Hajishen :: ARMENIAN LOCATIONS

2 Monuments

Azerbaijan (Country) / Northern Artsakh (Area) / Khanlar (District) / Hajishen (Village)

Location

The village is situated on the road leading to Lake Alharak, amidst deep forests 8 kilometres south of the district centre, at an altitude of 1,210 to 1,290 metres above sea level.

Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 388.

Historical Introduction

A semi-ruined church and a cemetery of khachkars attest that it dates as far back as the Middle Ages.

Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 388.

1638 — 1655 yy․

The first written source to mention ‘Hajishin’ is one of Catholicos Pilippos’ (1638 to 1655) bulls.

Barkhutariants, M. Artsakh. Baku, 1895, p. 48.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 388.

Description

As described by some visitors, it “lies amidst a wood on the brink of a gorge and enjoys beautiful scenery...” “...the position of the area, the healthy air and water turn Hajishen into a true summer resort.”

“Nor-Dar,” 1890, No. 125, p. 3.
“Ardzagank,” 1886, No. 19, p. 280.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 388.

Historical Introduction
1870 y․

Taking into account the aforementioned geographical advantages of the area, in 1870 the local authorities, headed by Governor of Gandzak Butalov, decided to found a summer resort there for the officials and dignitaries of Gandzak. To carry out that plan, the local people were offered residence in the historical village site of Bakhshik: “Several years ago, this place was inhabited by the Armenians who scattered to various villages, leaving behind their houses as well as a ruined church and a cemetery lying around it.”

“Nor-Dar,” 1885, No. 131, p. 2.
“Ardzagank,” 1886, No. 19, p. 280. In 1889 the author of another article wrote the following with this regard, “...Hajikyand used to be an Armenian-populated village which is attested by a semi-ruined Armenian church and a great number of ancient graves preserved there. In the course of time, however, the local people abandoned it and founded another village named Bakhshik within some 2 to 3 versts of it...” (“Nor-Dar,” 1889, No. 144, p. 3).
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 388.

Construction Activity

The elevated part of the village turned into a summer resort and was named Verin Tagh. It was built with “...royal residences, its inhabitants comprising high-ranking officials such as the Governor and Deputy-Governor...,” whereas common Armenians who did not boast high position were not entitled to take up residence there. As for the village of Hajishen, it extended in Nerkin, i.e. ‘Lower’ Tagh, which still preserved its Armenian population.

“Nor-Dar,” 1885, No. 131, p. 2.
“Nor-Dar,” 1890, No. 125, p. 3.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 388.

1886 y․

In 1886 brothers Atayan from Gandzak pursued legal proceedings to take possession of the territory of the summer resort.

“Ardzagank,” 1886, No. 19, p. 280.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 389.

Historical Introduction
19 c․

By the late 19th century, Verin Hajikend had grown into a small town with a court, post office and telegraph-station functioning there in summers.

Barkhutariants, M. Artsakh. Baku, 1895, pp. 271-272.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 389.

1895 y․

It also had some hotels, that of A. Mirzoyants adding to their number in 1895.

“Nor-Dar,” 1895, No. 118, p. 3.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 389.

Population

Despite that, however, it remained a purely Armenian village comprising between 25 and 30 Armenian houses until 1870.

“Nor-Dar,” 1885, No. 191, p. 2.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 389.

1870 y․

After 1870, the Upper Quarter, officially named Hajikend from its very foundation, was inhabited by people of different nationalities. Particularly great in number were the Russians who occupied a separate quarter. In 1885 they built a church and started preparing for its consecration to be held in July of the same year.

“Nor-Dar,” 1885, No. 191, p. 2.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 389.

19 c․

Beginning with the late 19th century, some stock-breeding Turkish nomads could be seen in the vicinity of the village in the summer months: “A forest lying in the neighbourhood of Hajikend, particularly the site of Daghdan located on the road leading to Suluk Village, abound in hundreds of tents occupied by the Turkish Alachukhs.”

“Nor-Dar,” 1895, No. 131, p. 2.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 389.

1892 y․

According to a statistical register made up between 28 and 29 June 1892, the Turkish herdsmen totaled 631.

“Nor-Dar,” 1892, No. 119, p. 2.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 389.

As attested by the same source, the population of Hajishen-Hajikend represented the following picture: 585 Armenians; 478 Russians; 7 Armenian Catholics; 631 Shiah Muslims; 99 Lutherans; 56 Jews; 51 Roman Catholics; 9 sectarians and 6 foreigners, with a total of 1,924 inhabitants (1,104 males, 820 females).

“Nor-Dar,” 1892, No. 119, p. 2.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 389.

19 c․

During the Soviet period, Hajishen-Hajikend, which was predominantly populated by the Armenians and Russians until 1949, preserved its fame of summer resort. Despite the fact that later some Azerbaijanian families moved there from Soviet Armenia, the local Armenian residents, constituting about 60 houses, enjoyed majority among the representatives of other nationalities until 1988. Before the deportation, both the Lower and Upper Quarters still had some Armenian population.

Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 389.

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Name	Year/Century	Etymology
Hajikend

The available statistical data reveal that in the 19th century, Hajishen had a small number of Armenian population

Dates	Armenian Houses	Armenians (Male)	Armenians (Female)	Total (Armenians)	Notes	Source
1804	10	20	20	40		Collected Acts of the Caucasian Archaeological Commission, vol. 2, Tiflis, 1868, p. 596; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 389.
1845		30	30	60		National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3811, pp. 5-6; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 389.
1847		34	32	66		National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3814, pp. 95-96; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 389.
1849		51	56	107		National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3818, pp. 95-96; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 389.
1852		69	61	130		National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3819, pp. 105-106; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 389.
1861	10					National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3835, pp. 147-148; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 389.
1866	18	111	76	187		National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3848, p. 57; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 389.