Qashatagh Province

Infobox Nagorno-Karabakh
Name = Qashatagh
ArmenianName = Քաշաթաղ
Nagorno-Karabakh

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Capital = Berdzor City
GovernorName =
AreaRank =
TotalArea = 3376
PercentWater = Negligible
PopulationYear = 2005
Population_rank =
Population = 9,763 [http://census.stat-nkr.am/nkr/1-4.pdf 2005 NKR Census] ]
Density = 2.89
PostalAbbreviation =
ISOCode =
FIPSRegionCode =
Website = www.karabakh.net

Qashatagh Province (also Kashatagh) is one of the eight provinces of the self-proclaimed Nagorno-Karabakh Republic and the largest by area (3,376.60 sq.km.). Its population in 2005 was 9,800. Its capital is Berdzor City.

Geography

Qashtagh borders Shahumian in the north, Mardakert in the north-east, Askeran Shushi and Hadrut in the east. Iran in the south and Armenia to the west.

History

The territory on which Qashatag province was subsequently formed was part of the Artsakh province of Kingdom of Armenia [ [http://www.bvahan.com/ArmenianWay/Great_Armenia/Provinces_Rus/Artsakh.htm map of Artsakh province of Greater Armenia] ] and Syunik [ [http://www.bvahan.com/ArmenianWay/Great_Armenia/Provinces_Rus/Syunik.htm Map of Syunik province of Greater Armenia] ] . In the Middle Ages, there existed Armenian principality. In the valley of the river Akera was the most famous principality Kashatag. [V in 1609 the Shah of Persia Abbas I defended its charter the right of the ruler of the principality melik Haykaza. The Persian documents, decrees, kept in Matenadaran (1601-1650's.), V. II, Er., 1957, pp.89-90.] The territory remained predominantly Armenian-up to Russian-Persian wars and the South Caucasus invasion of the Ottoman army in the 18th century. Russian forces managed to invade the Caspian provinces of Persia, and in in 1723 while simultainusly fighting the Afghans in the east and Turks in the west, Persia was forced to cede the Caspian provinces to the Russian empire. Artsakh Armenian principalities, including Qashatag principality, supported Russia in the war.

Kovsakan is the second largest city in the province of Qashatagh after the city of Berzor. [ [http://www.armeniandiaspora.com/forum/showthread.php?t=4377 Kashatagh: Retaking and rebuilding a "third" Armenia in old Lachin - Armenian Diaspora News Forum ] ] Mher Arakelyan from the ARF Dashnaktsutyun, Razmik Mirzoyan, non-partisan, and Hrach Manucharyan are competing in the mayoral election to be held in June 2008. [ [http://cpanel.host.am/~karabakh/src/index.php?lang=en&id=2&nid=9281 Karabakh News ] ]

References

External Links

* [http://www.iwpr.net/?p=crs&s=f&o=324193&apc_state=henh Demographic Crisis]
* [http://www.armenianow.com/?action=viewArticle&AID=2981&lng=eng&IID=1183&CID=2905 Declining Population]
* [http://www.spyur.am/images/htmfix/armenia/map_eng.gifMap]