Battle of Halidzor

Battle of Halidzor
Date4 March 1727
LocationHalidzor Fortress, modern city of Kapan, Armenia
Result Armenian Victory
Belligerents
Armenians of Syunik Ottoman Empire
Commanders and leaders
David Bek
Mkhitar Sparapet
Ter Avetis		 Turkish generals
Strength
~300 Soldiers[1]
13 bishops
3 priests		 70,000[1]
Casualties and losses
Light [1] Roughly 13,000[1]

The Battle of Halidzor (Armenian: Հալիձորի ճակատամարտ) was a military conflict that took place in the southern region of Armenia, Syunik, modern city of Kapan. The battle is considered to be as one of the most successful Armenian military battles against the Ottoman Empire, as the battle started the national liberation movements, that would have lasted for the next two centuries.

Battle

The Armenians were besieged in the fortress of Halidzor. David Bek, Mkhitar Sparapet and Ter Avetis were the commanders of the Armenians. After 7 days under being besieged, the Armenians were weary and short on food. David Bek organized a fierce suicidal downhill charge as last resort and the charge terrified the Ottoman Soldiers. Fearing that the Armenians had many soldiers, the Ottoman Army began to flee. The heavly forested terrain hindered their escape and the Ottoman soldiers were slaughtered as a huge panic broke out. The charge was successful counter-attack, as a result the Turks lost around 12,000 soldiers, had thousands of wounded, and left approximately 150 Turkish banners behind.[1]

The huge Ottoman Army was spread out all over the region and confusion and panic raged on through the whole army[1]

"Take heart, do not be afraid, follow us if we reached our end, to die bravely, because for us it is better to die with courage outside the gates, before our eyes see the death of our families and friends inside the gates"
— Mkhitar Sparapet and Ter Avetis call for their soldiers

Cultural Impact

The Siege of the Fortress had a large cultural impact on the movie industry of the Armenian SSR, and in the Union in overall. The movie "Star of the Hope" released in 1978, and was among the most popular movies of USSR at the time.

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Chamchian, Mikayel (2005). Hacikyan, Agop J., ed. The Heritage of Armenian Literature From The Eighteenth Century To Modern Times. Detroit: Wayne State Univ Pr. p. 179. ISBN 9780814332214.
  • Revue des études arméniennes: Volume 9 by Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian, Société des études armeniennes - , pg.305
  • Kiesling, Brady (2005), Rediscovering Armenia: Guide, Yerevan, Armenia: Matit Graphic Design Studio 
  • Brady Kiesling, Rediscovering Armenia, p. 100, 101; original archived at Archive.org, and current version online on Armeniapedia.org.
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