SEARCH SYSTEM OF THE ARMENIAN HIGHLAND MONUMENTS

Mirzik 35 Monuments

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

Location

The village, which is surrounded by wooded mountains in the south and east, is situated in a table-land lying between the left tributaries of the river Gandzak, 12 kilometres south-west of the district centre, at an altitude of 1,000 to 1,160 metres above sea level.

Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 419.

Historical Introduction
19 — 20 cc․

Thanks to the favourable geographical position and climatic conditions of the village, its territory has been inhabited since time immemorial. While working there, archaeologist F. Schultz, a member of Tiflis’ Archaeological Society who conducted excavations in the territory of Gandzak in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, unearthed a tomb with some articles tracing back to the Middle Bronze and Early Iron Ages: “...Schultz unclosed nine skeletons arranged one on top of the other in a northerly direction, with some ironware in the upper row and bronze articles in the lower one. Apparently, the graves had been well-built before the interment of the bodies. The earliest and last burials are chronologically separated by a time-span of 8 to 10 centuries, the Bronze Age merging into the Iron Age. Schultz also unearthed some rings, bracelets, arrows, daggers and beads in the tomb...”

“Mshak,” 1903, No. 117, p. 1.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 419.

The historical monuments preserved in the village and its vicinity trace it back to the Middle Ages.

Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 419.

Name Origin

Originally called Vardashen, the settlement was renamed Mirzik under the Persian dominion. Allegedly, it was the name of a Persian tax collector who agreed to exempt the village from taxes provided that it should be called after him. The inhabitants of Vardashen agreed and renamed it Mirza, which later changed into Mirzik. Indeed, this story does not sound a trustworthy one, but in the 17th century, the village was known by the name of Mirzik, as mentioned in a bull issued by Catholicos Pilippos.

Grigorian, B. Mirzik or Vardashen? (An excerpt from a book of memoirs entitled The Traces are Lost). In: “Gardmank,” 1996, No. 2, pp. 12-13.
Barkhutariants, M. Artsakh. Baku, 1895, p. 48.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 419.

Construction Activity
19 c․

In the 19th century, Mirzik aroused admiration among visitors and researchers: “...the village, that offers a fascinating view, boasts sweet-water springs. The only drawback is that it does not have regular streets, and the barns and cattle-houses are situated rather near the houses.”

Lalayan, Yer. Gandzak District. In: “Azgagrakan Handes,” vol. 5, Tiflis, 1899, No. 1, pp. 316-317.
Кarapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 419.

Bishop Barkhutariants describes Mirzik as a village extending on an east-facing mountain slope and offering a fine view. It enjoyed an abundance of fruit trees as well as pure air and water, which he writes were the main reasons for the local residents’ noted longevity.

Barkhutariants, M. Artsakh. Baku, 1895, p. 276.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 419.

Population
1839 y․

The following list of the families living in Mirzik in 1839 is of great value to the study of their history:

“Gabriel Grigorian with his wife Sabed;
Abraham Sevian, his wife Mariam, their daughter Khatayi, their sons Beglar, Ohanes, and Shahverdi with his wife Herik; Abraham’s nephew Avetis, his wife Annman as well as their sons Poghos and Soghomon;
Gabriel Grigorian, his wife Mariam as well as their sons Hakob, Avetik, Ohanes and Sahak;
Mkrtich Tamrazian, his wife Aziz, their daughters Mashak, Vardi and Javahir as well as their sons Hovakim, Karapet, Poghos, Khachatur and Grigor;
Hovsep Ter-Mkrtchian, his son Petros with his wife Gyuli, his son Hovhannes and his daughter Herik; Hovsep’s nephews Simon, and Harutiun with his wife Sirunna, his son Vardazar as well as his daughters Yeghisabet, Horomsim, Mariam and Tangi;
Movses Harutiunian, his wife Horomsim, their sons Vardan, Ghazar, Anton as well as their daughters Yeghisabet, Mariam and Herik;
Avetis Sargissian, his wife Tangi, their sons Khachatur and Harutiun as well as their daughters Mariam and Yeghisabet; Avetis’ mother Shahnaz, his brothers 1. Bazum with his wife Sirunna and his son Sargis, and 2. Hovsep with his wife Zani and his son Martiros;
Hakob Abrahamian and his wife Taguhi with their sons Mkrtich and Karapet; Hakob’s mother Mariam as well as his brothers Hovhannes, and Harutiun with his wife Taguhi;
Arustam Mkrtchian, his wife Horomsim, their daughters Yeghisabet and Magtagh, their sons David, Hovsep and Vardazar as well as their daughter-in-law Khanum with her daughter Tellu and her sons Harutiun and Ghazar;
Yeghia Khachaturian, his wife Sarah, their daughter Magtagh as well as their sons Harutiun, Ohanes and Grigor;
Khachatur Arakelian, his wife Tangi, their son Harutiun as well as their daughters Nakhshun and Shoghakat;
Vardan Ohanian with his wife Hori;
Allahverdi Babajanian and his wife Yeghisabet with their son Ohanes and their daughter Magtagh;
Khudaverdi Gharibian with his mother Rehan;
Gabriel Aghabegian, his mother Mariam, his brother Harutiun as well as his sisters Heriknaz and Sandukht;
Vardan Hakobian, his wife Sarah, their sons Ohanes, Hakob as well as their daughters Mariam and Herik;
Petros Grigorian, his wife Aziz, his brothers Ohanes, Sargis, and Khachatur with his wife Murvat;
Sabar Harutiunian, his wife Horomsim, their daughter Shoghakat, their sons Harutiun, Soghomon, Hovhannes and Khachatur as well as their daughter-in-law Mariam with her sons Avag and Bedkhehem;
David Yeghian, his mother Mariam, his wife Mariam, their daughter Magtagh as well as their sons Sahak and Harutiun;
Harutiun Hovsepian, his wife Yeghisabet and their daughter Magtagh; Harutiun’s mother Yeghisabet, his sister Anayi as well as his brothers Grigor, and Hovhannes with his wife Herik and his daughter Nakhshun;
Hovakim Harutiunian, his mother Yeghisabet as well as his sisters Javahir and Mariam.”

National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3800, p. 27.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 420.

1804 y․

The table shows that the local inhabitants continually increased, amounting to 953 in 1906. In the course of some years, however (1866 to 1873, 1906 to 1907, 1912 to 1914), certain reduction could be observed in their number, particularly due to resettlement.

Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 421.

Occupation

The Armenians of Mirzik were mainly farmers and cattle-breeders. In addition, the magnificent forests extending in the neighbourhood of their village enabled them to cut down trees and sell timber.

“Nor-Dar,” 1888, No. 202, p. 2.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 421.

Priests
1905 — 1923 yy․

Priest Martiros Yepiskopossiants, who was ordained in 1897, served Mirzik and Brajur between 1905 and 1923.

National Archives of Armenia, fund 57, list 3, file 259, p. 4; fund 458, list 1, file 184, p. 7.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 427.

Type Photo
View Partial view
Author Samvel Karapetyan
Source Colour Negative
Date 1980 — 1982 yy․

Type Photo
View Exterior
Author Samvel Karapetyan
Source Colour Negative
Date 1980 — 1982 yy․

A derelict house

Type Photo
View Exterior
Direction From the south-east
Author Samvel Karapetyan
Source Colour Negative
Date 1980 — 1982 yy․

Name	Year/Century	Etymology
Vardashen

Below follow the available statistical data on the number of Mirzik’s population:

Dates	Armenian Houses	Armenians (Male)	Armenians (Female)	Total (Armenians)	Notes	Source
1804	13	28	17	45		Collected Acts of the Caucasian Archaeological Commission, vol. 2, Tiflis, 1868, p. 596; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 420.
1839	21	74	63	137		National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3800, p. 27; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 420.
1845		120	81	201		National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3811, p. 4-5; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 420.
1847		134	76	210		National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3814, pp. 96-97; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 420.
1849		143	59	202		National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3818, pp. 96-97; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 420.
1852		168	162	330		National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3819, pp. 105-106; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 420.
1861	27					National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3835, pp. 147-148; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 420.
1866	38	193	186	379		National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3848, p. 57; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 421.
1872		180	107	287		National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3872, pp. 62-63; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 421.
1873				225		National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3864; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 421.
1875				240		National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3866, pp. 44-45; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 421.
1876				265		National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3868, pp. 57-58; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 421.
1877		161	103	264		National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3869, pp. 54-55; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 421.
1878		165	102	267		National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3870, pp. 22-23; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 421.
1881		189	116	305		National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3873, pp. 27-28; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 421.
1882		206	132	338		National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3874, p. 30; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 421.
1883		198	104	302		National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3875, pp. 56-57; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 421.
1885		250	220	470		National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3874, p. 29; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 421.
1886	71	339	264	603	Another source mentions 44 houses (“Ardzagank,” 1886, No. 20, p. 295).	Yelizavetpol Province: A Statistical Survey Based on the Family Lists of Caucasia's Population. Tiflis, 1888, pp. 84-85; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 421.
1887		272	241	513		National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3880, p. 73; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 421.
1888	70	286	252	538		National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3882, p. 131. Also see “Nor-Dar,” 1888, No. 202, p. 2; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 421.
1889		295	261	556		National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3884, pp. 226-227; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 421.
1890		305	270	575		National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3887, p. 150; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 421.
1891		320	273	593		National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3889, p. 149; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 421.
1892		349	310	659		National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3891, p. 121; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 421.
1893		355	314	669		National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3895, pp. 77-78; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 421.
1894		368	329	697		National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3896, pp. 174-175; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 421.
1897		424	388	812		National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3899, pp. 147-148; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 421.
1898		428	397	825		National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3897, p. 169; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 421.
1899		434	401	835		National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3903, pp. 126-127; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 421.
1900		441	400	841		National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3905, pp. 91-92; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 421.
1901		458	411	869		National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3906, pp. 97-98; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 421.
1902		465	418	883		National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3907, pp. 23-24; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 421.
1905		466	423	889		National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3912, pp. 266-267; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 421.
1906		498	455	953		National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3915, p. 24; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 421.
1907				697		National Archives of Armenia, fund 56, list 1, file 240, p. 2; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 421.
1908	60	402	301	703	Another statistical source reports 610 inhabitants (Caucasian Calendar for 1910, Tiflis, 1909, p. 322).	National Archives of Armenia, fund 35, list 1, file 559, p. 9; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 421.
1909		462	414	876		National Archives of Armenia, fund 56, list 18, file 764, p. 117; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 421.
1910		433	318	751		National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3917, pp. 57-58; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 421.
1912		474	419	893		National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3919, pp. 62-63; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 421.
1914				623		Caucasian Calendar for 1915, Tiflis, 1914, p. 158; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 421.
1917	75			416		Avetissian, M. M. A Reference Book on the Settlements and Population Number of Nagorno Karabakh and Zangezur (1917). In: “Banber Hayastani Arkhivneri,” 1991, No. 3, p. 166; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 421.
1924	157					National Archives of Armenia, fund 409, list 1, file 2635, p. 49; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 421.
1925				895		As attested by the register of the Village Council. Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 421.
1981				846		Soviet Azerbaijanian Encyclopedia, vol. 6, Baku, 1982, p. 593; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 421.