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Glossary (Dashnaktsutiun – Eznik of Kolb)

Dashnaktsutiun

Coat of arms of ARF(ARF, Armenian Revolutionary Federation) Armenian Socialist Party, founded in Tiflis, Georgia in 1890 by Christofor Mikaelian, Rostom Zarian and Simon Zavarian. Initially, the objective of Dashnaktsutiun was attaining political and economic freedom of Western Armenia by means of insurrection, but later, the leaders of ARF collaborated with the Young Turks. After the Genocide of 1915, the ARF played the leading role in the establishment of the First Republic of Armenia. In the Soviet period, Dashnaktsutiun was a banned party. The ARF resumed its activities in Armenia after the proclamation of sovereignty in 1990, then was banned again in 1994 by Levon Ter-Petrossian an finally rehabilitated in 1998 by Robert Kocharyan.

David Bek

(?-1730) Armenian prince. In 1722, he united the Princes of Artsakh and Siunik to resist the Turkish attacks. Supported by Mkhitar Sparapet, he routed the Turkish army several times.

David the Invincible

Armenian philosopher of the 5th century, author of several works of which the most famous are Definition of Philosophy and Exegesis of Aristotle.

Demirchyan, Karen

Karen Demirchyan1st Secretary of the Communist Party of Armenia (1975-1988). He was called Karen the Builder for his activities in house building and construction of metropolitan railway in Yerevan. Demirchyan resigned in 1988 amidst the general discontent of the Armenians with the weak-willed policy of Communist leaders in the Karabakh conflict. He returned into politics in 1998 to take part in the presidential elections, then he was elected Parliament Speaker and formed an alliance with Vazgen Sargsyan. In October 1999, he was slain during the terrorist attack in the Parliament building in Yerevan.

Dizak

Principality in the ancient and medieval Artsakh. The residence of Dizak princes was in Gtich (Gtchavank) and in Togh (Hadrout region of the NKR).

Dgeraberd

(Water Fortress in Armenian) Situated on the left shore of the Tartar River (Mardakert region of the NKR), Dgeraberd is mentioned in the old Armenian texts since the 7th century. Due to its natural location on the top of a vertical cliff and surrounded by Rivers Tartar and Terkhi, the fortress was considered the most reliable and unapproachable in Artsakh.

Dourian, Petros

Petros Dourian
(1851-1872) Great Armenian poet, native of Skutari near Constantinople. An extraordinary talent, he translated the Shakespeare and Hugo dramas and wrote his own at an early age. He wrote some 50 poems and historical dramas, such as Fall of Arshakids Dynasty, Artashes, Conqueror of the World, The Persian Invasion in Armenia and others. He died of tuberculosis when he was only 20.

Dvin

Ancient Armenian city north of Artashat. Founded by Khosrov II (344-353), Dvin became capital of Armenia in the 60s of the 5th century. The city’s strategic location on the transit routes caused its rapid growth and prosperity. During the period of the Arabs ruling, Dvin was the residence of the Armenian Catholicos.

Dyarbekir

Town on the River Tigris (now in Turkey). In ancient times, Dyarbekir was known as Amid of Mets Tsopk canton of the province called The Forth Armenia. In 1900, its population, predominantly Armenian, was about 400, 000.

Echmiadzin

The Echmiadzin Cathedral(Armenian for: Descending of the Only Begotten), formerly Vagharshapat (Nor Kagak, New City), ancient capital of Armenia, situated 9m (15km) west of Yerevan. Founded in the 2d century, Echmiadzin is the official center of the Armenian Church and the residence of Catholicos. The main cathedral was built in A.D. 303 by Gregory the Illuminator.

Edessa

(Urha, now Urfa in Turkey), city between Tigris and Euphrates Rivers. In ancient times and in the Middle Ages, Edessa was an important Armenian center. Armenian princes dominated there until the Crusades. In 1098, Edessa was captured by Baldwin of Boulogne.

Eghishe

(Eliseus), Armenian author of the 5th century. His work About Vardan and the Armenian War is the precious source describing the Armenian uprising against Persia known as Vardanank.

Emin, Joseph

Joseph (Hovsep) Emin(1726-1809) Hovsep Emin, Armenian patriot. He traveled to different countries to contact European and Russian leaders in attempt to find support for protection of Armenia. His plan of creation of an Armeno-Georgian state under the Russian protectorate came to nothing.