| Handaberd | |
|---|---|
Հանդաբերդ Lekh Castle • Lex qalası | |
| Kalbajar District,Azerbaijan | |
 Gates of Handaberd fortress | |
| Site information | |
| Type | Castle |
| Location | |
 | |
| Coordinates | 40°13′37″N46°08′16″E / 40.22694°N 46.13778°E /40.22694; 46.13778 |
| Site history | |
| Built | 9th century |
| Built by | Atrnerseh I |
Handaberd (Armenian:Հանդաբերդ), also known asLekh Castle (Azerbaijani:Lex qalası orLöh qalası) orLev Castle, is a 9th-century fortress located in theKalbajar District ofAzerbaijan, near the villages ofLev andKnaravan, on the right bank of theLevçay River.[1] It was built byAtrnerseh I, ruler of the ArmenianPrincipality of Khachen, who resided there.[2]
One of several castles in the highlands of Kalbajar, Handaberd was constructed over the Ayrım Gorge, on a high mountain ridge surrounded by thick forest, 600 metres (2,000 ft) from the right bank of theLevçay River flowing byGanlykend village.[3] Handaberd is first mentioned as "Handu berd" by the 10th century Armenian historianMovses Kaghankatvatsi, who wrote in his workHistory of the Country of Albania that the fortress was built byPrince Atrnerseh ofKhachen in the second quarter of the 9th century.[1] Atrnerseh, a member of a branch of theSiunia dynasty, ruled over an area approximately corresponding to the historical Armenian province ofArtsakh.[2] Handaberd was located in the Tsar province (also known as Upper Khachen) of thePrincipality of Khachen․[1] It served as Atrnerseh's residence as well as a prison for prisoners sentenced to death.[4]
According to the inscription on one of thekhachkars kept atDadivank, a nearby Armenian monastery, from 1142 to 1182 Handaberd belonged to Hasan I Vakhtangyan, prince of Upper Khachen.[1] Some time after the initial construction under Atrnerseh, the fortress was significantly expanded.[1] Around 1250, the fortress is mentioned in the history written by the Armenian historianKirakos Gandzaketsi.[1] According to one legend, the fortress was repaired using funds sent byLevon I, King ofCilician Armenia, and called Levonaberd (see variations thereof below) in his honor.[4]
Handaberd's inscriptions were studied by the French orientalistMarie-Félicité Brosset in the mid-19th century.[5] Less than a kilometer to the east of the fortress is a medieval monastery complex bearing the same name, which has also been excavated.[1]
The fortress has historically been referred to by various names and renderings, such as Lev (also the Armenian name for theLevçay River), Levaghala, Levkala, Levonaberd, Lohaberd, Handberd, and Handuberd.[4]
The castle is surrounded by steep rocks and streams from three sides, and looks like a natural rock relief. The only entrance to the castle is from the gates on the north-eastern edge. The internal length of the castle is 90 metres (300 ft), and its width is 35 to 40 metres (115 to 131 ft). The internal castle is in the higher south-western corner. The average thickness of the walls of Handaberd fortress is 1.3 metres (4.3 ft).[6][unreliable source?] There are 5-6 water wells 3 to 5 metres (10 to 16 ft) deep that were used for storage, the cooling of food, and as a source of drinking water.[7][unreliable source?] Nowadays, the walls are in ruins. Around Handaberd fortress, there are other smaller satellite castles on surrounding mountain peaks such as Pahak or Garavul (both meaning guard) and Jomard castles.[6][unreliable source?] Close to the Handaberd fortress there are two caves where archaeologists found items indicating the early presence ofhuman beings.[7][unreliable source?]
The castle is designated as a place bearing state historical importance in Azerbaijan.[8]
We must now turn our attention to the Siwnids of Xačíēn, the third line of the House of Siwnik', 13 descendants of Atrnerseh I, the brother of Gregory - Supʻan I . D . West Siwnik' (Xačʻēn) Atrnerseh I, the first Prince of Xačʻēn and builder of Handu Castle (Handaberd), ruled over what must have represented more or less the entire mountain country along the southeastern slopes of the Armenian plateau, i.e., the former land of Arc'ax .
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