Caucasus Conflict

The Caucasus Conflict of 1926-1927 was a year long conflict that involved the Georgian-Armenian War, the Azerbaijani-Armenian War, the Georgian-Azerbaijani War, and the subsequent peace talks in Sevanavank known as the Caucasus Conference.

## **Prelude to Conflict (1896-1925)**

Ever since the Armenians won the Sasoun Rebellion and subsequently partitioned the Ottoman State, Armenian nationalism sored for the next few decades. Armenian birthrates skyrocketed as since Armenians were under Russian protection in Eastern Anatolia, they felt they finally had freedom, especially since the last few decades saw Armenian christians be restricted in life in the Empire. Birthrates increased in Eastern Armenia as well, which prompted many Azeris and non Armenians to leave, making the Caucasus more homogenous. Yet this became a problem in Southern Armenia, in Aras, Zangezur and Mountainous Karabakh. Armenians were beginning to outnumber the Azeri population. That combined with the fact that Azerbaijanis were leaving their villages which made Armenians repopulate the depopulated villages created tension in the region. In 1905, conflict arouse when Armenian nationalists massacred the Azerbaijani population of Shusha, resulting in 200+ deaths. In retaliation, Azerbaijanis of Zangezur and Aras massacred Armenians in several villages resulted in 129 Armenians dead. Although Russia calmed the situation, it was clear harmony between both people were beginning to dwindle and it seemed like a war was inevitable. At the same time, Armenians moving into the regions of Javakheti an the surronding lands worried the Georgians that Armenians would have too much influence in the country, resulting in things like anti-Armenian propaganda in cities like Tiflis and Batum but this also resulted in many Armenian nationalist becoming anti Georgian and Anti-Azerbaijani, and holding many racist, ethno-nationalist ideas. In the Great War, the Armenian population of Aras (Nakhchivan) was at about 48%, in Zangezur they were at about 55% and in Karabakh they were at about 96% of the entire population. In 1917, it seemed after the Tsar was diposed that Russia might collapse. Because of this, Armenian nationalists began to rally the Armenian population against the Georgians and Azerbaijanis, pretty soon after, all sides were calling for independence and calling for war. But the Russians managed to secure their Empire except for their North Persian sphere of influence. Tensions would arise after the Great War was over, and many were waiting for when war would break out between Transcaucasia.

## **Beginning of the war and the Caucasus Conference**

   For a year, Transcaucasia was secured by Russian forces which prevented the Transcaucasians from declaring war. But by 1926, the Russian state was too weak, they couldn't hold the region, resulting in Azerbaijan, Georgia then Armenia declaring their independence, and war broke out between all of those nations because they all had disputed land areas between then (Zaqataly, Lori, Aras, Zangezur etc.). At first, Armenia was winning the war. It seemed they might even capture Tiflis and Ganja, but in Eastern Anatolia, Turks and Kurds alike took up arms in a guerilla war against the Armenians, wanting to unify with Kurdistan and Turkey. This resulted in supply lines being stretched thin and the Armenian offensive halted 2 months into war. Soon Georgia and Azerbaijan pushed back and the tide had turned. Georgians even made it to lake Sevan and the Azeris made it into Zangezur and Shushi, worrying the Armenians. But, in an unexpected twist of events, Persia got itself involved in the war. They feared Azerbaijan might insight the Persian Azeris to declare war and rebel against the state. Under the pretense of "securing the border" Persian troops began to move into Azeri territory. Azeri forces were diverted from the Armenian-Azerbaijani front lines which allowed the Armenians to break through. Through the brilliance of Andranik Ozanian and Garegin Nzhdeh, Armenians retook Shusha, Zangezur and all of Karabakh, but the Georgians were too strong to break. The Persians captured the city of Lankaran before Azeri forces arrived. Persian Azeris inflicted damaging losses to the Persian war effort. Armenia literally couldn't go any further because of the Turkish and Kurdish rebels, and the Georgians were too drained to retake Lazistan which was still under the control of Armenia. Eventually, Armenia, Persia, Azerbaijan and Georgia all declared a ceasefire at Sevanavank. In the same city, the Caucasus Conference kicked off, and a few treaties were signed, ending the conflict. Armenians still took all of the lands that were majority Armenian populated and the rest of the captured territory they kept. Georgia would give up Lazistan, as a result Armenia would give up Lori and Javakh, and even let Georgia annex the town of Sevan in lake Sevan. Whereas Azerbaijan kept the territory of Zaqataly which a small patch of Georgian land, and Persia would keep all Azeri land south of the Aras River.