded the Emperor and all his men; and so the Christian men escaped, and the Emperor with his men tarried in the darkness. oe15] And they must stay there until the end of the world. So it is believed by everyone, and so it is related.
  21. ^ Hovann H. Simonian (Ed.),"The Hemshin: History, society and identity in the Highlands of Northeast Turkey", Routledge, London and New York., p. 24
  22. ^ Hovann H. Simonian (Ed.),"The Hemshin: History, society and identity in the Highlands of Northeast Turkey", Routledge, London and New York., p. 21,22
  23. ^ Hovann H. Simonian (Ed.),"The Hemshin: History, society and identity in the Highlands of Northeast Turkey", Routledge, London and New York., pp. 26,31
  24. ^ Hovann H. Simonian (Ed.),"The Hemshin: History, society and identity in the Highlands of Northeast Turkey", Routledge, London and New York., p. 26
  25. ^ Hovann Simonian (ed.) "The Hemshin", London, 2007. p31.
  26. ^ Bert Vaux, Hemshinli: The Forgotten Black Sea Armenians, Harvard University, 2001 pp.1-2,4-5
  27. ^ Peter Alford Andrews, Ethnic Groups in the Republic of Turkey, Dr. Ludwig Reichert Verlag, Wiesbaden, 1989. pp.476-477,483-485,491
  28. ^ Hovann H. Simonian (Ed.),"The Hemshin: History, society and identity in the Highlands of Northeast Turkey", Routledge, London and New York., pp. 52-99
  29. ^ Bert Vaux, Hemshinli: The Forgotten Black Sea Armenians, Harvard University, 2001 p.1
  30. ^ Peter Alford Andrews, Ethnic Groups in the Republic of Turkey, Dr. Ludwig Reichert Verlag, Wiesbaden, 1989. pp.476-477, 484, 487
  31. ^ Hovann H. Simonian (Ed.),"The Hemshin: History, society and identity in the Highlands of Northeast Turkey", Routledge, London and New York., pp. 159, 165, 176, 257, 332, 333
  32. ^ Hovann H. Simonian (Ed.),"The Hemshin: History, society and identity in the Highlands of Northeast Turkey", Routledge, London and New York., p. 80
  33. ^ Bert Vaux, Hemshinli: The Forgotten Black Sea Armenians, Harvard University, 2001 p. 5
  34. ^ Hovann H. Simonian (Ed.),"The Hemshin: History, society and identity in the Highlands of Northeast Turkey", Routledge, London and New York., pp. 257

External links

Traditional provinces or Ashkhars
Other Armenian regions
Provinces during the reign of Tigranes the Great