Glossary (Meliks of Karabakh – Mkrtchyan, Arthur)

Meliks of Karabakh

In 16th-18th centuries: princes of Artsakh province. They played an important role in the Armenian national liberation movement. In 1724, when the Ottoman troops invaded Artsakh, the Meliks rapidly formed the effective armed forces to put up a stout resistance. Even though the Turks dominated Eastern Armenia, Karabakh remained independent. Later, the numerous Meliks of Artsakh united into the 5 major principalities, forming the so-called Country of Five.

Article about Melik Barkhudar

Hakop Meghapart

Hakop Meghapart
First Armenian book printer. He established the printing house in Venice, where the first printing in Armenian occurred in 1512.

Meghrian, Shahen

Shahen Meghrian
(1952-1993) Commander of the defense forces of the Shaumian region of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic, member of the NKR Parliament. He fell under the fire of Azeri air attack in April 1993.

Melkonian, Monte

Monte
(1957-1993) Also known as Avo, he was commander of the defense forces in the Martouni region of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic. He played an outstanding role in reorganizing the small groups of Armenian fighters into an effective and disciplined force. In 1991, he heroically fought in the Shahumian region. In 1992-1993, he organized the successful defense of Martouni. In spring 1993, Monte was among the Armenian chief military commanders to mastermind the Kelbadjar operation. He fell in June 1993 in Merzuli village of Aghdam region. Martouni was then renamed Monteaberd (Fortress of Monte), in his honor.

Mesrop Mashtots

Statue of St.Mesrop Mashtots in Yerevan, capital of Armenia
(362-440) Armenian scholar, creator of the present Armenian alphabet, in 405. Mashtots founded the school of translators who accomplished the translation of Bible into the Armenian language. He is considered beginner of the Golden Age of the Armenian literature. He also invented the Georgian alphabet, which is in use to this day.

Manukian, Aram

Aram Manukian
(1879-1919) Also known as Serge Hovhannesian, and Aram of Van, Armenian patriot and politician, member of ARF. In 1915, he organized the defense of Van, and was among the survivors rescued by the Armenian volunteers and Russian troops. He held the post of Minister of Interior in the Government of the First Republic of Armenia. He died of typhus in 1919.

Metsamor

Town in Hoktemberian region of the Republic of Armenia known for its power plant, the only nuclear station in the Caucasian region. The excavations in 1963, revealed the unique settlements of the 3d millennium BC.

Metsarents, Misak

Misak Metsarents
(1886-1908) Misak Metsatourian, highly talented Western Armenian lyric poet. He died of tuberculosis.

Miasnikyan, Alexander

Alexander Miasnikyan
(1886-1925) Armenian Boshevik, leader of Communist Party of Belarus, and Chairman of the Council of Commissairs of Armenia from 1921. He was killed in a plane crash.

Mikoyan, Anastas

Anastas Mikoyan
(1895-1965) Soviet Statesman and Communist Party activist, he survived many soviet regimes and served as Commissar of Food Supply and Minister of Trade of the USSR. In 1964, he became President of Supreme Soviet of the USSR.

Mikoyan, Artyom

Artyom Mikoyan
(1905-1970) Soviet Armenian aircraft designer, academician and colonel-general of Engineers. In 1940, together with Mikhail Gurevich, he designed MIG – 1, a high altitude interceptor.

Mkhitar Gosh

(1130-1213) Armenian scholar priest. He wrote a code of laws including civil and canon law that was used in both Greater Armenia and Cilicia. He also wrote a number of popular fables. He founded the monastery of Nor-Guetik (Goshavank).

Mkhitar Heratsi

Armenian physician of the 12th century, considered father of Armenian medicine. He authored Relief of Fevers, an encyclopedic work in which he discussed, among other subjects, surgery, diet and psychotherapy.

Mkhitar Sebastatsi

Abbot Mkhitar
(1676-1749) (Manuk Petrossian) also known as Abbot Mkhitar, prominent Armenian scholar and theologian. He converted to the Roman Catholicism. In 1717, Abbot Mkhtar founded the renowned Congregation of scholar monks in Venice, on St. Lazarus Island. The monastery of Mkhitar developed a worldwide famous academy. Afterwards, Byron and Stendhal took here courses of the Armenian language.

Mkrtchyan, Arthur

Post stamp honoring Arthur Mkrtchyan, issued in Artsakh, in 1993
(1959-1992) First Chairman of Supreme Council of the NKR, elected on January 7, 1992. He made an important contribution to reinforcing defensive capability of Artsakh, but was fatally shot under vague circumstances in April 1992.