Vank, Nagorno-Karabakh

Vank (Armenian: Վանք) or Vangli (Azerbaijani: Vəngli) is a village de jure in the Kalbajar District of Azerbaijan, de facto in the Martakert Province of the self-proclaimed Republic of Artsakh. Vank had a population of 1,284 in 2005.[1] The village has an ethnic Armenian-majority population, and also had an Armenian majority in 1989.[2] The 13th-century Gandzasar monastery, and the 9th-century Khokhanaberd fortress are located near Vank.

Not to be confused with Vəng.
Vank

Վանք
Vəngli
View of the village from the road between Vank and Gandzasar monastery
Vank
Vank
Coordinates: 40°03′28″N 46°32′44″E
Country Azerbaijan (de jure)
 Artsakh (de facto)
DistrictKalbajar (de jure)
ProvinceMartakert (de facto)
Elevation
1,031 m (3,383 ft)
Population
 (2005[1])
 • Total1,284
Time zoneUTC+4 (ART)

History

The village of Vank (meaning monastery in Armenian) was founded in the 9th century, and was named as such for its proximity to Gandzasar monastery.[3] Although the current structure of Gandzasar was built in the 13th century, a church or monastery existed at the site several centuries before then.[4] The village was previously also known by the name Vankashen.[3] Khokhanaberd, a 9th-century mountaintop fortress is located near Vank, which served as a castle and residence of rulers of the House of Hasan-Jalalyan of the Armenian Principality of Khachen.[5][6]

The village is surrounded by several historical monuments dating to the Middle Ages. The most prominent among them is the thirteenth-century monastic complex of Gandzasar (built from 1216-38), which overlooks the village and was built by the Armenian ruler of the principality of Khachen, Prince Hasan-Jalal Dawla.[7][8]

In the years following the conclusion of the First Nagorno-Karabakh War (1988-1994), the village has seen an increase in investment from the Armenian diaspora. Levon Hairapetyan, a Russian-based Armenian businessman and a native of Vank, has funded the reconstruction of homes, the local school, and sponsored the building of a zoo,[9] and the nearby Hotel Eclectica, which resembles a ship.[10]

In October 2008, Vank was also one of several venues in Nagorno-Karabakh for a mass wedding of 560 Armenian couples.[11]

  • The thirteenth century monastery of Gandzasar.
  • The remains of Prince Hasan-Jalal's fortress of Khokhanaberd (on left), as seen from Gandzasar
  • Vank as seen from Gandzasar Monastery
  • Hotel Eclectica in Vank
  • Lion of Vank
  • Entrance to the village
  • Scenery
  • Walls of Khokhanaberd
  • School in Vank

See also

References
  1. Population of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (2005)
  2. Андрей Зубов. "Андрей Зубов. Карабах: Мир и Война". drugoivzgliad.com.
  3. Hakobyan, Tadevos Kh.; Melik-Bakhshyan, Stepan T.; Barseghyan, Hovhannes Kh. (2001). Հայաստանի և հարակից շրջանների տեղանունների բառարան [Dictionary of toponymy of Armenia and adjacent territories] (in Armenian). vol.4. Yerevan: Yerevan State University Publishing House. p. 759-60.
  4. Mkrtchyan, Shahen (1989). "Гандзасар [Gandzasar]". Историко-архитектурные памятники Нагорного Карабаха [Historical and architectural monuments of Nagorno-Karabakh] (2nd ed.). Yerevan: Parberakan. pp. 14–19.
  5. Sargsyan, S. S. (1996). "Խոխանաբերդ. նորահայտ վիմագրեր Խաղբակյանների մասին" [Khokhanaberd: newfound inscriptions about the Khaghbakyans]. Lraber (in Armenian). vol. 3: 96–105. Retrieved 17 January 2021.
  6. Hakobyan, Tadevos Kh.; Melik-Bakhshyan, Stepan T.; Barseghyan, Hovhannes Kh. (2001). Հայաստանի և հարակից շրջանների տեղանունների բառարան [Dictionary of toponymy of Armenia and adjacent territories] (in Armenian). vol.2. Yerevan: Yerevan State University Publishing House. p. 764-65.
  7. Hewsen, Robert H. (2001). Armenia: A Historical Atlas. Chicago: University of Chicago Press. pp. 119–120. ISBN 0-226-33228-4.
  8. Mkrtchyan, Gayane (August 31, 2007). "A Wonder in Karabakh: A visit to the "mysterious" attraction of Vank". ArmeniaNow.com.
  9. "Holidaying in lands that don’t exist: Artsakh." The Focus. May 24, 2020. Retrieved May 25, 2020.
  10. Noble, John et al. Georgia Armenia & Azerbaijan, 3rd ed. Oakland, CA: Lonely Planet, 2008, p. 306.
  11. Hayrapetyan, Anahit. "Nagorno-Karabakh: Mass Wedding Hopes to Spark Baby Boom in Separatist Territory." Eurasianet. October 23, 2008. Retrieved November 11, 2010.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.