Administrative Divisions
In the 1800's and early 1900's our Poochigian
ancestors lived in the village of Perri, which was ruled by the Ottoman Turks.
Perri was located in the administrative vilayet (province) of Kharpert
(Harput), the sanjak (district) of Dersim, the kaza (county)
of Charsanjak, and the nahiye (village or township) of Perri.
In 1840, the Ottoman government implemented
what was referred to as the Tanzimat Hayriye or "Auspicious Reorderings,"
which reorganized the tax system and administrative divisions in each Ottoman
ruled province (vilayet) (Shaw 55). During the following
years of the Ottoman rule, some modifications were made to the administrative
system through the Provincial Regulation of 1876 and 1874 (Shaw 243).
Basically, the administrative divisions were
divided as follows during the Ottoman rule of historical Armenia:
Vilayets (Provinces) - The Poochigians' village of Perri was
located in the vilayet (province, eyalet) of Kharpert (also called
Kharberd, Kharput, Kharpoot, Harpert, Harpoot, Harput, Harpout, Harpouth, Elazig,
Elaziz, Mamuret el Aziz, Mamuret-ul-Aziz, Mamurelulaziz). There were six
vilayets (provinces in historical Armenia: Erzurum, Bitlis, Van, Diyarbekir,
Sivas and Kharpert (Mamuret ul-Aziz) (Shaw 201). The area was
traditionally referred to as the "Six Vilayets" or the "Six Provinces" in
Ottoman Anatolia. (Lynch Vol. 2, 413)
Sanjaks (Districts) - The Poochigians lived in the southern
section of the sanjak of Dersim, which was in the northern part of the
Kharpert vilayet. The vilayets (provinces) were divided into sanjaks.
The boundaries of sanjaks were drawn to establish equal units of comparable
population and wealth. Each sanjak was headed by a muhassil.
Kazas or Livas (Counties) - The Poochigians' village of
Perri was located in the kaza or liva of Charsanjak. The sanjaks were
divided into kazas (counties) or livas (the terms being used
interchangeably). The kazas were headed by administrators (mudurs).
Nahiyes (Villages or Townships) - The Poochigians
lived in the village or nahiye of Perri, which was sometimes called
Charsanjak. Each kaza consisted of subdistricts called nahiye (townships).
Each nahiye usually contained neighboring villages or at least one important
town or village in a Kaza. The towns or villages were directed by muhtars (mayors).
With the modification of the 1864 provincial system, each nahiye was given its
own mudar and an advisory council who acted on matters regarding tax
assessment and collection, local public works, agriculture and education. (Shaw
84 & 243)
Perri (Charsanjak,
Akpazar) Village
Until
the early 1900's, our Poochigian ancestors lived in the village or nahiye
of Perri (Peri, Perry, Parry, Pere, Perre) in historical Armenia, which was
ruled by the Ottoman Turks. Today, Perri still exists in the Republic of Turkey,
however, the modern-day name of Perri is "Akpazar."
Location
of Perri (Charsanjak, Akpazar).
According to the U.S. Defense Mapping Agency,
dated 1984, Perri is located at 38 degrees, 51 minutes North Latitude and 39
degrees, 42 minutes East Longitude (Aghjayan Database).
The Map of Armenia and
Adjacent Countries, dated 1901 (Lynch Map), shows Perri is located
about 30 miles (38 kilometers) northeast of the ancient city of Kharpert.
However, to reach Perri (Akpazar) from Kharpert and the city of Elazig by road
today, the distance is 60 to 80 miles (97 to 128 kilometers) (John
Poochigian Interview). According to Dr. John Poochigian, who visited the
outskirts of Perri (Akpazar) in eastern Turkey in 1998
(See
Poochigians on Tour),
"The
village we know as Perri is now called "Akpazar." When we were trying to locate
"Perri," no one knew what we were talking about. We finally found it. We drove
east from Elazig, then north, then west toward Perri. We were stopped about 3
miles east of Perri. This was where the road crossed over the Perri river. We
took our pictures of Perri from that point along the north bank of the Perri
River. Perri (Akpazar) was in the middle of the battlefield between the Turkish
Army and the PKK [Partiya Karkere Kurdistan--The Kurdistan
Workers' Party] when we were there. If they ever settle that conflict, it
would be worth the effort to go back and walk the streets of Perri."
(John Poochigian, Jr. Interview)
Perri
River & Major Rivers.
Perri is situated on the north
(right) bank of the Perri River (Perri Su or Kighi Su). Southwest of the
village of Perri, the Muzur River (Murzur Su) flows into the Perri River, which
meanders over the plains and surrounding mountains on its way to the Murad River
(Eastern Euphrates; Lower Euphrates; Armenian Aratsani; Turkish Murat; Murad Su;
Murat Su).
The Murad River (Eastern Euphrates) joins the
Western Euphrates (Upper Euphrates; Armenian Eprat; Turkish Kara) to form the
Euphrates River.
Both the Eastern Euphrates and Western Euphrates flow westward through a series
of fertile plains, the upper arm through Erzerum and Erzinjan, the lower through
those of Bagrevand, Manazkert, Taron, Palu and Kharpert. Then, after joining
at Kaben Maden (Armenian Lusatarich), where a great dam creating a vast lake has
been constructed in recent years, the combined Euphrates pierces the Taurus
through a spectacular canyon, flowing down through the lowlands of Mesopotamia
and eventually to the Persian (Arabian) Gulf. (Hovannisian, Vol. I, 7)
The Mountains.
The village of Perri is located on the broad plain of Kharpert in the Armenian
tableland in historical Armenia. The Kharpert plain is an extensive, relatively
flat region between hills and mountains. Historical Armenia is mountainous
country, surrounded by great mountain chains on every side and crossed by lesser
ranges that link the major ones together. Within this framework, the Armenian
tableland contains a number of smaller plateaus set at different altitudes, the
regions of Karin (Erzerum) and Erznga (Erzinjan) being the highest. Apart from
these lesser plateaus, the ranges and their spurs divide Armenia into a number
of small but well-defined districts ranging from broad plains such as those of
Kharpert, Erzerum, Erzinjan and Mush, to small valleys and narrow gorges.
(Hovannisian, Vol. I, 5)
The village of
Perri is situated in historical Armenia, which is buttressed by mountain chains
to the north and south and crisscrossed by other chains that cover the Armenia
plateau. The Upper Armenian Mountains (Central Mountains) are located to the
north of Perri; the Sasoun (Sassoun) Mountains and the Taurus and Armenian
Taurus Mountains, to the south; and the Biuraknian (Byurakan) Mountains to the
east.
The
Village of Perri.
In 1900, the village of Perri was the
principal town in the larger sanjak (district) of Charsandjak
(Kevorkian).
As a result, the residents of Perri sometimes referred to the village as
"Charsandjak," although they most often called it "Perri." People from Perri
frequently referred to themselves as "Perritsi," meaning they
came from from Perri.
In the French
book, Les Armeniens dans L'Empire Ottoman a la Veille du Genocide
written by Raymond Kevorkian and Paul Paboudjian, the authors report that in
1900, the number of Armenians in Perri/Charsanjak, was 1,763 Armenians (310
families), 350 Turks and 80 Kurds (Kevorkian).
Kevorkian and
Paboudjian continue to explain, in 1900, the town of Perri was an agricultural
settlement, which was built on the slope of a hill along the Perri River. Perri
was divided into six quarters, of which five were inhabited:
1. Galerou
Tagh,
2.
Yegeghetsvo T'agh
(quarter of the Notre Dame Cathedral),
3.
Gamar-Aghpiuri T'agh,
4.
Khorchougui T'agh, and
5.
Don-Aghpiuri T'agh
(Periphery of the Rouge [Red] Monastery)
(Kevorkian)
When
our Poochigian ancestors lived in the village of Perri, sheep were a valuable
livestock. Today, sheep are still considered Turkey's most important livestock,
and Turkey is one of Europe's wool and cotton producers (World Association
of Travel Agencies).
It was common for
villages to preserve traditional Armenian customs and folk dances. Every
village and region in historical Armenia had its own folk dances. In modern
times, the descendents of the Poochigians from the village of Perri still do
traditional Armenian folkdances at weddings, picnics and other gatherings in
America.
Today, the population of Perri (Akpazar) and
Turkey's eastern provinces is primarily Kurdish. In recent years, clashes
between the Turkish armed forces and the PKK (Partiya
Karkere Kurdistan--The
Kurdistan Workers' Party), a Kurdish separatist group that wants to establish an
independent state out of portions of Turkey, Iran, Syria, and Iraq, has
restricted the movement of foreign visitors in eastern Turkey (Mangin 187).
John Poochigian
Looking Towards Perri
& the Perri River
Photo by Haig Krikorian, 1998
In the above
photograph taken in the Spring, 1998, John Poochigian looks towards the village
of Perri at the base of the hill in the background of the photograph. In an
interview with John Poochigian, who visited the outskirts of Perri, (See
Poochigians on Tour)
he described his visit to the area:
"From Kharpert [Apkazar], we
drove about two hours, 60 to 80 miles [97 to 128 kilometers],
through a rural area. Along the way, there were a few houses and herds of
sheep walking on the highway. When we were about three miles from Perri,
the Turkish military police stopped us. They recommended that we do not
continue to drive into the village because the Kurds and Turks had a
skirmish in Perri the night before.
When we looked ahead toward the village
of Perri, we could see the roof tops on the houses. Perri is a village of
an appreciable size of 500-1,000 people.
The low-frame houses in the
Perri area are made of mud.
The
residents of Perri, and all of eastern Turkey, are made up of Kurds.
Today, there's no Armenians left, except just a few, and nobody really knows
what an Armenian is. When we said, 'we're Armenians, they said, what's
that?''
The countryside around Perri, along
the Perri River, is very beautiful, with green rolling hills and high
mountains off in the distance. The area is very agricultural, with
primarily ground vegetation and lots of livestock. The farms are worked by
women who are seen out in the fields. There are a few cows for milk, but the
livestock consists of primarily sheep that are raised, sold and butchered.
Around Perri, and in the countryside of
Turkey, the people travel in buses and cars, if they can afford them. Horse
drawn wagons are also used to transport people and farm goods. (John
Poochigian)
When commenting on
the area around the town of Perri, John Poochigian, Jr., who also visited Turkey
in 1996 and 1998 (See
Poochigians on Tour),
remarked:
"Eastern
Turkey and the area around the village of Perri probably hasn't changed much
in the last 100 years. The only difference is the residents of the area are
now all Kurds. Most of the province of Kharpert is now under water because
of the artificial lakes.
The
village of Perri, which is now called 'Akpazar,' is located on the side of a
hill overlooking the north bank of the Perri River. The Perri River is a
good size body of water, large enough for the people to travel along the
river in small boats and trade their goods.
There are
beautiful green, rolling hills around Perri. The agrarian area around Perri,
as well as most of eastern Turkey, consists of farming, particularly growing
grain crops and raising sheep. There's negligible industry in the region.
(John Poochigian, Jr.)
Charsanjak
Kaza
Perri
(Charsandjak) was located in the kaza (county) district of Charsanjak
(Charsandjak, Tcharsandjak). Charsanjak was the name of both the larger kaza
(casa) district as well as one of the names for the village of
Perri/Charsanjak.
According to Raymond
Kevorkian and Paul Paboudjian, there were 7,940 Armenians (1136 families)
reported in 43 localities in the Charsanjak Kaza (Caza de Tcharsandjak). There
were also 51 churches, 15 monasteries and 23 schools (1,114 students). The
center of Charsanjak was the fortress of Kodaridj. (Kevorkian)
According to the Armenian
Patriarchate at Constantinople, there were 12 Armenian schools in the
geographical district of Charsanjak (Tcharsandjak) in 1901-1902. The schools
included 18 teachers, 617 boys pupils and 189 girl pupils. (Armenian
Patriarchate)
Dersim Sanjak
The
village of Perri and kaza of Charsanjak were located in the southern part of the
Dersim sanjak (sancak, sandjak). The Dersim sanjak was situated in the
northern part of the Kharpert province (Vilayet). Today, the Dersim province is
called Tunceli, although some still refer to the area as the Dersim.
Sanjak was a Turkish term used for
an administrative district during the Ottoman rule. The Turkish term,
sanjak, also means flag or military unit. (Today, the same term, Sanjak,
is used to describe a Yugoslavia region that includes parts of Serbia and
Montenegro, and the capital is Novi Pazar. The name Novi Pazar was
shortened from Sanjak of Novi Pazar to just Sandjak.)
Mountains and forests are characteristic of
the Dersim Sanjak.
According to Kevorkian, in the
Charsanjak Kaza, the mountains are less obvious and the area is more heavily
populated than in the north zone of the Dersim (Kevorkian).
In the 1890's, Lynch defined the Dersim as a
"country and administrative district belonging to western Armenia" (Lynch
Vole 2, 503). Lynch described the Dersim as a thinly populated district
(Lynch Vol. 2, 405).
In Lynch's Table--Population of the
Armenian Tableland in Turkey (about the year 1890), he showed that the
Sanjak Dersim had a population of a total population of 70,000. The total
population included 8,000 Armenians and 62,000 Moslems (Lynch Vol. 2,
412-413). Lynch further explained, "The population of the Dersim Sanjak
has been estimated from various sources. The estimate is little better than a
guess" (Lynch Vol. 2, 413).
Today, the Dersim Sanjak is still considered
"wild country--but 100 years ago it was even more so, says George Aghjayan who
visited the area in August, 1996. He continues to say, "It looks just like it
did 100 years ago when our families lived there. They still dry cow dung for
fuel and the dwellings are much the same. The Dersim was wild because of the
large and unruly Kurdish population. Many an Armenian survived the Genocide by
going into the Dersim and then having Kurds help them get to Russia."
(Aghjayan Comments)
The modern-day Dersim is a
battleground between the Turkish military and the PKK (Partiya
Karkere Kurdistan--The
Kurdish Workers Party). Because the Kurds believe that the Dersim is part of
Kurdistan and the land belongs to them, Kurdish men and women continue to carry
on a struggle as guerilla fighters in the mountains in the Dersim.
(DHKC Information
Bureau)
Armenian Village & Family Organization
Typical Armenian villages were built around a
central square with a church, school, and coffee house. The coffee house was
the men's domain where important issues such as politics and crop prices were
discussed and local gossip was exchanged. Villagers traveled to and from the
fields and orchards on donkeys
(Focus Multimedia, The Village).
According to Susie
Hoogasian Villa and Mary Kilbourne Matossian in their book, Armenian Village
Life Before 1914,
The
Armenian 'village' was a collection of households with certain common
interests and shared obligations. For example, all villagers had common
rights to the use of certain natural resources: water, wild animals and
plants, wood, clay, construction, stone, lime, and unused land. If the
village depended on irrigation, it was the collective responsibility of all
households to keep the canals clean and in good repair.
The
general Armenian word for family was 'undanik,' which meant a nuclear family
consisting of father, mother, and children only. 'Gerdastan' referred to
the extended family clan, which could be traced to the same person or
grandparents. The Armenian extended family, the gerdastan, usually
consisted of several generations and included as many as five to six
generations. The clan comprised fifteen to one hundred persons, and
sometimes lived under the same roof. The gerdastan was patriarchal and
patrilineal, tracing the relationships through male lines only, and included
all descendants from a common ancestor in the male line for six to eight
generations.
The
gerdastan, the largest kinship unit among the Armenians was strongest in the
mountainous and subalpine regions of forested areas where peasants privately
owned land. There the central government was weakest and the need for
self-defense greatest.
In a
typical village in Western Armenian, the people constructed their houses
with mud bricks. The homes of neighbors were tightly clustered and close
together. Home, stables, and sheepfold were often interconnected. Most
houses were adjoined on two or even three sides with the street side
protected by a high, mud-brick wall. Behind the wall was an open courtyard,
called either a 'pag' (Armenian) or 'dord ' (Turkish). The courtyard often
included a fireplace and a garden with flowers, vegetables, and
fruit-bearing trees. The lowest level of the dwelling contained the
'maran,' a storeroom where the family kept grain, dried fruits and other
foodstuffs. The family kept its sheep, cattle, mules, horses and other
animals in a stable, called 'akhor,' during the winter. The animals moved
about in the reserved section, which was usually dug out of the ground and
separated from the family dwelling.
In order
to conserve heat, the Armenians used a minimum of living space for several
different purposes. A typical village house included a central living room,
which served as a sitting, sleeping and dining room. Some houses included a
separate room for preparing food. When the main room was used as a dining
room, the family members sat in a circle on the ground to eat their meals.
The two
basis forms of fuel available in the Armenian villages were wood and dried
dung. Dried dung, called 'goashgoor,' burned hotter than wood, but it did
not last long and initially created a great deal of smoke. The household
prepared its supply of goashgoor in the summer. The accumulated dung was
carried to a large pit, where it was mixed with water and usually fine straw.
(Hoogasian 1-36)
