Tweet
THE HISTORY OF SEBASTIA
An Abridgement
To Our English-Speaking Generation
Your parents who have survived the martyrdom of the Armenian people of Sebastia (Sivas) and of the province, in undertaking the preparation of the history of their birthplace, have been motivated with the desire to save from oblivion such events and memories as have historic significance, not only from the point of our national history, but also as an important document related to historic events of the present century.
Circumstances have rendered it impossible for you to learn the beautiful Armenian language. We have therefore translated, in an abridged form, salient points in our History of Sebastia, that is, a minimum of knowledge which every Sebastatzi, Armenian or English speaking, should know. For the tragedy of Armenia is also the tragedy of mankind in our century.
An Abridgement from the History of the Armenians of Sebastia
Geography : Sebastia, which Turks later called Sivas, is located at the upper reaches of River Halys (Kizil Irmak), and is the provincial capital. In 1915 the city's population consisted of 40,000 Turks and 30,000 Armenians. The plateau upon which the city has been founded is 1300 meters above sea level. Its climate is healthy, even though winters are severe. The province is rich in agricultural products and animal husbandry. The mountains are largely barren, even though there are areas covered with forests. A number of mines have been discovered, but to a large extent have not been exploited except for salt mines. (See map A).
History : (The Development of the Armenian People and Lesser Armenia). Armenians have been the indigenous and permanent people of the Armenian plateau, the component strains were the Haiasa-Azzis. The names Haiastan and Hai have been derived from Haiasa. (.....)
The city-states of Asia Minor were related in their racial origin to the Haiasa-Azzi racial union. The first of these city-states was, according to a Hitite inscription, Tegamma, which corresponds to the Armenian translation of the Biblical Torgoma, present Gurin, one of the principal cities of the Sivas province. The House of Torgom or Torgoma Toun has been deemed in Armenian traditional history a synonym of Armenia. Togoma includes also the Poukhkhouva "land" which corresponds to contemporary Arabkir. It is thus indicated that the land known as Lesser Armenia was inhabited by Armenians in times immemorial.
Sivas, the provincial capital of Lesser Armenia was built during the Roman ascendency by Queen Pudotoris of Capadocia during the first quarter of the first century B.C. and was named Augustus or Sevastia in honor of the Caesar Augustus.
Christianity in Sebastia : Beginning with the first century A.D. the Christian religion was preached in Sebastia and one of the earliest churches was established there by Apostle Thaddaeus, according to tradition.
In the year 301, for the first time in the world, King Trdat III of Armenia declared Christianity as the state religion, and in 314, as arranged by the King, St. Gregory the Illuminator was sent to Caesarea along with a large cortege, to be consecrated as a bishop by the bishop of Caesarea. On his way back to Armenia, St. Gregory stopped at Sebastia. The Armenian faithful and their bishop urged him to stay longer in their city, but he could stay only six days and took with him a number of candidates for priesthood so as to be trained for service in their fatherland. The martyrdom of the forty secretly Christian soldiers in the Roman army occurred during this period. The place of their martyrdom was the Armenian cemetery until 1915.
During the Byzantine Ascendency : Even though Lesser Armenia was under the political rule of the Byzantine Empire, the people maintained their religious and cultural ties with the motherland, despite the persistent efforts of the Byzantines for their assimilation and the imposition of the Calcedonian dogma upon them, using various types of pressure.
Lesser Armenia has given to the Byzantine Empire a number of distinguished scholars, such as the celebrated orator of the fourth century Proheresius, 272-368, who taught numerous Armenian students. The noted Patriarch of the Orthodox Church, Bishop Atticus, was an Armenian from Sivas, as well as Eusthatius the Bishop of Sebastia (357-376) who initiated the sectarian movement for church reform, and was the forerunner of the Paulician and Tondrakian movements.
Lesser Armenia gave to the Byzantine Empire celebrated generals, a number of whom ascended to the Imperial throne. Of the emperors who occupied the Byzantine throne, many were of Armenian origin, even though they bore Greek names. The Byzantine Empire was saved from downfall by Vardan Mamikonian (856-866), John Zimeskes (969-976) and Vasil II (976-1025) etc. So many prominent Armenians were active in the military, political, and intellectual life of the Empire that an English historian calls the eighth century the "Armenian Century."
King Senekerim of Vaspourakan and His Transfer to Sebastia : For a long time the Byzantine Empire strove to subdue the small kingdoms across its borders. Emperor Vasil II who was called "Bulgarian-killer", dealt with like severity with the Georgian and Armenian kingdoms.
Forseeing a similarly imminent fate and concerned over the ever-increasing incursions of the Seljuk Turks from Central Asia, King Senekerim of Vaspourakan (Van) proposed to the Emperor the exchange of his domain with Sebastia, and accordingly surrendered to the Empire 72 fortresses, eight cities, 400 villages, and 115 monasteries, receiving in exchange the capital city of Sebastia, with its large Armenian population, along with two cities, Larisa and Avara, and numerous villages. In 1021 King Senekerim came to Sebastia with his court, his army of 14,000, and a large body of his subjects. There he built for himself a beautiful royal palace and the Monastery of Sourb Nishan, which until the year of the genocide, in 1915 served as a religious and educational center. Senekerim died in 1026 and was succeeded by one of his four sons, David. Unfortunately the Senekerimian kingdom lasted only half a century, and came to an end amidst the political turmoil which raged at that time. Byzantium thus successively destroyed all the defensive positions in the east. It occupied similarly the Armenian Kingdom of Bagratounis in 1045, and the Kingdom of Kars in 1065, whereby the barbarians from Central Asia found an opportunity to invade the territories of the Empire, eventually reaching its very heart, Constantinople.
Disasters : In 1060 Sebastia was ravaged by Seljuk Doughril Beg, and in 1069 Doughril's successor, Alpaslan not only defeated the Byzantine army at Mantzikert (Manazkert), but moved into Asia Minor. Seljuk Danishmend became established in Sebastia while in Konia there was established a Seljouk sultanate (kingdom). These lasted until 1307.
Timurlane : In August 1400 Timurlane came and invested Sebastia. The defenders of the city numbered 4000, primarily cavalry and Archers, most of whom were Armenians. They resisted for three weeks, but surrendered upon Timurlane's promise not to shed blood. The Tartar autocrat, however dishonored his promise and ravaged and killed the inhabitants and buried alive 4000 soldiers, who had surrendered, in deep trenches. This place later was called "Black Earth," and in more recent times the Aramian School was built on the ground.
Ottoman Turks : Osman, son of the Turkish chieften Ertoghrul (1281-1325), was given a small territory which he gradually enlarged. His successors followed his example. Thus Sebastia became alternately subdued by Osmanli and Turkoman emirs. In the midst of this confused state there arose groups of criminals called Jelalis who preyed upon and murdered the peaceful population.
National Liberation Movements and Cultural Revival : Despite untold varieties of plunder and pilage by their rulers, the Armenians of Sebastia always considered themselves as natives, superior to their oppressors. The Armenian Church became a stronghold of national preservation. There are historic references to some fifteen bards as saints and national heroes, which proved an effective medium in the preservation of the Armenian national identity.
Only a few pieces remain from the work of two bards of Sebastia, known as Michael and Ghazar, but we have numerous verses of love and martyrdom from Hovsep of Sebastia, which constitute priceless examples of our medieval literary and cultural revival.
First Effort for National Liberation : The oppression of the Turkish and Persian overlords was unbearable for Armenians. Therefore, in 1541, Catholicos Stepanos of Salmast, held a secret meeting which decided that the Catholicos himself visit Europe in person so as to ask for the assistance of the Christian nations for the liberation of Armenians. But his appeals proved unfruitful.
Second Secret Meeting : was held in the St. Nishan Monastery of Sebastia, under the presidency of Catholicos Michael of Sebastia, and it was decided to send Abgar Tbir of Tokat to the Pope of Rome. The Pope demanded that Armenians accept Catholicism. Etchmiadzin was inclined to accept but the effort proved abortive.
Third Attempt : In 1678 Catholicos Hakob of Julfa held a secret meeting at Etchmiadzin, where it was decided that the Catholicos go to Rome in person, accept the Pope's supremacy, thereby securing his protection. All these attempts proved fruitless.
(.....)
Sebastia and Its Monasteries
When the Armenian kingdoms in Lesser Armenia and Cilicia were overthrown, the churches and monasteries became the primary supports of the leaderless Armenian people.
At the upper valley of River Halys some forty Armenian villages and as many in the Gurin and Manjilik districts had their nearby monasteries and their feasts and days of pilgrimage and to where people went in great numbers, offering sacrifice, held festivities, sang and danced.
There were four monasteries near Sebastia : Sourp Nishan, Sourp Hagop, Anabad, and Khonorgdoor.
Sourp Nishan, founded by King Senekerim, from 1201 up to 1915 had served as the diocesan see. The monastery has had a seminary and has trained future clergymen. Mekhitar himself was ordained there. It has been also a center for illuminated manuscripts.
At present the monastery has been transformed into a Turkish military center. The most celebrated monasteries in the upper valley of Halys were St. Hreshtakapet, St. Tagavor and Devotz, while that of Gurin and Manjilik was St. Toros.
Cultural Organization
Until the forties of the past century, Armenians living under the barbaric Ottoman rule were denied the means for cultural development.
The European powers imposed on Turkey, as a great market for their capitalistic enterprises, certain reforms (Tanzimat). Armenians living in Constantinople profited by the new regulations. They opened schools, began to publish periodicals, books, and organized the Armenian theatre. Moreover, in 1860 the Turkish government allowed the establishment of a National Constitution whereby Armenians could direct their own internal problems.
In the provinces, however, the previous autocratic and unsafe circumstances continued. Notwithstanding this fact, Armenians from the provinces who returned to their birthplace after a period of employment in Constantinople, followed the example of the capital city and established schools in their birthplace. In 1850 there was organized the Senekerimian Association to assist educational institutions. A welfare association (Akhkadakhnam) was founded in 1857 and continued to serve until 1915. Owing to the work of the association there was not even one Armenian beggar in Sivas, despite all the successive disasters. One after another there were organized the Antznever and Lousaper Associations, in 1870, which established sunday schools and assisted poor students. The Dramatic Association (1870) began to present various dramas. The Armenian Women's Association (Hayouhiatz) supported the girls' school. The Orphans' Care Association (Vorpaser) began to serve in 1887 and following the 1895-1896 massacres assumed the care of hundreds of orphans of both sexes and the difficult task of their education. The "Bartev" athletic association began to serve the physical well-being of the young generation. In 1889 there was organized the Administration of the National Hospital which erected a building for the care of the sick of both sexes and where the poor received free treatment.
Thus from the fifties of the previous century until 1915, there were more than 70 philanthropic, educational and cultural associations which, despite the short period of existence of some of them, is a most effective proof of the progressive character of the Armenians of Sebastia.
Educational Institutions
Until the first quarter of the preceding century there were no regular schools in Turkey. Priests and noviciates taught limited numbers of pupils to read from religious books in nondescript schools. From 1840 on, however, there were established neighborhood schools. The first school with a regular program was the Tarkmanchatz (in memory of the Holy Bible Translators). It was established In 1851. From 1870 on there were established the Kayaniantz and Hripsimiantz girls' schools. There were also private and neighborhood schools. The Aramian National Secondary School was established in the 1890's upon the ground known as Black Earth (Sev Hogher), where 4,000 soldiers were buried alive by Timurlane. The official opening of the school took place in 1893. It gave to the community more than 100 well schooled young men. In 1912 the Sanasarian Varjaran, a boarding school with high standards, was transferred from Erzeroom to Sebastia. It hardly begun to bear fruit when it was closed in 1915. In the city there were also the school of the French Jesuits and the college of the American missionaries, which rendered excellent service in educating Armenian boys and girls.
The Theatre : In 1870 there was organized a Dramatic Association, which presented various plays, and which Turkish officials occasionally attended. During the ascendency of Sultan Hamid all dramatic activities were prohibited. In 1908, after the declaration of the Ottoman Constituton, the theatre assumed a new life, and the works of Armenian and non-Armenian authors were presented.
The Press : In 1875 a native Armenian of Sebastia brought a printing press from Constantinople and began the publication of the "Sivas" weekly, half Armenian half Turkish. In 1908 two other weeklies, "Antranig" and "Hoghtar" began publication.
The Province of Sivas : It extended from the Black Sea to the center of Asia Minor, and was divided into four subdivisions : Sivas, Tokat, Shabin Karahisar, and Amasia, with a total area of 83,700 square kilometers, that is, as large as Belgium, Holland and Soviet Armenia, with a combined population of 17 million, whereas that of the Sivas Vilayet (province) was only 750,000.
An Abridgement
To Our English-Speaking Generation
Your parents who have survived the martyrdom of the Armenian people of Sebastia (Sivas) and of the province, in undertaking the preparation of the history of their birthplace, have been motivated with the desire to save from oblivion such events and memories as have historic significance, not only from the point of our national history, but also as an important document related to historic events of the present century.
Circumstances have rendered it impossible for you to learn the beautiful Armenian language. We have therefore translated, in an abridged form, salient points in our History of Sebastia, that is, a minimum of knowledge which every Sebastatzi, Armenian or English speaking, should know. For the tragedy of Armenia is also the tragedy of mankind in our century.
An Abridgement from the History of the Armenians of Sebastia
Geography : Sebastia, which Turks later called Sivas, is located at the upper reaches of River Halys (Kizil Irmak), and is the provincial capital. In 1915 the city's population consisted of 40,000 Turks and 30,000 Armenians. The plateau upon which the city has been founded is 1300 meters above sea level. Its climate is healthy, even though winters are severe. The province is rich in agricultural products and animal husbandry. The mountains are largely barren, even though there are areas covered with forests. A number of mines have been discovered, but to a large extent have not been exploited except for salt mines. (See map A).
History : (The Development of the Armenian People and Lesser Armenia). Armenians have been the indigenous and permanent people of the Armenian plateau, the component strains were the Haiasa-Azzis. The names Haiastan and Hai have been derived from Haiasa. (.....)
The city-states of Asia Minor were related in their racial origin to the Haiasa-Azzi racial union. The first of these city-states was, according to a Hitite inscription, Tegamma, which corresponds to the Armenian translation of the Biblical Torgoma, present Gurin, one of the principal cities of the Sivas province. The House of Torgom or Torgoma Toun has been deemed in Armenian traditional history a synonym of Armenia. Togoma includes also the Poukhkhouva "land" which corresponds to contemporary Arabkir. It is thus indicated that the land known as Lesser Armenia was inhabited by Armenians in times immemorial.
Sivas, the provincial capital of Lesser Armenia was built during the Roman ascendency by Queen Pudotoris of Capadocia during the first quarter of the first century B.C. and was named Augustus or Sevastia in honor of the Caesar Augustus.
Christianity in Sebastia : Beginning with the first century A.D. the Christian religion was preached in Sebastia and one of the earliest churches was established there by Apostle Thaddaeus, according to tradition.
In the year 301, for the first time in the world, King Trdat III of Armenia declared Christianity as the state religion, and in 314, as arranged by the King, St. Gregory the Illuminator was sent to Caesarea along with a large cortege, to be consecrated as a bishop by the bishop of Caesarea. On his way back to Armenia, St. Gregory stopped at Sebastia. The Armenian faithful and their bishop urged him to stay longer in their city, but he could stay only six days and took with him a number of candidates for priesthood so as to be trained for service in their fatherland. The martyrdom of the forty secretly Christian soldiers in the Roman army occurred during this period. The place of their martyrdom was the Armenian cemetery until 1915.
During the Byzantine Ascendency : Even though Lesser Armenia was under the political rule of the Byzantine Empire, the people maintained their religious and cultural ties with the motherland, despite the persistent efforts of the Byzantines for their assimilation and the imposition of the Calcedonian dogma upon them, using various types of pressure.
Lesser Armenia has given to the Byzantine Empire a number of distinguished scholars, such as the celebrated orator of the fourth century Proheresius, 272-368, who taught numerous Armenian students. The noted Patriarch of the Orthodox Church, Bishop Atticus, was an Armenian from Sivas, as well as Eusthatius the Bishop of Sebastia (357-376) who initiated the sectarian movement for church reform, and was the forerunner of the Paulician and Tondrakian movements.
Lesser Armenia gave to the Byzantine Empire celebrated generals, a number of whom ascended to the Imperial throne. Of the emperors who occupied the Byzantine throne, many were of Armenian origin, even though they bore Greek names. The Byzantine Empire was saved from downfall by Vardan Mamikonian (856-866), John Zimeskes (969-976) and Vasil II (976-1025) etc. So many prominent Armenians were active in the military, political, and intellectual life of the Empire that an English historian calls the eighth century the "Armenian Century."
King Senekerim of Vaspourakan and His Transfer to Sebastia : For a long time the Byzantine Empire strove to subdue the small kingdoms across its borders. Emperor Vasil II who was called "Bulgarian-killer", dealt with like severity with the Georgian and Armenian kingdoms.
Forseeing a similarly imminent fate and concerned over the ever-increasing incursions of the Seljuk Turks from Central Asia, King Senekerim of Vaspourakan (Van) proposed to the Emperor the exchange of his domain with Sebastia, and accordingly surrendered to the Empire 72 fortresses, eight cities, 400 villages, and 115 monasteries, receiving in exchange the capital city of Sebastia, with its large Armenian population, along with two cities, Larisa and Avara, and numerous villages. In 1021 King Senekerim came to Sebastia with his court, his army of 14,000, and a large body of his subjects. There he built for himself a beautiful royal palace and the Monastery of Sourb Nishan, which until the year of the genocide, in 1915 served as a religious and educational center. Senekerim died in 1026 and was succeeded by one of his four sons, David. Unfortunately the Senekerimian kingdom lasted only half a century, and came to an end amidst the political turmoil which raged at that time. Byzantium thus successively destroyed all the defensive positions in the east. It occupied similarly the Armenian Kingdom of Bagratounis in 1045, and the Kingdom of Kars in 1065, whereby the barbarians from Central Asia found an opportunity to invade the territories of the Empire, eventually reaching its very heart, Constantinople.
Disasters : In 1060 Sebastia was ravaged by Seljuk Doughril Beg, and in 1069 Doughril's successor, Alpaslan not only defeated the Byzantine army at Mantzikert (Manazkert), but moved into Asia Minor. Seljuk Danishmend became established in Sebastia while in Konia there was established a Seljouk sultanate (kingdom). These lasted until 1307.
Timurlane : In August 1400 Timurlane came and invested Sebastia. The defenders of the city numbered 4000, primarily cavalry and Archers, most of whom were Armenians. They resisted for three weeks, but surrendered upon Timurlane's promise not to shed blood. The Tartar autocrat, however dishonored his promise and ravaged and killed the inhabitants and buried alive 4000 soldiers, who had surrendered, in deep trenches. This place later was called "Black Earth," and in more recent times the Aramian School was built on the ground.
Ottoman Turks : Osman, son of the Turkish chieften Ertoghrul (1281-1325), was given a small territory which he gradually enlarged. His successors followed his example. Thus Sebastia became alternately subdued by Osmanli and Turkoman emirs. In the midst of this confused state there arose groups of criminals called Jelalis who preyed upon and murdered the peaceful population.
National Liberation Movements and Cultural Revival : Despite untold varieties of plunder and pilage by their rulers, the Armenians of Sebastia always considered themselves as natives, superior to their oppressors. The Armenian Church became a stronghold of national preservation. There are historic references to some fifteen bards as saints and national heroes, which proved an effective medium in the preservation of the Armenian national identity.
Only a few pieces remain from the work of two bards of Sebastia, known as Michael and Ghazar, but we have numerous verses of love and martyrdom from Hovsep of Sebastia, which constitute priceless examples of our medieval literary and cultural revival.
First Effort for National Liberation : The oppression of the Turkish and Persian overlords was unbearable for Armenians. Therefore, in 1541, Catholicos Stepanos of Salmast, held a secret meeting which decided that the Catholicos himself visit Europe in person so as to ask for the assistance of the Christian nations for the liberation of Armenians. But his appeals proved unfruitful.
Second Secret Meeting : was held in the St. Nishan Monastery of Sebastia, under the presidency of Catholicos Michael of Sebastia, and it was decided to send Abgar Tbir of Tokat to the Pope of Rome. The Pope demanded that Armenians accept Catholicism. Etchmiadzin was inclined to accept but the effort proved abortive.
Third Attempt : In 1678 Catholicos Hakob of Julfa held a secret meeting at Etchmiadzin, where it was decided that the Catholicos go to Rome in person, accept the Pope's supremacy, thereby securing his protection. All these attempts proved fruitless.
(.....)
Sebastia and Its Monasteries
When the Armenian kingdoms in Lesser Armenia and Cilicia were overthrown, the churches and monasteries became the primary supports of the leaderless Armenian people.
At the upper valley of River Halys some forty Armenian villages and as many in the Gurin and Manjilik districts had their nearby monasteries and their feasts and days of pilgrimage and to where people went in great numbers, offering sacrifice, held festivities, sang and danced.
There were four monasteries near Sebastia : Sourp Nishan, Sourp Hagop, Anabad, and Khonorgdoor.
Sourp Nishan, founded by King Senekerim, from 1201 up to 1915 had served as the diocesan see. The monastery has had a seminary and has trained future clergymen. Mekhitar himself was ordained there. It has been also a center for illuminated manuscripts.
At present the monastery has been transformed into a Turkish military center. The most celebrated monasteries in the upper valley of Halys were St. Hreshtakapet, St. Tagavor and Devotz, while that of Gurin and Manjilik was St. Toros.
Cultural Organization
Until the forties of the past century, Armenians living under the barbaric Ottoman rule were denied the means for cultural development.
The European powers imposed on Turkey, as a great market for their capitalistic enterprises, certain reforms (Tanzimat). Armenians living in Constantinople profited by the new regulations. They opened schools, began to publish periodicals, books, and organized the Armenian theatre. Moreover, in 1860 the Turkish government allowed the establishment of a National Constitution whereby Armenians could direct their own internal problems.
In the provinces, however, the previous autocratic and unsafe circumstances continued. Notwithstanding this fact, Armenians from the provinces who returned to their birthplace after a period of employment in Constantinople, followed the example of the capital city and established schools in their birthplace. In 1850 there was organized the Senekerimian Association to assist educational institutions. A welfare association (Akhkadakhnam) was founded in 1857 and continued to serve until 1915. Owing to the work of the association there was not even one Armenian beggar in Sivas, despite all the successive disasters. One after another there were organized the Antznever and Lousaper Associations, in 1870, which established sunday schools and assisted poor students. The Dramatic Association (1870) began to present various dramas. The Armenian Women's Association (Hayouhiatz) supported the girls' school. The Orphans' Care Association (Vorpaser) began to serve in 1887 and following the 1895-1896 massacres assumed the care of hundreds of orphans of both sexes and the difficult task of their education. The "Bartev" athletic association began to serve the physical well-being of the young generation. In 1889 there was organized the Administration of the National Hospital which erected a building for the care of the sick of both sexes and where the poor received free treatment.
Thus from the fifties of the previous century until 1915, there were more than 70 philanthropic, educational and cultural associations which, despite the short period of existence of some of them, is a most effective proof of the progressive character of the Armenians of Sebastia.
Educational Institutions
Until the first quarter of the preceding century there were no regular schools in Turkey. Priests and noviciates taught limited numbers of pupils to read from religious books in nondescript schools. From 1840 on, however, there were established neighborhood schools. The first school with a regular program was the Tarkmanchatz (in memory of the Holy Bible Translators). It was established In 1851. From 1870 on there were established the Kayaniantz and Hripsimiantz girls' schools. There were also private and neighborhood schools. The Aramian National Secondary School was established in the 1890's upon the ground known as Black Earth (Sev Hogher), where 4,000 soldiers were buried alive by Timurlane. The official opening of the school took place in 1893. It gave to the community more than 100 well schooled young men. In 1912 the Sanasarian Varjaran, a boarding school with high standards, was transferred from Erzeroom to Sebastia. It hardly begun to bear fruit when it was closed in 1915. In the city there were also the school of the French Jesuits and the college of the American missionaries, which rendered excellent service in educating Armenian boys and girls.
The Theatre : In 1870 there was organized a Dramatic Association, which presented various plays, and which Turkish officials occasionally attended. During the ascendency of Sultan Hamid all dramatic activities were prohibited. In 1908, after the declaration of the Ottoman Constituton, the theatre assumed a new life, and the works of Armenian and non-Armenian authors were presented.
The Press : In 1875 a native Armenian of Sebastia brought a printing press from Constantinople and began the publication of the "Sivas" weekly, half Armenian half Turkish. In 1908 two other weeklies, "Antranig" and "Hoghtar" began publication.
The Province of Sivas : It extended from the Black Sea to the center of Asia Minor, and was divided into four subdivisions : Sivas, Tokat, Shabin Karahisar, and Amasia, with a total area of 83,700 square kilometers, that is, as large as Belgium, Holland and Soviet Armenia, with a combined population of 17 million, whereas that of the Sivas Vilayet (province) was only 750,000.
) it already is translated into French on the website!
Comment