Aṛakʻel of Tabriz. Book of History (2010)

Aṛakʻel of Tabriz. Book of History. Introduction and annotated translation from critical text by George A. Bournoutian; Armenian studies series: 16. Costa Mesa, CA: Mazda Publishers, 2010, XIII+637 p. ISBN 1568591721, ISBN 9781568591728

Quick Overview

Ara`kel of Tabriz’s monumental Book of History is one of the most important primary sources on the history of Armenia, Persia, the Ottoman Empire, and Georgia in the seventeenth century. It covers the period from 1602 to 1666, that is, the reigns of the Safavid shahs, `Abbas I, Safi, and `Abbas II. The historical material that it contains is indeed staggering. It includes the most complete account of the forced deportations of thousands of Armenians from their native land into Persia; the socioeconomic conditions of Armenians in Persia and eastern Armenia; the Celali uprisings and the effect it had on the inhabitants of western Armenia; the decline of the Holy See of Ejmiatisn under kat`oghikoi Dawit` and Melk`iset` and its revival under kat`oghikoi Movses and P`ilippos; the establishment of monastic schools in eastern Armenia; the biographies and martyrdoms of famed clerics and lay persons; an account of the Jews of Persia; the demise of the Armenian community of Poland during the Counter-Reformation; the genealogy of Ottoman and Safavid monarchs; records of earthquakes, fires, and eclipses; the account of the false Jewish messiah Sabbatai Sevi in Izmir; the order of succession of the Armenian kat`oghikoi, including the names and dates of all co kat`oghikoi; the names and properties of gemstones according to medieval Arab beliefs. the history of the Aghuank` region; and the chronology of significant events which occurred in Armenia, Persia, the Ottoman Empire, and Georgia from 561 to 1666.It is hoped, that this volume, the first English translation, will enable scholars, who are unfamiliar with this amazing primary source, or cannot read classical Armenian or comprehend the unfamiliar terminology in Persian, Arabic, and Ottoman Turkish used by Akak`el, to better understand the political, social, and economic history of Armenia, Persia, the Ottoman Empire, and Georgia during a crucial period.

Contents

Abbreviations
Transliteration and Dating Systems
Translator’s Introduction
Arak‘el’s Circular Chart of the Ottoman Sultans
Map 1: Persia in the Seventeenth Century
Map 2: Geographical Locations Mentioned in the Text

Arak‘el’s Title Page
Arak‘el’s Introduction
Chapter 1: On the taxes demanded from the Kat`oghikoi by foreign aggressors, and the sufferings that they caused
Chapter 2: On the arrival of Vardapet Srap`ion to Holy Ejmiatsin and how he became the Kat`oghikos
Chapter 3: On how the Persian King, Shah Abbas, came to Armenia, conquered all, and how Vardapet Srap`ion returned to his home
Chapter 4: On the first invasion of Cegal-oglu, which led the Shah to deport the entire population of the Land of Ararat and its surrounding regions
Chapter 5: On the exile of the population of the wealthiest town of Julfa to Persia
Chapter 6: On Sardar Cegal-oglu’s second invasion, his defeat and retreat
Chapter 7: On the appearance of the Celali, the terrible famine and the man-eating wolves, as well as other calamities which befell our land
Chapter 8: On the capture of the cities of Ganja and Shamakhi
Chapter 9: On the pretext by which Shah Abbas summoned the Georgian Kings and how he deceived them
Chapter 10: Another account of Shah Abbas’ deception of the Georgian Kings
Chapter 11: On the history and causes of the devastation of the Land of Georgia and the death of their King, Luarsab, at the hands of Shah Abbas I
Chapter 12: On the martyrdom of the mother of T`eimuraz, King of Kakhet`i, by the order of the same Shah Abbas
Chapter 13: On the persecutions that the Armenian people suffered at the hands of Shah Abbas I
Chapter 14: Another account of the persecutions that the Armenian people suffered at the hands of Shah Abbas
Chapter 15: On why there was no Kodaw Tax on sheep in the land called Araghstan
Chapter 16: On the history of the relics of the saintly virgin, Hrip`sime; how the Franks found and excavated them and how they took them to the city of Isfahan
Chapter 17: On how and on what occasion they took the Right Arm of St. Gregory, Our Illuminator, and the stones of the Cathedral of Ejmiatsin to Isfahan
Chapter 18: On the Mughada of one hundred tumans imposed by the Shah on Kat`oghikos Melk`isedek
Chapter 19: On the history of the reign and flight of Kat`oghikos Sahak
Chapter 20: On the opposition of Kat`oghikos Sahak to Kat`oghikos Movs?s and Holy Ejmiatsin
Chapter 21: On the history of the virtuous men, Bishops Sargis and Ter Kirakos, who were responsible for the construction and prosperity of monasteries and churches, and the observance of all monastic rules by the residents
Chapter 22: Another account of the Grand Hermitage
Chapter 23: On the history of the life and deeds of the Saintly Vardapet Poghos
Chapter 24: On the life and the reign of Ter Movses, as well as on the restoration of the radiant Holy See of Ejmiatsin
Chapter 25: On the teachings and reign of Kat`oghikos P`ilippos; on the restoration of the churches of St. Gayane and Hrip`sime, and on finding their relics
Chapter 26: On the restoration of famous monasteries and on the construction of splendid and magnificent churches
Chapter 27: On the martyrdom of the K`ahana Ter Andreas
Chapter 28: On the history of the oppression and misfortunes suffered by the Christian Armenians who lived in the city of Lvov
Chapter 29: On the revival among the Armenian vardapets of the worldly sciences found in secular books, as well as the art of grammar, the knowledge of which had been long lost, and the reason for its dissemination
Chapter 30: The history of [the relic of] the Right Arm of St. Gregory, Our Illuminator
Chapter 31: The succession of our Kat`oghikoi, beginning with St. Nerses Klayets`i and listed in order until our time
Chapter 32: The list of vardapets[who studied]at Ejmiatsin,beginning with the tenure of Mkhit`ar Gosh, and descending in succession
Chapter 33: On how and on what pretext they [the Persians] removed the Christian Armenians from the center of Isfahan, and resettled them on the outskirts of the city, on the other side of the river
Chapter 34: The history of the Jews, who lived in the city of Isfahan, as well as other Jews, who lived in the dominion of the Persian Kings. The reason they were forced to renounce their faith and accept the Muslim religion
Chapter 35: On the strong earthquake in the city of Tabriz
Chapter 36: The story about the grave and relics of Patrikios Vard
Chapter 37: On the earthquake in the city of Van and its surrounding regions
Chapter 38: The history of and the reasons for the destruction of the glorious monastery called Varag, and on the theft and the transfer of the Holy Cross [of Varag] to the Khoshab fortress and its [later]return to the city of Van
Chapter 39: On H?usein Agha’s departure to Julamerk
Chapter 40: The account of the death of the impious Ch`omar
Chapter 41: The account of the death of Suleyman Bek
Chapter 42: The history of the rule of Ibrahim Bek and the return of the Holy Cross [of Varag] to the city of Van
Chapter 43: The history of the relics of St. John the Forerunner, which were kept from ancient times in Old Julfa, and which were subsequently found
Chapter 44: The story of the martyrdom of the innocent youth Nikoghayos
Chapter 45: The story of the martyrdom of the saintly Christian, named Khach`atur
Chapter 46: The story of the martyrdom of a Christian named Sirun
Chapter 47: The story of the martyrdom of a man named Mkhit`ar
Chapter 48: The Story of the martyrdom of a Christian named Awetis
Chapter 49: About the miracles of God upon men who renounced [their Christian] faith at the hour of their death
Chapter 50: On the fire that occurred in the great city of Constantinople
Chapter 51: The history of the Ottoman Kings: the genealogy of the descendants of Osman, who are called Khondk`ars
Chapter 52: The genealogy of the Persian Kings Chart: Names of gemstones
Chapter 53: On the names and attributes of precious stones
Chapter 54: Here is the “Book on Gems” that are found on earth. On their origins; most importantly, the diamond
Chapter 55: The History of the Land of Aghuank` composed by Vardapet Hovhannes Tsarets`i. A short chronology from the beginning until our time
Chapter 56: [Chronology]
Chapter 57: The history of the exploits of the Jewish people and the Jew called Sap`eta, who declared “I am Christ, the Savior of the Jewish people, and I have come to save them,” and other events that followed
Chapter 58: The reasons for writing this Book of History, as well as a memorial note from the author

Colophons
Glossary of Terms
Bibliography
Index

Keywords: At‘rpatakan, Azarbaijan, Kizilbash, Aghuank‘, K‘asakh, Ghazakh.