the fall of togh
The Heritage of Togh Melikdom
The village of Tog of Artsakh has historical and cultural significance. It was the Melik residence of Artsakh․
On October 21, 2020, the village of Togh in the Hadrut region of Artsakh came under the control of Azerbaijan.
Political scientist and architectural historian Manvel Sargsyan was one of the researchers of the heritage of Togh Melikdom.
On October 21, 2020, the village of Togh in the Hadrut region of Artsakh came under the control of Azerbaijan.
Political scientist and architectural historian Manvel Sargsyan was one of the researchers of the heritage of Togh Melikdom.
Excavations in Togh
Now the archive of Manvel Sargsyan also has political significance, as after the war and the occupation of Togh, the Azerbaijani authorities are trying to challenge the origin of the local Armenian population.
Ilham Aliyev personally tries to falsify history, presents the Armenian Church of Tog as "Caucasian Albanian" and so on. Sargsyan's archive shows that the Armenians in this village have "several cultural layers".
The researcher of the Togh Melikdom heritage Manvel Sargsyan tells about the historical and cultural significance of the village.
Manvel Sargsyan: In different periods of time, there were Armenian settlements in this area. But in the political sense, the “top layer” is very important, which indicates the existence of state structures of Armenians in this area.
Ilham Aliyev personally tries to falsify history, presents the Armenian Church of Tog as "Caucasian Albanian" and so on. Sargsyan's archive shows that the Armenians in this village have "several cultural layers".
The researcher of the Togh Melikdom heritage Manvel Sargsyan tells about the historical and cultural significance of the village.
Manvel Sargsyan: In different periods of time, there were Armenian settlements in this area. But in the political sense, the “top layer” is very important, which indicates the existence of state structures of Armenians in this area.
Question: What is the historical and cultural significance of the village of Togh in the Hadrut region of Artsakh?
Manvel Sargsyan: "Togh acquired its main significance when the Melikdom was founded here. It was the center of the Dizak Melokdom. And to be more precise, the first Melikof Dizak Avan (Yegan) received from Nadir Shah of Persia in 1736 the status of "Beklarbek" (Melik of Meliks) over the whole of Artsakh.
At that time, complex processes were going on in Persia, and Nadir Shah was in alliance with Dizak Malikdom. Melik Avan provided his assistance to the Shah, about which there is also an inscription made on the stone of the entrance to the Melik mansion in 1737".
Manvel Sargsyan: "Togh acquired its main significance when the Melikdom was founded here. It was the center of the Dizak Melokdom. And to be more precise, the first Melikof Dizak Avan (Yegan) received from Nadir Shah of Persia in 1736 the status of "Beklarbek" (Melik of Meliks) over the whole of Artsakh.
At that time, complex processes were going on in Persia, and Nadir Shah was in alliance with Dizak Malikdom. Melik Avan provided his assistance to the Shah, about which there is also an inscription made on the stone of the entrance to the Melik mansion in 1737".
Question: What is the noteworthiness of this inscription?
Manvel Sargsyan: This is important for three reasons. First, it mentions six Melikdoms, not five, as is customary. The Melikdom of Kochiz is also mentioned there.
6 Melikdoms are:
Manvel Sargsyan: This is important for three reasons. First, it mentions six Melikdoms, not five, as is customary. The Melikdom of Kochiz is also mentioned there.
6 Melikdoms are:
- Dizak,
- Khachen,
- Varanda,
- Jraberd,
- Talish,
- Kochiz
Third: Melik Avan calls his country Armenia. – "I did not let my Armenia be captured."
From this point of view, this inscription has great political significance. What is written on the stone is important.
From this point of view, this inscription has great political significance. What is written on the stone is important.
The borders of Armenia and the contact line of Artsakh until the war of 2020.
Lines in orange indicate the approximate borders of the territories of Artsakh Melikdoms in combination with the borders of Armenia and the line of contact of Artsakh in the pre-war period.
Question: What was the status of Togh in the period of melikdoms and how was its further destiny?
Manvel Sargsyan: Until 1752, Togh was the center of melikdoms. After that, the melikdoms gradually began to disintegrate. Bakhtam, brother of Melik Yegan, who inherited the status of melik, was arrested and spent many years in a Persian prison. After his release, he was killed by Ibrahim Khan of Shushi in 1781.
The next melik Abbas was also killed. Melik family members were converted to Islam by force or deceit. The persecution of the descendants of melik dynasties continued until the annexation of the Caucasian provinces to Russia in 1828.
Manvel Sargsyan: Until 1752, Togh was the center of melikdoms. After that, the melikdoms gradually began to disintegrate. Bakhtam, brother of Melik Yegan, who inherited the status of melik, was arrested and spent many years in a Persian prison. After his release, he was killed by Ibrahim Khan of Shushi in 1781.
The next melik Abbas was also killed. Melik family members were converted to Islam by force or deceit. The persecution of the descendants of melik dynasties continued until the annexation of the Caucasian provinces to Russia in 1828.
Aram's son Bagdat and his children were forcibly converted to Islam. The adoption of Islam was also imposed on other representatives of the Melik dynasty.
However, Aslan (the son of Melik Baghdat), who was the first to convert to Islam from the dynasty, was sent to Togh as Bey (ruler) in 1828 by the Russian administration.
However, Aslan (the son of Melik Baghdat), who was the first to convert to Islam from the dynasty, was sent to Togh as Bey (ruler) in 1828 by the Russian administration.
Manvel Sargsyan: Probably, from that moment on, the power in Togh passed to the Islamic branch of Melik Yegan's dynasty. The Melik mansion of Togh was divided into two parts, and only the part where the Beys (rulers adopted Islam) settled was further developed. The "Armenian branch" lost power and influence.
Since 1926, Togh was part of the Dizak (since 1939 - Hadrut) region of Nagorno-Karabakh. During the Soviet period, the policy of depopulation of Togh from Armenians continued.
On October 30, 1991, local militia units liberated Togh from the Azerbaijani riot police (OMON) stationed there.
On October 30, 1991, local militia units liberated Togh from the Azerbaijani riot police (OMON) stationed there.
The entrance of the melik mansion of Togh, with an inscription made in 1737, in which Melik Avan presented his history.
Question: What steps were taken to restore the historical and cultural heritage of Togh after Artsakh gained independence?
Manvel Sargsyan: The melik mansion of Togh (in the main photo, December 2021 - ed.) was partially restored. St. Hovhannes church was restored as well.
The first building dates back to the 15th century. The purpose of the excavations was to show the history of the development of the architecture of those 500 years. A lot of work was done and the area was repurposed.
It was an interesting tourist destination in Artsakh. A wine festival was periodically held in the village.
Manvel Sargsyan: The melik mansion of Togh (in the main photo, December 2021 - ed.) was partially restored. St. Hovhannes church was restored as well.
The first building dates back to the 15th century. The purpose of the excavations was to show the history of the development of the architecture of those 500 years. A lot of work was done and the area was repurposed.
It was an interesting tourist destination in Artsakh. A wine festival was periodically held in the village.
500 YEARS OF HISTORY
The melikdom layer and the layer up to the 15th century have been preserved. There was a foundry, remains of granaries, reservoirs. It was very difficult to even choose which layer to keep and which not.
Question: During the war of 2020, the Hadrut region, the village of Togh came under the control of Azerbaijan, what fate befell the historical and cultural monuments of Togh?
Manvel Sargsyan: Yes, unfortunately, now Tog is under the control of Azerbaijan, and there is a tendency to distort the history of Togh.
Armenian monasteries and monuments are passed off as Caucasian Albanian, and there is a state policy of destroying monuments and Togh is a museum of inscriptions.
If we lose the Togh inscriptions, it will be a great loss for our culture.
Manvel Sargsyan: Yes, unfortunately, now Tog is under the control of Azerbaijan, and there is a tendency to distort the history of Togh.
Armenian monasteries and monuments are passed off as Caucasian Albanian, and there is a state policy of destroying monuments and Togh is a museum of inscriptions.
If we lose the Togh inscriptions, it will be a great loss for our culture.
Azerbaijani forgery
After the war, in March 2021, the president of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, along with his wife and daughter visited Tog and other settlements.
Right there Ilham Aliyev presented Togh village as an "ancient Azerbaijani village". And the St. Hovhannes church in the village not being able to present it as "ancient Azerbaijani", presented it as if it is "Caucasian Albanian".
Right there Ilham Aliyev presented Togh village as an "ancient Azerbaijani village". And the St. Hovhannes church in the village not being able to present it as "ancient Azerbaijani", presented it as if it is "Caucasian Albanian".
The fall of Togh
Other stories of the project
- One-day battle for the villageOne-day battle for Togh and the fall of the village in 2020 Artsakh War
- The fate of the people of ToghThe displacement of the villagers, their fates and current livelihood.
- Kataro wine and the economyThe fate of the most famous winery of Artsakh, the material and economic losses of the village.
