Hamazasp Srvandztyan | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Birth name | Hamazasp Srvandztyan |
| Nickname | Hamazasp |
| Born | 1873 |
| Died | 18 February 1921(1921-02-18) (aged 47–48) |
| Allegiance |  Dashnaktsutyun(1890s–1920) Russian Empire(1914–1917) Republic of Armenia(1918–1920) |
| Branch | Russian Armenian Volunteer Corps |
| Years of service | 1890s–1920 |
| Commands | 3rd Armenian volunteer battalion |
| Battles / wars | |
Hamazasp Srvandztyan (Armenian:Համազասպ Սրվանձտյան; 1873 – 18 February 1921), commonly known asHamazasp, was anArmenianfedayee military commander and member of theArmenian Revolutionary Federation.[1]
Hamazasp was born inVan in 1873 and was the nephew of the folkloristGaregin Srvandztiants.[2] Hamazasp was first a member of theArmenakan Party and then theArmenian Revolutionary Federation. After finishing school, he began to learn handicraft as a jeweler and a watchmaker. From an early age he was involved in theArmenian national liberation movement. To avoid persecution by the Ottoman government, he moved toYerevan, then toShushi from Van.[1]
He participated in theArmenian–Tatar clashes of 1905–07. Hamazasp was especially notable in the Battle ofAskeran Ravine on 22 August 1905, defeating a 200-member Turkish detachment of which only 6 survived. He also organized the defense of the Armenian villagers of theElisabethpol Governorate. In 1908, the Tsarist government arrested Hamazasp and condemned him to death, but this was replaced by a 15 years of exile toSiberia sentence. In 1913 he escaped from prison and went to Europe, then toConstantinople. At the 8th General Assembly of the ARF party that took place inKarin in 1914, he was strongly opposed to any cooperation with theYoung Turks,[1] and largely supported an alliance with the Russian Empire.[3]
At the beginning of theFirst World War, Hamazasp participated in theCaucasus Campaign and was appointed Commander of the3rd Armenian volunteer battalion. He took part in many battles, and also ensured the safe migration of the Armenian population from Basen andAlashkert. He was one of the volunteer liberators of theSiege of Van in May 1915.[4] In June he fought in theBattle of Bitlis, and in October fought inHizan. After theFebruary Revolution in 1917, Hamazasp was appointed the military police commander of Alashkert, until Russian troops left the Caucasian front.[1]
In 1918, he fought for theBaku Commune, as a Commander of the Armenian brigade (3,000 soldiers and officers).[5] He displayed his abilities as an experienced strategist and organizer, playing a decisive role in the operations of Ganja andYevlakh and for 4 months fought against overwhelming Turkish forces of theArmy of Islam. After the fall of the Baku Commune, he went toIran.[1]
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In the autumn of 1918, after the defeat of Turkey in the First World War, Hamazasp came back to Armenia and was appointed military commander of the region ofNor Bayazet. He participated in various actions of defense of theFirst Republic of Armenia, including the suppression of theMay Uprising in 1920.[1]
After the establishment of the Soviet power in Armenia, Hamazasp came to Yerevan with the aim of being helpful for the new government. However, he was arrested by the Bolsheviks and, after two months of imprisonment, he was brutally hacked to death on 18 February 1921, when theFebruary Uprising was on the way.[1]
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