Churs
Churs (Persian: چورس, also Romanized as Chūrs, Chowras, and Chowrs; also known as Choras, Chors, and Jūres)[1] is a village in Churs Rural District, in the Central District of Chaypareh County, West Azerbaijan Province, Iran. At the 2006 census, its population was 2,367, in 636 families.[2]
Churs
چورس | |
---|---|
village | |
Churs | |
Coordinates: 38°49′48″N 45°02′05″E | |
Country | Iran |
Province | West Azerbaijan |
County | Chaypareh |
Bakhsh | Central |
Rural District | Churs |
Population (2006) | |
• Total | 2,367 |
Time zone | UTC+3:30 (IRST) |
• Summer (DST) | UTC+4:30 (IRDT) |
The location of modern-day Churs proved to be extremely pivotal in Armenian history. On 26 May 451 AD, a decisive battle was fought at the location that would be one of the single most important events in Armenian history. On the Avarayr Plain, at what is modern-day Churs in the West Azerbaijan Province, the Armenian Army under Vardan Mamikonian clashed with Sassanid Persia. Although the Persians were victorious on the battlefield itself, the battle proved to be a major strategic victory for Armenians, as Avarayr paved the way to the Nvarsak Treaty (484 AD), which affirmed Armenia's right to practice Christianity freely.[3][4]
References
- Churs can be found at GEOnet Names Server, at this link, by opening the Advanced Search box, entering "-3058837" in the "Unique Feature Id" form, and clicking on "Search Database".
- "Census of the Islamic Republic of Iran, 1385 (2006)". Islamic Republic of Iran. Archived from the original (Excel) on 2011-11-11.
- Hewsen, Robert H. (August 17, 2011). "AVARAYR". Encyclopædia Iranica.
So spirited was the Armenian defense, however, that the Persians suffered enormous losses as well. Their victory was pyrrhic and the king, faced with troubles elsewhere, was forced, at least for the time being, to allow the Armenians to worship as they chose.
- Susan Paul Pattie (1997). Faith in History: Armenians Rebuilding Community. Smithsonian Institution Press. p. 40. ISBN 1560986298.
The Armenian defeat in the Battle of Avarayr in 451 proved a pyrrhic victory for the Persians. Though the Armenians lost their commander, Vartan Mamikonian, and most of their soldiers, Persian losses were proportionately heavy, and Armenia was allowed to remain Christian.