Bitlis

Bitlis is located about 20 km south-west of Lake Van , south of the Zorapaak Pass ( Armenian Զորապահակ ), at the confluence of the mountain rivers Avehu (Amegadzhur, Armenian Համեղաջուր ), Khosrov (Amidol) and others, forming the Bitlis River - one of the tributaries of the Tiger . The city extends in the valley where these rivers flow down, ^[1] and on the surrounding steep slopes, forming a huge amphitheater. Houses on the slopes are arranged in rows above each other, in the summer they are buried in the greenery of gardens. ^[2]

The city is located at an altitude of 1600 m above sea level. The climate is continental: hot summers and very cold long (up to 5 months) winters. The air is clean and healthy, plenty of fresh water. Decorative willows and poplars grow well in the city and its environs, from fruit trees and other crops: pears , apple trees , plums , apricots , pomegranates , cherries , fig trees , grapes , etc. ^[2]

The foundation of Bitlis is attributed by legend to Alexander the Great ( IV century BC ) ^[1] : supposedly the city was built on his behalf by General Lees, whose name was called "Evil Fox" or "Petlis". Previously, the name of Alexander was called one of the sources beating in the central part of the city. ^[2]

In ancient times, Bitlis is an ancient Armenian city known as Baghesh ( Armenian Բաղեշ ), Bagages ( Armenian Բաղաղեշ ) and under other names. In Armenian literature, the city is mentioned by Sebeos ( VII century ). Some historians believe that Bitlis was the main city of Ghawar Salmadzor Agdznik , while others ranked as Ghawar Bznunik Turuberana . ^[2] The region of Bitlis corresponds to parts of the provinces of Aldznik and Turuberan of Greater Armenia. Its location at almost all times was convenient from the point of view of trade and military strategy, which contributed to the growth of the city. Since ancient times, one of the largest roads connecting Trabzon , as well as large cities of central Armenia - Artashat , Dvin , Ani , Kars , Karin (Erzrum) - with Mesopotamia passed along the Bitlis river valley. ^[1] Under the Artashes, there was the famous Arkuni road connecting Artashat and Tigranakert . ^[2]

Bitlis was conquered several times: in the 7th century it was owned by the Arab conquerors, in the 10th century , the Byzantines were a short time. At the end of the same century, power in the city passed to the Kurdish tribes that formed the Khanate (or emirate) here. The Kurds retained power to one degree or another until the middle of the 19th century, with the exception of several decades of conquest by the Seljuks ( 12th century ) and Kara-Koyunlu ( 15th century ). ^[2]

For a long time, the emirs of Bitlis tried to maneuver between the Ottomans, Persians, Mongols, trying either to defend independence, or to obtain better conditions. Under Sultan Murad IV, Bitlis was finally subdued by the Ottomans. In the XVI century. Bitlis as a feudal possession was transferred to the Kurdish family, the descendants of the emirs of Bitlis, while they used autonomy to a certain extent. In the XVII — XVIII centuries. greatly affected as a result of constant clashes between Kurdish tribes. The native population of the city of Bitlis and dozens of Armenian villages was crowded out. Autonomy was liquidated by the Turkish government in 1849 after the looting of Bitlis by Turkish troops: the Bitlis vilayet was established on the former territory of the khanate, which did not enjoy any autonomy. ^[2] At the end of the 19th century and at the beginning of the 20th century, the area of ​​vilayet was more than 27 thousand square kilometers.

In the years 1878-1879, the population of vilayet was about 400 thousand people, of which 250 000 were Armenians. At the end of the century, the population was 382,000, of which 180 thousand were Armenians. ^[2] However, the Muslim population (mainly Kurds) already prevailed in the city of Bitlis. According to the Armenian Patriarchate of Constantinople, in 1880, 10724 people of Armenian nationality lived in the city of Bitlis. According to official Turkish data, at the beginning of the 20th century, the Armenian population was 14-15 thousand (out of 40 thousand).

In 1894-1896, pogroms and robberies were carried out in all Armenian settlements of Bitlis. ^[4] About 1000 Armenians were slaughtered in Bitlis. Many were forcibly converted to Mohammedanism. Nevertheless, until 1915, Armenians remained in vilayet the largest ethnic group. During the genocide, the Armenian population of Bitlise was completely exterminated. Only in the Bitlis kaz 15 thousand Armenians were destroyed. Pogroms were carried out by units of the regular Turkish army under the direct supervision of Governor Wang - Jevded. The small part of the Armenian population that escaped death found refuge in Eastern Armenia .

See also the Battle of Bitlis 1916.

• Bitlis or Bedlis // Brockhaus and Efron Encyclopedic Dictionary : in 86 volumes (82 volumes and 4 additional). - SPb. , 1890-1907.
• Bitlis Government