Aragatsotn ( Armenian : Արագածոտն , Armenian pronunciation: [ɑɾɑɡɑˈt͡sɔtən] ) is a province ( marz ) of Armenia . It is located in the western part of the country. The capital and largest city of the province is the town of Ashtarak . The Statistical Committee of Armenia reported its population was 128,941 in the 2022 census.
42-619: 40°17′N 44°01′E / 40.283°N 44.017°E / 40.283; 44.017 Verin Kalakut (also, Verkhniy Kalakut ), is an abandoned settlement in the Aragatsotn Province of Armenia . This article about a location in Aragatsotn Province, Armenia is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Aragatsotn Province Literally meaning "the foot of Aragats " (the highest mountain of Armenia ), it
84-619: A possible connection with the royal Assyrian house of Adiabene . Also, Armenian princely family of Amatuni believed to be descendants of the kings (chieftains) of the Matienian tribes In addition, in Antiquity besides its original land of Artaz, the Principality of Amatuniq also included in addition the district of the Djur-shrod (Chuash-rot) with the center in the town of Myarakan, located along
126-792: A result of the Russo-Persian War of 1826–28 and the signing of the Treaty of Turkmenchay . After the fall of the Russian Empire in 1917, the Armenian, Georgian and Muslim leaders of Transcaucasia united to form the Transcaucasian Federative Republic and proclaimed Transcaucasia 's secession . However, it was a fragile short-lived federation that collapsed in May 1918, while the Turkish army
168-667: A significant Yazidi population as well. Yazidis are also found in the towns of Aparan and Talin . The village of Alagyaz is also home to a small number of Kurds . As a result of the administrative reforms completed during 2019, Aragatsotn is currently divided into 9 municipal communities ( hamaynkner ), of which 3 are urban and 69 are rural: Many villages in Aragatsotn are currently abandoned or uninhabited, including Arum , Buravet , Karmrashen , Kasagh , Kyalashbek , Lusaghbyur , Nigatun , Shenik , Verin Kalakut and Zovuni . The 17th-century bridge of Ashtarak on Kasagh River
210-487: Is a major centre for ecotourism and the lovers of extreme tourism . Aragats is the highest mountain in modern-day Armenia. It is a single extinct volcano consisting of 4 peaks: the northern (4090 m.), western (4080 m.), eastern (3916 m.), and southern (3879 m.) peaks. Thus, it frequently attracts hikers and adventure travelers , with its mountain lake of Kari situated at a height of 3250 meters. The well-preserved ancient monasteries and medieval fortresses are also among
252-459: Is also home to the Ayrudzi horse racing club. It is planned to construct a modern sports complex in the village of Parpi . The football stadium of the complex was opened in 2013. At the height of 2000 meters above sea level, the town of Aparan has a ski resort served with a ski lift. Amatuni The House of Amatuni ( Armenian : Ամատունի ) is an ancient Armenian noble family , known from
294-615: Is among the interesting sites of the Aragatsotn Province. The urban settlements of the province are home to cultural palaces and many public libraries. The house-museum of novelist Perch Proshyan founded in 1948, is located in the town of Ashtarak within the Proshyan family house. It was last restored in 2008. Aragatsotn is also home to the Armenian Alphabet Park located near the town of Aparan. The Ashtarak Walnut Festival
336-637: Is among the most significant cultural centres of the province. Football is the most popular sport in Aragatsotn. The province was represented at the Armenian Premier League by FC Mika of Ashtarak until 2007 when they were relocated to Yerevan . The Kasaghi Marzik Stadium in Ashtarak is the largest sports venue in the province. The sports centres in Ashtarak were entirely renovated and opened in July 2017, with an approximate cost of US$ 1 million. Ashtarak
378-549: Is home to the "Ashtarak Dzu" poultry farm, while the Aragats village is home to the "Aragats Poultry farm". Aragatsotn has a poor industrial structure compared to other provinces in Armenia. It has only a share of 2% of the annual total industrial product of Armenia. The existing industrial firms are mainly based on food processing, dairy products, production of alcoholic drinks, water bottling, and building materials production. Aragatsotn
420-583: Is named after the Aragatsotn canton of the historic Ayrarat province of Ancient Armenia , ruled by the Amatuni noble family under the reign of the Arsacid dynasty . Aragatsotn Province occupies the northwestern part of Armenia and covers an area of 2,756 km (9.3% of the total area of Armenia). It has internal borders with Shirak Province from the north, Lori Province from the northeast, Kotayk Province from
462-549: Is taking place every year during the month of October to promote the famous walnut of Ashtarak. It was first celebrated in 2012. Talin has its local "Talin Ashkharh" weekly newspaper. The province is connected with the capital Yerevan through the Ashtarak highway. The M-1 Motorway connects Aragatsotn with northwestern Armenia, including the city of Gyumri, while the M-3 Motorway connects the province with northeastern Armenia up to
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#1732870116839504-560: Is the highest peak of Aragatsotn and Armenia. Besides the Akhurian river, the rivers of Kasagh , Gegharot, and Amberd are the main water resources in the province. Mountainous lakes including Lake Kari , Lessing , Amberd, Tagavor, and Kuraghbyur are found on Mount Aragats. Between 1962 and 1967, the Aparan reservoir was built on the Kasagh river. The climate of Aragatsotn is deeply diversified due to
546-402: Is the provincial centre of Ashtarak, with a population of 19,615. The other urban centres of Aparan and Talin have a population of 6,451 and 5,310 respectively. With a population of 4,780, the village of Oshakan is the largest rural municipality of Aragatsotn. The province is primarily inhabited by Armenians who migrated from Moush , Manzikert , Sasun , Kars , Khoy , and Alashkert in
588-846: The 19th and 20th centuries as well as a minority of Armeno-Tat who belong to the Armenian Apostolic Church . The regulating body of the church is the Diocese of Aragatsotn , headed by Bishop Mkrtich Broshyan. The Saint Mesrop Mashtots Church of Oshakan of is the seat of the diocese. There is also a significant presence of Yazidis in the province. The 20 following villages of Aragatsotn are almost entirely populated by Yazidis: Alagyaz , Arevut , Avshen , Charchakis , Ddmasar , Hako , Jamshlu , Kanch , Kaniashir , Metsadzor , Mijnatun , Mirak , Otevan , Rya Taza , Sadunts , Shamiram , Shenkani , Sipan , Sorik and Tlik . The villages of Arteni , Oshakan , Vardenut and Voskevaz have
630-730: The 24th and 14th centuries BC. Being situated at the heart of the Ayrarat province at the centre of the Armenian Highland , Aragatsotn was among the most strategic regions in the history of Armenia, especially since the establishment of the Kingdom of Armenia in 331 BC by the Orontid dynasty . Later in 190 BC, the Artaxiad dynasty took over the reign of the Armenian Kingdom. During the 2nd century AD,
672-442: The 47 km (18 sq mi) of orchards in Aragatsotn are occupied by grapes. Potato farms occupy around 16 km (6 sq mi), while vegetables are spread over 10 km (4 sq mi) of farms. Around the highlands of Mount Aragats, particularly in the regions of Aparan and Talin, cattle breeding is more common in rural communities. Beekeeping farms are also found in higher woodlands. The village of Voskehat
714-467: The 4th century in the canton of Artaz , between lakes Van and Urmia , with its center at Shavarshan (latter-day Maku ), and subsequently also at Aragatsotn , west of Lake Sevan , with the residence at Oshakan . The Amatuni who was of Caspio - Median or Matianian - Mannaean origin, is given a specious Jewish ancestry from descendants of Samson by the early Armenian tradition ( Moses of Chorene 2.57 ). Their forefather's name Manue suggests
756-683: The Amatuni clan, descendants of Allahverdi khan Amatuni, were meliks in Karadagh ( Arasbaran ) until 1918; and also, they were on the board of directors of oil companies of Baku until 1917. After the Russian annexation of Georgia, the family was confirmed in the dignity of Knyaz on March 25, 1826. The Princes Amatuni were a Caspio-Median, or Mannaean, dynastic house from Artaz, with the city of Shawarshan (later Maku, in northeastern Vaspurakan), situated between lakes Van and Urmia (Mantiane), which subsequently ruled
798-621: The Georgian border. The rural population of the province is 3 times bigger than the urban. Thus, the majority of the population is involved in agriculture, including farming and cattle breeding. Being a major agricultural region, Aragatsotn contributes 9.7% of the annual total agricultural product of Armenia. Around 79% (2,178 km ) of the total area of the province are arable lands , out of which 25% (542 km ) are ploughed. With an approximate areա of 240 km (93 sq mi) of farmlands are occupied by grains and dry seeds. Around 40% of
840-581: The Middle Ages the Amatuni family disappeared. In the 17th century, one of the representatives of the Amatuni clan, a certain Azarbek I Amatuni, son of Prince George Amatuni, was a melik of the city of Nakhichevan-on-Arax. Melik Azarbek I had sons George, Petros (Peter) and Vahan, who faithfully served with their father the Iranian shah. The children and grandchildren of one of the sons, Peter Azarbekyan Amatuni, moved to
882-775: The beginning of the 16th century, Aragatsotn became part of the Erivan Beglarbegi within the Safavid Persia . During the first half of the 18th century, Aragatsotn became part of the Erivan Khanate under the rule of the Afsharid dynasty and later under the Qajar dynasty of Persia. It remained under the Persian rule until 1827–1828, when Eastern Armenia was ceded to the Russian Empire as
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#1732870116839924-452: The city of Tiflis, where on January 1, 1784, King Irakli II confirmed Sarkis (Sergey) Petrovich Azaryan-Amatuni with his sons Stepan, Karapet, Gregory and his nephew Yakov Ivanovich Amatuni, they were in charge of the dignity of their ancestors, "who were at the time of the Armenian kings, the resplendent princes." At the same time, the coat of arms was approved by the charter of the Georgian king Heraclius II of January 1, 1784. Another branch of
966-483: The districts of Aparan (21,654), Aragats (13,401), Ashtarak (42,701), and Talin (39,578). According to the 2011 official census, Aragatsotn has a population of 132,925 (66,738 men and 66,187 women), forming around 4.4% of the entire population of Armenia. The urban population is 31,376 (23.6%) and the rural is 101,549 (76.4%). Aragatsotn has the highest percentage of rural population in Armenia. The province has 3 urban and 111 rural communities. The largest urban community
1008-533: The east, Armavir Province from the south and the city of Yerevan from the southwest. The Akhurian River at the west separates Aragatsotn from the Kars Province of Turkey . Historically, the current territory of the province mainly occupies parts the Aragatsotn , Nig and Shirak cantons of Ayrarat province of Ancient Armenia. The northern part of the province is dominated by the Aragats mountain range. At
1050-527: The end of the 9th century, Aragatsotn became part of the newly established Bagratid Kingdom of Armenia . The Armenian noble families of Kamsarakan and Pahlavuni ruled over Aragatsotn under the Bagratid kings. However, between the 11th and 15th centuries, Aragatsotn along with the rest of the historic territories of Armenia suffered from the Seljuk , Mongol, Ag Qoyunlu and Kara Koyunlu invasions, respectively. At
1092-455: The liberation wars, in 336, the Armenian king Khosrov III presented Oshakan to Vahan Amatuni. During the wars, the Amatuni sent their Suzerain (overlord), the king of Armenia, 500 horses and cavalry soldiers, which shows the political weight and military potential of this grand princely family. [1] . At the initiative of the princes Amatuni, Mesrop Mashtots , the creator of the Armenian alphabet ,
1134-538: The main attractions of the province. Luxury hotels are found in Byurakan , Aghtsk and Ashtarak . Byurakan is also home to the Byurakan Observatory . The Mount Aragats and Lake Kari are among the touristic destinations of the province. The government protects the area as a wildlife sanctuary named Aragats Alpine Sanctuary . The Abaran Battle Memorial and the Armenian Alphabet Park near Aparan are also among
1176-458: The most visited locations in Aragatsotn. As of the 2015-16 educational year, Aragatsotn Province has 123 schools, out of which 119 are operated by the province administration, while 4 are under the direct supervision of the Ministry of Education and Science. The total number of the schools includes the 20 schools that are designated for the ethnic Yazidi and Kurdish minorities. As of the end of 2015,
1218-702: The north on 29 May. As a result of the decisive victories over the Turks in the battles of Sardarabad , Abaran , and Gharakilisa , the Armenians declared independence on May 28, 1918. After 2 years of brief independence, Armenia became part of the Soviet Union in December 1920. From 1930 until 1995, modern-day Aragatsotn was divided into 3 raions within the Armenian SSR : Talin raion , Aparan raion , and Ashtarak raion . With
1260-520: The northeast and the east, it approximates the mountains of Pambak and Tsaghkunyats, respectively. The mountains of Arteni dominate the northeastern and the central eastern parts of the province. The tiny Akhurian valley occupies the eastern edge of Aragatsotn. Aragatsotn occupies the northwestern parts of the Ararat plain in the south and the southeast. The altitude of the province ranges between 950 and 4,090 meters above sea level. Mount Aragats (4,090 m.)
1302-688: The number of students in the province's schools is 17,010. There is also one school for special needs in the province. The town of Ashtarak is home to 2 major research institutions: the Mikael Ter-Mikaelian Institute for Physical Research and the Institute of Radiophysics and Electronics. The village of Byurakan is home to the Byurakan Observatory operated by the Armenian National Academy of Sciences . The house-museum of novelist Perch Proshyan founded in 1948 in Ashtarak,
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1344-510: The partition of Armenia by the Byzantine Empire and Sassanid Persia in 387 and in 428, Eastern Armenia including Aragatsotn became under the rule of Sassanid Persia. The 4th-century Holly Cross Basilica of Kasagh located at the outskirts of modern-day Aparan, is among the earliest surviving samples of the Armenian church architecture . In 658, Armenia was conquered by the Arab invaders. At
1386-613: The possession of Artaz, but under the Artsruni of Vaspurakan , until 909, when the Vaspurakan kingdom of the Artsrunis separated from the kingdom of Great Armenia, but Artaz remained loyal to the united Armenian kingdom of the Bagratids and remained part of it. Also, the principality of Amatuni (Artaz) has always had its own separate church diocese, the diocese of Amatuniq. The Vachutean genealogy
1428-530: The reversal of the Amatuni's loyalty and, in 451, Vahan revolted, only to be banished to Gorgan . In 451, the famous Battle of Avarayr between Armenians and Persians took place in Artaz, south of Maku. The transfer of regional power from the Sassanids to Muslim Arab rule provoked a large-scale aristocratic insurrection of 774-75. In the 9th century, when kingdom of Great Armenia was restored, Amatuni still remained in
1470-547: The river Araxes , southeast of Artaz. Apparently, starting from 336 A.D. the Amatuni princes were in charge of the tax service of the Armenian kingdom , when the Arshakids bestowed on them the fortress and possession of Oshakan in the heart of their Ayrarat royal domain, not far from the capital of the kingdom Dvin ( Moses of Chorene 2.57 ). Historians described the battle that took place in 336 near Oshakan, between Armenians and Persians, in which Armenians won. For his valor in
1512-458: The territorial administration reform of 1995, the 3 raions were merged to form the Aragatsotn Province. According to the 1989 Soviet census , the Aragatsotn Province (then part of the Aparan , Aragats , Ashtarak , and Talin districts in 1930–1995) had a population of 141,611. 24,277 or 17.14% of which was urban, distributed in the city of Ashtarak, and 117,334 or 82.86% were rural, distributed in
1554-550: The towns of Casala (the Hellenized version of Kasagh , now Aparan ), and Talina (now Talin ) were mentioned by Ptolemy during the reign of the Arsacid dynasty of Armenia . The territory of Nig canton, including the area of Aparan, was under the administration of the Gntunyan Armenian noble family, while the territory of Aragatsotn canton, including the area of Ashtarak, was ruled by the Amatuni noble family. Following
1596-527: The wide range of altitudes of the region. The annual precipitation level ranges between 400 mm (16 in) at the lower areas and 1,000 mm (39 in) at the mountainous territories. According to Movses Khorenatsi , Aramaniak -the son of the patriarch and founder of the Armenian nation Hayk - along with his clan, settled in the area of modern-day Aragatsotn. The cemeteries of Verin Naver archaeological site -located 3 km west of Ashtarak- date back to
1638-429: Was advancing towards Eastern Armenia through Gyumri , Aragatsotn, and Sardarapat. On May 21, 1918, the Turkish forces attacked through Aparan in Aragatsotn trying to reach Yerevan . The Turks were opposed by the Armenian forces under the command of Dro at the outskirts of Aparan. After three days of fierce fighting, the Armenians launched a counter-attack on 25 May, and the Turkish troops were forced to retreat back to
1680-681: Was buried here. As Nakharars the Amatuni owned Oshakan until 773, after which these lands came under the control of the Bagratids [2] . After the Sassanids of Iran abolished the Arsacid monarchy in Armenia in 428, Vahan (II) Amatuni was appointed by the Great King as assistant governor to the Iranian marzpan . However, Sassanid propagation of Zoroastrianism among the Christian Armenians caused
1722-500: Was reconstructed by Marie Brosset and can be found in his Rapports sur un voyage archéologique dans la Géorgie et dans l'Arménie (St. Petersburg 1849-1851) III: 99-100 . The Artazian branch of Amatuni family was ruling castle of Maku (Shavarshan) stil in XVth century and successfully defend it during Timurleng invasion, when he besieged castle of Maku, as was stated in his book by Castilian diplomat don Ruy González de Clavijo , when he
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1764-570: Was traveling to the imperial court of emir Timurleng in Samarkand. A branch of the family still controlled a fiefdom of Artaz in Maku down to the 1500s when Ottomans and Kurdish tribes toppled Armenian rule in the region. while the branch which ruled Hamamshen was overthrown in the 15th century after the Ottomans invaded the empire of Trebizond and exiled its last prince Baron David II to Ispir . After
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