Shirakavan (ancient city)
- For the modern village called Shirakavan, see Shirakavan, Armenia.
- For the modern village called Yerazgavors, see Yerazgavors, Armenia.
| Շիրակավան | |
The Armenian Church of Surp Prkich in Shirakavan before 1923
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 Shown within Turkey
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| Alternate name | Yerazgavors (Armenian: Երազգավորս) |
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| Location | The location of the current village of Çetindurak, on the right bank of Akhurian River, Turkey |
| Coordinates | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. |
| History | |
| Founded | 7th century |
| Abandoned | 1920 |
Shirakavan (Armenian: Շիրակավան); founded as Yerazgavors and later Yerazgavork, was a medieval Armenian city and one of the 13 historic capitals of Armenia, serving as a capital city between 890 and 929 during the Bagratid Kingdom of Armenia.
The city was located on the right bank of Akhurian River to the northeast of Ani, corresponding with the current village of Çetindurak of Akyaka district of Kars Province, within the Republic of Turkey.
History
The earliest mentions of Shirakavan as a settlement appear as Yerazgavors in the 7th century, by the Armenian historian Sebeos. Yerazgavors was described by Sebeos as a village in the Shirak canton within the Ayrarat province of Armenia Major. However, it was later developed by king Smbat I of Armenia who moved the capital of Bagradit Armenia from Bagaran to Yerazgavors in 890, renaming it Shirakavan.
Shirakavan continued to serve as the capital of the kingdom until 929 when the city of Kars was chosen as capital by king Abas I of Armenia.
As described by the 11th and 12th century historians Stepanos Asoghik and Samuel Anetsi, Shirakavan had its central fortress surrounded with its thick defensive city walls.
The church of Surp Prkich (Holy Saviour) was the main landmark of the city which was built in 897 by king Smbat I, where he was later crowned by catholicos George II of Armenia.
However, Shirakavan was invaded by the Byzantines. In 1064, Shirakavan along with Ani was destroyed a large Seljuk Turkish army, headed by Sultan Alp Arslan.[1]
By the end of the 12th century, Shirakavan was revived and rebuilt by the Zakarids. However, the city was declined during the second half of the 13th century to become a regular village.
In 1914, prior to the Armenian Genocide, Shirakavan was a quite large Armenian settlement with a population of 1220. After the Turkish–Armenian War of 1920, Shirakavan was abandoned and the Armenian population of the village moved Eastern Armenia and resettled in the newly formed village of Yerazgavors. Later in 1921, the territory of Kars including Shirakavan was officially handed over to the Turks by the Treaty of Kars.[2]
The church of Surp Prkich was partly ruined by the beginning of the 20th century. However, it was blown up by the Turks in 1954 during regular military trainings of the Turkish Army, with only the western wall of the church has been survived. Other parts of ancient Shirakavan were flooded by the waters of a dam built on the Akhurian River.
References
External links
- Shirakavan in virtualani.org
