The fortress of Jraberd

The fortress of Jraberd

Location

The Jraberd Fortress is located in the Martakert region of the Republic of Artsakh, approximately 10 kilometers east of Tonashen village, within the Tartar Valley. Historically, this valley, along with the surrounding forested high mountain slopes, formed part of the Metskuenk (Metskogmank) province of the Artsakh region (Barkhutareants 1895, 24). The fortress is positioned on the left bank of the Tartar (Trtu) River, atop a high rock formation about 7 km southeast of the Yeritsmankants Monastery. The rugged terrain serves as a natural, impenetrable barrier. The fortress itself is constructed on a granite cliff ledge, elevated at the confluence of the Tartar and Trghi rivers, extending along its slope (Fig. 1). On both the eastern and western sides, natural rock walls descend vertically into the Tartar and Trghi rivers (Fig. 2), and in the southern part, the rock formation descends vertically towards Tartar. The location of the fortress was previously described in great detail by the historian Leo:

"The Tartar River traverses the precipitous valleys that lie before Mrav. From an unknown point, a stream emerges from the chest of Mrav and flows into Trghi, which is, in turn, fed by a stream flowing from Mrav's groin. At their confluence, a formidable, wedge-shaped rock formation rises, encircled by thick walls embracing its chest and stern. The man transformed this substantial and inaccessible rock into a fortified structure and named it Jraberd" (Leo, 1920, 5). Then, continuing, Leo writes: "It is not only the rocks that fortify the fortress, nor the deep ravines that carve its four sides like impassable trenches. It is surrounded on three sides by raging, untamed waters... the entire province is called Jraberd, named after that fortress of waters" (Leo, 1891).

Fig. 1 The general view of the Jraberd fortress from the northwest, photo by H. Petrosyan.

Fig. 2 The general view of the fortress from the east, photo by H. Petrosyan.

A brief historical overview

Jraberd Fortress has long been recognized as one of the most impregnable and significant defensive strongholds in Artsakh, dating back to the early Middle Ages. Historical sources and various records refer to the fortress by several names, including Charaberd, Chraberd, Jermuk Fortress, and Jraberd (Kaghankatvatsi 1969, 157, 354). During the Melikdom era, Charaberd (also known as Charapert, Jarapert, and Jaripert) was not only used as the name for the fortress but also served as the designation for both the province and the melikdom (Ghulyan 2001, 82). The earliest known reference to the fortress relates to the raids of the Khazars, who invaded Artsakh in the late 620s. According to Kaghankatvatsi (1983, 156-158), Catholicos Viro of Caucasian Albania took measures to defend against them. From the latter half of the 11th century onward, Jraberd, along with other fortresses in Artsakh, fell under the control of the Turkmen from the Gandszak province (Manandyan 1977, 106-107). By the early 12th century, the people of Artsakh were engaged in battles with the Seljuk-Turkish tribes. By the end of the 12th century, the region became actively involved in military and political efforts on behalf of the Zakarian princes (Ulubabyan 1975, 124). As a result of these endeavors, Jraberd was temporarily liberated (Orbelyan 1910, 391-392). However, it soon came under the rule of Sultan Jalal-ad-Din and later, between 1227 and 1230, fell under Mongol control.

Additionally, the fortress is referenced by Kirakos Gandzaketsi. In his history, it is documented that in 1246, to restore the borders of the native power, Hasan Jalal, the Grand Prince of Khachen, departed for Batu accompanied by his son Sartakh. Sartakh was received with honor and was ordered to return to the estates, described as "his Charaberd, Akana, and Karkar" (Gandzaketsi 1961, 359). An inscription from Mesis Monastery in the upper valley of the Trghi River further indicates that the fortresses of Charaberd, Akana, and Chkhnkan were under the control of Prince Grigor Tsaretsi of Upper Khachen

(https://monumentwatch.org/hy/monument/%d5%b4%d5%a5%d5%bd%d5%ab%d5%bd-%d5%be%d5%a1%d5%b6%d6%84%d5%a8/).

The Jraberd fortress has been directly described or referenced by several notable scholars, including G. Alishan (Alishan 1901, 387), M. Barkhutareants (Barkhutareants 1895, 240), Leo (Leo 1901, 5-24), H. Manandyan (Manandyan 1977, 153, 230), B. Ulubabyan (Ulubabyan 1975, 119, 120), A. Ghulyan (Ghulyan 2001, 82), among others.

Jraberd is also referenced in the 16th century during the military conflicts between Ottoman Turkey and Persia in Armenia (Davrizhetsi 1896, 608). In the following centuries, Jraberd was mentioned in significant historical and geopolitical events, particularly as the region resisted incursions by the Ottoman Turks, Lezgi mountaineers, and other invaders. In the context of the 1727 events (the Turks' conquest of Karabakh), we encounter a further reference to Jraberd (Topchean 1898, 70). Following these events, the previous status quo is reinstated in Karabakh, which subsequently becomes a region characterized by separatist tendencies (Leo 1973, 253-254). From the latter half of the 18th century onward, Melik Allah Ghuli of Jraberd engaged in an unrelenting struggle against Panah Khan, who had assumed control of the Shushi fortress through treachery (Barkhutareants 1895, 122). Following the latter's demise, Allah Ghulu's sibling, Melik Hatam, assumed control of Jraberd and reaffirmed its proprietorship. His son, Melik Mezhlum, represented the final ruling authority within the Jraberd fortress (Sargsyan 2002, 104-105). In the following centuries, even in an abandoned and uninhabited state, during military conflicts, the people took refuge in Jraberd and organized resistance against the Turkish invaders. The final reference to the Jraberd fortress is from 1793, when the Persian general Suleiman Shahzada invaded Karabakh with the objective of reestablishing Persian dominance in Transcaucasia (Sargsyan 2002, 105). The complex is currently under the control of Azerbaijan, which presents a challenge for further studies of the fortress. Meanwhile, the cleaning and excavation of the area, which is currently overgrown with vegetation, would allow for the revelation of numerous episodes in the history of this renowned fortress, as well as the discovery of architectural and fortification features.

Bibliography

  1. Alishan - 1901, Alishan Gh., Hayapatum, Venice.
  2. Barkhutareants 1895 - Makar Bishop Barkhutareants, Artsakh, "Aror" printing house, Baku.
  3. Davrizhetsi 1896 - Davrizhetsi A., History, Vagharshapat.
  4. Topchean, Script complied by Khachik Vardapet Dadean, part 1, Vagharshapat.
  5. Leo 1920 - Leo, Armenian Heroes: The Meliks of Jraberd and Their Braves, Yerevan.
  6. Leo 1973 - Leo, Collection of Writings, Volume 3, Yerevan.
  7. Leo 1891 - Leo, Last Wounds, Part 1, Tiflis.
  8. Kaghankatvatsi 1969 - Movses Kaghankatvatsi, History of Caucasian Albania, Yerevan.
  9. Kaghankatvatsi 1983 - Movses Kaghankatvatsi, History of Caucasian Albania, Yerevan.
  10. Ghulyan 2001 - Ghulyan A., Melik mansions of Artsakh and Syunik, Publishing House of the Academy of Sciences of RA, Yerevan.
  11. Manandyan 1977 - Manandyan H., Writings, Volume 3, Yerevan.
  12. Sargsyan 2002 - Sargsyan S., The Fortresses of Khachen, Stepanakert.
  13. Ulubabyan 1975 - Ulubabyan B., The rule of Khachen in the 10th - 16th centuries, Yerevan.
  14. Orbelian 1910 - Orbelian St., History of the Province of Syunik, Tiflis.
The fortress of Jraberd
The fortress of Jraberd
The fortress of Jraberd
Artsakh