Turkmanchai Treaty

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Turkmanchai treaty (also written Turkemanchay, Turkamanchay, and Turkmanchay) is a treaty by which the Persian Empire, more commonly known today as Iran, recognized Russian suzeiranty over the Yerevan Khanate, Nakhichevan Khanate and the remainder of the Talish Khanate, making the Araxes river as the border between the empires, after its defeat in 1828 at the end of the Russo-Persian War, 1826-1828. The treaty was signed on February 21, 1828 (5th of Shaban, 1243 in the Islamic calendar), by Haj Mirza Abol-hasan Khan and Asef o-dowleh, chancellor of Fath Ali Shah on behalf of Persia, and General Ivan Paskievich representing Imperial Russia. As was the case for the Gulistan Treaty, Persia was forced to sign the treaty by Russia, as it had no alternative after crown prince Abbas Mirza's defeat. The Russian general had threatened Fath Ali Shah to conquer Tehran in five days unless the treaty was signed.

Today, Iran officially sees this and the preceding Gulistan Treaty as the most humiliating treaties signed in the country's millennia-old history. The treaty is the reason many Iranians consider Fath Ali Shah to be one of Iran's most incompetent rulers.

Contents 1 The treaty 2 Causes of the treaty 3 References 4 See also

[edit] The treaty

By this treaty:

1. By Article 4 of the treaty, Persia renounces claims over Yerevan Khanate (current capital of Armenia), Nakhichevan Khanate, Talysh Khanate, Ordubad, and Mughan regions (now part of Azerbaijan Republic), in addition to all lands annexed by Russia in the Gulistan Treaty.
2. The Aras river is assigned the new borderline between Persia and Imperial Russia, from "from Ararat ghal'eh to the outlet of the river at Astara".
3. By Article 6 of the treaty, Persia promised to pay Russia 10 Koroor in Gold (in 1828 currency).
4. By Article 8 of the treaty, Persian ships lose full rights to navigate all of the Caspian Sea and her coasts, henceforth given to Russia.
5. Persia recognizes Capitulation rights for Russians in Persia.
6. By Article 10, Russia gains the right to send consulate envoys to anywhere in Persia it wishes.
7. By Article 13, Exchange of POWs.
8. By Article 10, Persia is forced to sign economic treaties with Russia as Russia specifies.
9. By Article 7 of the treaty, Russia promises to support Abbas Mirza as the heir to the throne of Persia when Fath Ali Shah dies. (This never materialised as the son died before his father.)
10. Persia officially apologizes for breaking its promises made in the Gulistan Treaty.
11. By Article 15, Turkmenchai agreement ratified the resettlement of Armenians from Iran to North Azerbaijan.

[edit] Causes of the treaty

The Tsarist Russia, which occupied those areas tried to Armenify the local inhabitants in order to strengthen its positions. After the signing of the Turkmenchay agreement in 1828 (File 3) this process became more systematic and purposeful^{[citation needed]}. Article 15th of the Turkmenchai agreement ratified the resettlement of Armenians from Iran to the Southern Caucasus.^{[citation needed]} According to this article, the Shah gave one year to the families living in Iran to freely move from Iran to Russia without obstacles from the side of the government and local authorities, and to carry and sell their goods. As for immovable property, the families were given the term of five years to sell the property. As mentioned above, this article was included into the contract for ensuring the mass resettlement of Armenians from Iran to the Caucasus, including Karabakh.^{[citation needed]}

By the Edirne contract of 1829 Armenians started to move from the Ottoman Empire to the newly occupied lands of the Caucasus.

The ethnic composition of the Karabakh khanate during its abolishment was reflected in "Description", drawn up by instruction of A.P.Yermolov (1816-1827), the Commander-in-Chief of Russian troops in Caucasus. despite of the Armenianification policy, carried out before drawing of this document (1805-1822).

According to "Description", 15,729 of 20,095 families in Karabakh were Azerbaijanis (1,111 in the town, 14,618 in the country), 4,366 were Armenians, and Albanians (421 in the town, 3.945 in the country). New Armenian villages (Maragali, Janyatag, among others) began to appear in Karabakh as a result of the mass immigration. According to official returns, 40 thousand Armenians were removed from Iran to the Caucasus, while another 90 thousand where from Ottoman empire. Their numbers, along with unofficial Armenian settlers, exceeded 200 thousand^{[citation needed]}.

By the treaty of Turkomanchai, 1828, the Czar became possessed of Persian Armenia, of which the capital is Erivan. In this district are contained the two great objects of Armenian veneration, Btchmiazin and Mount Ararat. This noble snowy mountain takes the place, in the estimation of the Armenians, that Mount Sinai and Mount Zion do among the followers of other Christian sects. ^[1]

[edit] References

• H. Pir Nia, Abbas Eghbal Ashtiani, B. Agheli. History of Persia. Tehran, 2002. p.673-686. ISBN 964-6895-16-6

[edit] See also

• Azerbaijan
• Kurekchay Treaty
• Gulistan Treaty
• Akhal Treaty
• Anglo-Russian Convention of 1907