Sasun Uprising (1904) - Background

Background

See also: Armenian national movement and Armenian Question

The Social Democrat Hunchakian Party and the Armenian Revolutionary Federation were two Armenian organizations of the Armenian national movement that were active in the region. The First Sassoun resistance, or Sasun Resistance (1894), was the Armenian national movement's militia belonging to Hunchak. According to Cyrus Hamlin, Armenians instigated the event. The region continued to be in conflict between the Armenian fedayee (Armenian irregular forces) and the Muslim Ottomans between the local Armenian villages. Many Armenians have been compelled to accept an Islam or Orthodoxy, which, in the latter case, was under the protection of Russian consulate.

In spring 1902, in Sason, a representative of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation, Vahan Manvelyan, was sent with the purpose to stop the insignificant skirmishes, only irritating the Turks, and to occupy in concentration of forces for the big revolt. By heads of revolt have been nominated Vahan and local native Hrayr Tjokhk. This concentration proceeded during all 1902–1903. So, in May, 1903, in Sasun, there has arrived the fighting group of Gorgos "Marrik". Vahan and Hrayr have considered it insufficient and have addressed to East bureau of a party with the request to send new forces; In September, the group from 150 fedayee led by Khan and Onik has been sent. However, at the transition of the Persian-Turkish border, it has been surrounded by Turkish armies with artillery and almost is completely destroyed. Taken place in February, 1903 in Sofia III, congress ARF has decided to transmit in order Sason of committee a lot of fighting groups.

By this time, approaches to Sasun have been blocked by a division of 4-th corps of army (8 battalions, subsequently this number is has reached 14 battalions; in total up to 10,000 soldier and policemen, and also 6–7 thousand irregular Kurdish horses). From the Armenian party was nearby 200 guerrilla under command Vahan, Hrayr and Andranik, along with Kevork Chavoush, Murad of Sebastia, Keri and others. Except for them, the peasants of 21 villages also armed should take participate in resistance, but not skilled in military science — defenders of Sasun totaled all up to 1000 persons. Andranik suggested to lift general revolt in Armenia that would force to disperse the Turk forces; Hrayr from its part objected, that the Armenian revolt which has been not supported by other people of the Ottoman empire, it will be doomed, and suggested to concentrate on defense of Sasun.