Prince Jaques Bagratuni (, ; 25 August 1879 – 23 December 1943) was an
Armenia
Armenia (), , group=pron officially the Republic of Armenia,, is a landlocked country in the Armenian Highlands of Western Asia.The UNbr>classification of world regions places Armenia in Western Asia; the CIA World Factbook , , and ''Ox ...
n prince and military commander. He was a
Major General
Major general (abbreviated MG, maj. gen. and similar) is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. The disappearance of the "sergeant" in the title explains the apparent confusion of a ...
of the
Russian Empire
The Russian Empire was an empire and the final period of the Russian monarchy from 1721 to 1917, ruling across large parts of Eurasia. It succeeded the Tsardom of Russia following the Treaty of Nystad, which ended the Great Northern War. ...
and
First Republic of Armenia
The First Republic of Armenia, officially known at the time of its existence as the Republic of Armenia ( hy, Հայաստանի Հանրապետութիւն), was the first modern Armenian state since the loss of Armenian statehood in the Middle ...
during
World War I
World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...
, and later became the Ambassador of Armenia to England.
Early life
Jaques Bagratuni was born on 25 August 1879 in
Akhaltsikhe
Akhaltsikhe ( ka, ახალციხე ), formerly known as Lomsia ( ka, ლომსია), is a small city in Georgia's southwestern region (''mkhare'') of Samtskhe–Javakheti. It is situated on both banks of a small river Potskhovi (a left ...
, Russian Empire to a noble family. His family is descended from the
Bagratuni dynasty
The Bagratuni or Bagratid dynasty ( hy, Բագրատունի, ) was an Armenian royal dynasty which ruled the medieval Kingdom of Armenia from c. 885 until 1045. Originating as vassals of the Kingdom of Armenia of antiquity, they rose to beco ...
of former kings of Armenia in the Middle Ages.
He graduated from the Tiflis gymnasium in 1898 with honors, from the
Kiev Military School in 1900, and from the
Nicholas General Staff Academy
The General Staff Academy () was a Russian military academy, established in 1832 in St.Petersburg. It was first known as the Imperial Military Academy (Императорская военная академия), then in 1855 it was renamed Nichola ...
in 1907.
Military career
Bagratuni served as an officer in
Warsaw
Warsaw ( pl, Warszawa, ), officially the Capital City of Warsaw,, abbreviation: ''m.st. Warszawa'' is the capital and largest city of Poland. The metropolis stands on the River Vistula in east-central Poland, and its population is officia ...
and successfully completed an important task in the intelligence of
Persia
Iran, officially the Islamic Republic of Iran, and also called Persia, is a country located in Western Asia. It is bordered by Iraq and Turkey to the west, by Azerbaijan and Armenia to the northwest, by the Caspian Sea and Turkmeni ...
. He became a lieutenant in 1904 and that same year he entered the
Academy of the General Staff, but in early 1905 his teaching was interrupted and he went to the front of the
Russian-Japanese War
The Russo-Japanese War ( ja, 日露戦争, Nichiro sensō, Japanese-Russian War; russian: Ру́сско-япóнская войнá, Rússko-yapónskaya voyná) was fought between the Empire of Japan and the Russian Empire during 1904 and 1 ...
. Bagratuni commanded a company in the 19th East Siberian shelf. On 25 February 1905 in a battle near the village of Pooh, he was shot and wounded, but continued to command a company. For military merit he was awarded the
Order of St. Anna
The Imperial Order of Saint Anna (russian: Орден Святой Анны; also "Order of Saint Anne" or "Order of Saint Ann") was a Holstein ducal and then Russian imperial order of chivalry. It was established by Karl Friedrich, Duke of Holst ...
4th class with the inscription "For Bravery" and the
Order of Saint Stanislaus
The Order of Saint Stanislaus ( pl, Order Św. Stanisława Biskupa Męczennika, russian: Орден Святого Станислава), also spelled Stanislas, was a Polish order of knighthood founded in 1765 by King Stanisław August Ponia ...
3rd class with Swords.
On 26 November 1908, he became Captain and Assistant Adjutant Senior Staff of the
Turkestan Military District
The Turkestan Military District (russian: Туркестанский военный округ (ТуркВО), ''Turkestansky voyenyi okrug (TurkVO)'') was a military district of both the Imperial Russian Army and the Soviet Armed Forces, with it ...
. Bagratuni then led the 4th Intelligence Department of the district headquarters. According to his biographer, Academician Hrant Avetisyan, Bagratouni carried out secret military research and practical tasks in
Mongolia
Mongolia; Mongolian script: , , ; lit. "Mongol Nation" or "State of Mongolia" () is a landlocked country in East Asia, bordered by Russia to the north and China to the south. It covers an area of , with a population of just 3.3 million, ...
,
Tibet
Tibet (; ''Böd''; ) is a region in East Asia, covering much of the Tibetan Plateau and spanning about . It is the traditional homeland of the Tibetan people. Also resident on the plateau are some other ethnic groups such as Monpa people, ...
,
Korea
Korea ( ko, 한국, or , ) is a peninsular region in East Asia. Since 1945, it has been divided at or near the 38th parallel, with North Korea (Democratic People's Republic of Korea) comprising its northern half and South Korea (Republic o ...
,
Afghanistan
Afghanistan, officially the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan,; prs, امارت اسلامی افغانستان is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central Asia and South Asia. Referred to as the Heart of Asia, it is bordere ...
, and Central Asia in
Bukhara
Bukhara (Uzbek language, Uzbek: /, ; tg, Бухоро, ) is the List of cities in Uzbekistan, seventh-largest city in Uzbekistan, with a population of 280,187 , and the capital of Bukhara Region.
People have inhabited the region around Bukhara ...
,
Kashgar
Kashgar ( ug, قەشقەر, Qeshqer) or Kashi ( zh, c=喀什) is an oasis city in the Tarim Basin region of Southern Xinjiang. It is one of the westernmost cities of China, near the border with Afghanistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Pakistan ...
, Kermishe,
Kushka,
Merv
Merv ( tk, Merw, ', مرو; fa, مرو, ''Marv''), also known as the Merve Oasis, formerly known as Alexandria ( grc-gre, Ἀλεξάνδρεια), Antiochia in Margiana ( grc-gre, Ἀντιόχεια ἡ ἐν τῇ Μαργιανῇ) and ...
. He uncovered a plot of
Pan-Turkic emissaries in
Tashkent
Tashkent (, uz, Toshkent, Тошкент/, ) (from russian: Ташкент), or Toshkent (; ), also historically known as Chach is the capital and largest city of Uzbekistan. It is the most populous city in Central Asia, with a population of ...
and other cities of Turkestan. This feat was marked by his awarding the Order of St. Anna 3rd degree and he was promoted to lieutenant colonel. Also for his services rendered, the Emir of Bukhara celebrated by granting him the Order of the Golden Star of Bukhara 3rd class.
First World War
At the beginning of the
First World War
World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...
, Bagratuni was a staff officer for assignments at the headquarters of the
1st Army Corps of Turkestan. In September 1914, he distinguished himself in battle in the
Western Front in the area of Luka, for which he was awarded the
Order of Saint Stanislaus
The Order of Saint Stanislaus ( pl, Order Św. Stanisława Biskupa Męczennika, russian: Орден Святого Станислава), also spelled Stanislas, was a Polish order of knighthood founded in 1765 by King Stanisław August Ponia ...
2nd class with Swords and
Order of St. Vladimir
The Imperial Order of Saint Prince Vladimir (russian: орден Святого Владимира) was an Imperial Russian order established on by Empress Catherine II in memory of the deeds of Saint Vladimir, the Grand Prince and the Baptize ...
4th class with Swords. From October 1914 to January 1915, temporarily filled the post of Chief of Staff of the
1st Army Corps of Turkestan, and from January 1915 to November 1916 he was the Chief of Staff of the
76th Infantry Division, 2nd Turkestan Infantry Brigade, and 2nd Turkestan Infantry Artillery Brigade. Bagratuni was given the rank of colonel on 6 December 1915, and for making the differences in the battles he awarded the
Order of St. Vladimir
The Imperial Order of Saint Prince Vladimir (russian: орден Святого Владимира) was an Imperial Russian order established on by Empress Catherine II in memory of the deeds of Saint Vladimir, the Grand Prince and the Baptize ...
3rd class with Swords,
Order of St. Anna
The Imperial Order of Saint Anna (russian: Орден Святой Анны; also "Order of Saint Anne" or "Order of Saint Ann") was a Holstein ducal and then Russian imperial order of chivalry. It was established by Karl Friedrich, Duke of Holst ...
2nd class with Swords, and
Order of St. George
The Order of Saint George (russian: Орден Святого Георгия, Orden Svyatogo Georgiya) is the highest military decoration of the Russian Federation. Originally established on 26 November 1769 Julian (7 December 1769 Gregorian) a ...
4th class. On 22 November 1916, he became the commander of the 8th Turkestan Infantry Regiment.
Activities in 1917
After the
February Revolution
The February Revolution ( rus, Февра́льская револю́ция, r=Fevral'skaya revolyutsiya, p=fʲɪvˈralʲskəjə rʲɪvɐˈlʲutsɨjə), known in Soviet historiography as the February Bourgeois Democratic Revolution and somet ...
, he was one of the supporters of democratic reforms in the army. He was elected a delegate to the All-Russian Congress of officers in
Petrograd
Saint Petersburg ( rus, links=no, Санкт-Петербург, a=Ru-Sankt Peterburg Leningrad Petrograd Piter.ogg, r=Sankt-Peterburg, p=ˈsankt pʲɪtʲɪrˈburk), formerly known as Petrograd (1914–1924) and later Leningrad (1924–1991), i ...
in May 1917 and since June 1917 he served in the office of the Minister of War of the
Russian Provisional Government
The Russian Provisional Government ( rus, Временное правительство России, Vremennoye pravitel'stvo Rossii) was a provisional government of the Russian Republic, announced two days before and established immediately ...
of
Alexander Kerensky
Alexander Fyodorovich Kerensky, ; Reforms of Russian orthography, original spelling: ( – 11 June 1970) was a Russian lawyer and revolutionary who led the Russian Provisional Government and the short-lived Russian Republic for three months ...
, his brother-in-law. Bagratuni became the Chief of Staff of the
Petrograd Military District
The Petersburg Military District (Питербургский вое́нный о́круг) was a Military District of the Russian Empire originally created in August 1864 following Order B-228 of Dmitry Milyutin, the Minister of War of the Russian ...
on 12 July 1917 and was promoted to major general on 30 August 1917.
He was one of the organizers of the creation of the Armenian military units in the Russian army. In August 1917, together with the continuation of his service in the post of Chief of Staff Military District, he was elected Armenian military commissioner and chairman of the Armenian military council, and actively engaged in the formation of the
Armenian volunteer units
The Armenian volunteer units ( hy, Հայ կամավորական ջոկատներ ''Hay kamavorakan jokatner'') were units composed of Armenians within the Imperial Russian Army during World War I. Composed of several groups at battalion streng ...
.
On the eve of the coming to power of the
Bolsheviks
The Bolsheviks (russian: Большевики́, from большинство́ ''bol'shinstvó'', 'majority'),; derived from ''bol'shinstvó'' (большинство́), "majority", literally meaning "one of the majority". also known in English ...
to take measures against troops loyal to the Provisional Government, the headquarters of the
Northern Front ordered to send a special military unit to Petrograd. However, the Front Command did not carry out the order. As a result, Bagratuni managed to collect only small military force. On 7 November 1917, the newly appointed Dictator of the Provisional Government
Nikolai Kishkin received authority to restore order in the city. He immediately removed the hesitant Colonel
Georgy Polkovnikov
Georgy Petrovich Polkovnikov (March 7, 1883, Stanitsa Krivyanskaya, Don Host Oblast – March 1918) was a Russian military leader, commander–in–chief of the Petrograd Military District in September – October 1917, his last military rank wa ...
from his post as commander in chief of the Petrograd Military District and replaced him with a more energetic General Jaques Bagratuni. However, he could not reverse the negative development of the situation and the Bolsheviks soon overran the district headquarters. He resigned and was arrested by the Bolsheviks in the
Winter Palace
The Winter Palace ( rus, Зимний дворец, Zimnij dvorets, p=ˈzʲimnʲɪj dvɐˈrʲɛts) is a palace in Saint Petersburg that served as the official residence of the Emperor of all the Russias, Russian Emperor from 1732 to 1917. The p ...
. Bagratuni was imprisoned in the fortress until he was released on 15 December 1917. The next day, he again assumed the office of the Armenian military commissar.
Armenian general and diplomat
![Andranik Ozanian and Jaques Bagratuni](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/ba/Andranik_Ozanian_and_Jaques_Bagratuni.jpg)
Bagratuni continued to work on the formation of an army corps and sending troops to
Armenia
Armenia (), , group=pron officially the Republic of Armenia,, is a landlocked country in the Armenian Highlands of Western Asia.The UNbr>classification of world regions places Armenia in Western Asia; the CIA World Factbook , , and ''Ox ...
and the
Caucasus
The Caucasus () or Caucasia (), is a region between the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea, mainly comprising Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, and parts of Southern Russia. The Caucasus Mountains, including the Greater Caucasus range, have historically ...
from late 1917 to early 1918. He arrived in
Baku
Baku (, ; az, Bakı ) is the capital and largest city of Azerbaijan, as well as the largest city on the Caspian Sea and of the Caucasus region. Baku is located below sea level, which makes it the lowest lying national capital in the world a ...
on 7 March 1918 at the urging of revolutionary leader
Vladimir Lenin
Vladimir Ilyich Ulyanov. ( 1870 – 21 January 1924), better known as Vladimir Lenin,. was a Russian revolutionary, politician, and political theorist. He served as the first and founding head of government of Soviet Russia from 1917 to 19 ...
to assist the
Centrocaspian Dictatorship
The Centro-Caspian Dictatorship, also known as the Central-Caspian Dictatorship (russian: Диктатура Центрокаспия, ''Diktatura Tsentrokaspiya'') ( Azerbaijani: Sentrokaspi Diktaturası), was a short-lived anti-Soviet administ ...
, headed by
Stepan Shahumyan
Stepan Georgevich Shaumian (; , ''Step’an Ge'vorgi Shahumyan''; 1 October 1878 – 20 September 1918) was a Bolshevik revolutionary and politician active throughout the Caucasus. Arzumanyan, M. Շահումյան, Ստեփան Գևորգի. ...
. On the night of March 15, he survived an assassination attempt on the street by three Turkish agents, which led to the amputation of one of his legs. Despite the severe wound, he took part in the fighting during the
March Days
The March Days or March Events () was a period of inter-ethnic strife and clashes which led to the death of about 12,000 Azerbaijani: "The results of the March events were immediate and total for the Musavat. Several hundreds of its members wer ...
and in the defense against the Turkish and Tatar combined forces in the summer. In early autumn 1918, he was appointed by the Centrocaspian Dictatorship as Minister of War. On September 15 at 11:00, the British, without warning, withdrew their troops, exposing entire sections, leading to the fall of the city to the
Islamic Army of the Caucasus
The Islamic Army of the Caucasus ( az, Qafqaz İslam Ordusu; Turkish: ''Kafkas İslâm Ordusu'') (also translated as ''Caucasian Army of Islam'' in some sources) was a military unit of the Ottoman Empire formed on July 10, 1918. The Ottoman Min ...
in the
Battle of Baku
The Battle of Baku ( az, Bakı döyüşü, tr, Bakü Muharebesi, russian: Битва за Баку) was a battle in World War I that took place between August–September 1918 between the Ottoman– Azerbaijani coalition forces led by Nuri Pas ...
. Anticipating the turn of events, Bagratouni took off 1,500 troops with 8,000 refugees on 16 September 1918 and left for Persia to
Anzali Port.
On the same day the Turks broke in Baku, the massacre to thousands of Armenians took place during the
September Days
The September Days ( hy, 1918 թ. Բաքվի հայերի կոտորած, translit=Bakvi hayeri kotorats, translation=1918 massacre of Baku Armenians) refers to a period during the Russian Civil War in September 1918 when Armenian inhabitants o ...
, the last major massacre of World War I.
Upon return of the British troops in Baku on 18 November, Bagratuni traveled back to the
Armenian National Council. He was also keenly interested in the Armenian defense in
Zangezur
Zangezur ( hy, Զանգեզուր) is a historical and geographical region in Eastern Armenia on the slopes of the Zangezur Mountains which largely corresponds to the Syunik Province of the Republic of Armenia. It was ceded to Russia by Qajar Ir ...
and
Nagorno-Karabakh
Nagorno-Karabakh ( ) is a landlocked country, landlocked region in the Transcaucasia, South Caucasus, within the mountainous range of Karabakh, lying between Lower Karabakh and Syunik Province, Syunik, and covering the southeastern range o ...
led by General
Andranik Ozanian
Andranik Ozanian, commonly known as General Andranik or simply Andranik;. Also spelled Antranik or Antranig 25 February 186531 August 1927), was an Armenians, Armenian military commander and statesman, the best known ''Armenian fedayi, fedayi ...
. A letter sent by Bagratuni to General Andranik, along with money to help defend against the invading Turks in Zangezur, dated 12 December 1918, states: "I send you one million rubles, of which 400,000 should be allocated to the military, and the remaining 600,000 for assistance to refugees - local and from distant places."
In 1919, he was part of the delegation of Armenia to the
Paris Peace Conference as an adviser. He was part of an Armenian military mission in August 1919 aimed at the United States for talks on cooperation in the defense sector. The mission arrived in
New York City
New York, often called New York City or NYC, is the List of United States cities by population, most populous city in the United States. With a 2020 population of 8,804,190 distributed over , New York City is also the L ...
in November 1919. Bagratouni met with many American politicians and public figures, spoke at rallies, and insisted on helping Armenia and the official recognition of the
First Republic of Armenia
The First Republic of Armenia, officially known at the time of its existence as the Republic of Armenia ( hy, Հայաստանի Հանրապետութիւն), was the first modern Armenian state since the loss of Armenian statehood in the Middle ...
. On 3 January 1920, Bagratuni received
Robert Lansing
Robert Lansing (; October 17, 1864 – October 30, 1928) was an American lawyer and diplomat who served as Counselor to the State Department at the outbreak of World War I, and then as United States Secretary of State under President Woodrow Wils ...
, the US Secretary of State. The Secretary of State gave a memorandum in which it was stated that the Armenians, in the presence of weapons and uniforms, on their own would return the Armenian territory left to the Turks under the
Armistice of Mudros
Concluded on 30 October 1918 and taking effect at noon the next day, the Armistice of Mudros ( tr, Mondros Mütarekesi) ended hostilities in the Middle Eastern theatre between the Ottoman Empire and the Allies of World War I. It was signed by th ...
. Despite the fact that Armenia had already set up embassies in several countries, Lansing explained the US authorities couldn't provide military assistance to countries that are not officially recognized.
After completion of the mission, he returned to France in 1920 and was appointed Ambassador of Armenia to Britain, where he remained in exile. Bagratuni died on 23 December 1943 in
Lostwithiel
Lostwithiel (; kw, Lostwydhyel) is a civil parish and small town in Cornwall, England, United Kingdom at the head of the estuary of the River Fowey. According to the 2001 census it had a population of 2,739, increasing to 2,899 at the 2011 c ...
in
Cornwall
Cornwall (; kw, Kernow ) is a historic county and ceremonial county in South West England. It is recognised as one of the Celtic nations, and is the homeland of the Cornish people. Cornwall is bordered to the north and west by the Atlantic ...
. After a funeral at the Armenian Church in
London
London is the capital and largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary down to the North Sea, and has been a majo ...
on 3 January 1944, he was buried at
Brompton Cemetery
Brompton Cemetery (originally the West of London and Westminster Cemetery) is a London cemetery, managed by The Royal Parks, in West Brompton in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. It is one of the Magnificent Seven cemeteries. Estab ...
.
[The Times, 19 January 1944.]
Personal life
Bagratuni was married to Lidia Kudoyarova, a daughter of an official in Tashkent. They got married on January 31, 1914, at Spaso-Preobrazhensky Military Cathedral in Tashkent.
Awards
*
Order of St. Anna
The Imperial Order of Saint Anna (russian: Орден Святой Анны; also "Order of Saint Anne" or "Order of Saint Ann") was a Holstein ducal and then Russian imperial order of chivalry. It was established by Karl Friedrich, Duke of Holst ...
, 4th class, "For Bravery" (1905)
*
Order of Saint Stanislaus
The Order of Saint Stanislaus ( pl, Order Św. Stanisława Biskupa Męczennika, russian: Орден Святого Станислава), also spelled Stanislas, was a Polish order of knighthood founded in 1765 by King Stanisław August Ponia ...
, 3rd class with Swords (1907)
*
Order of St. Anna
The Imperial Order of Saint Anna (russian: Орден Святой Анны; also "Order of Saint Anne" or "Order of Saint Ann") was a Holstein ducal and then Russian imperial order of chivalry. It was established by Karl Friedrich, Duke of Holst ...
, 3rd class (1912)
* Order of the Golden Star of Bukhara, 3rd class (1914)
*
Order of Saint Stanislaus
The Order of Saint Stanislaus ( pl, Order Św. Stanisława Biskupa Męczennika, russian: Орден Святого Станислава), also spelled Stanislas, was a Polish order of knighthood founded in 1765 by King Stanisław August Ponia ...
, 2nd class with Swords (1914)
*
Order of St. Vladimir
The Imperial Order of Saint Prince Vladimir (russian: орден Святого Владимира) was an Imperial Russian order established on by Empress Catherine II in memory of the deeds of Saint Vladimir, the Grand Prince and the Baptize ...
, 4th class with Swords (1914)
*
Order of St. Vladimir
The Imperial Order of Saint Prince Vladimir (russian: орден Святого Владимира) was an Imperial Russian order established on by Empress Catherine II in memory of the deeds of Saint Vladimir, the Grand Prince and the Baptize ...
, 3rd class with Swords (1915)
* George Arms (1915)
*
Order of St. Anna
The Imperial Order of Saint Anna (russian: Орден Святой Анны; also "Order of Saint Anne" or "Order of Saint Ann") was a Holstein ducal and then Russian imperial order of chivalry. It was established by Karl Friedrich, Duke of Holst ...
, 2nd class with Swords (1916)
*
Order of St. George
The Order of Saint George (russian: Орден Святого Георгия, Orden Svyatogo Georgiya) is the highest military decoration of the Russian Federation. Originally established on 26 November 1769 Julian (7 December 1769 Gregorian) a ...
, 4th class (1917)
References
External links
Hayazg.info Hayastan.ru
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bagratuni, Jaques
1879 births
1943 deaths
People from Akhaltsikhe
Imperial Russian Army generals
Russian military personnel of the Russo-Japanese War
Russian military personnel of World War I
Armenian generals
Armenian people of World War I
Recipients of the Order of Saint Stanislaus (Russian), 2nd class
Recipients of the Order of St. Anna, 2nd class
Recipients of the Order of St. Vladimir, 3rd class
People of the First Republic of Armenia
Ambassadors of Armenia to the United Kingdom
Emigrants from the Russian Empire to the United Kingdom
Georgian people of Armenian descent
Russian people of Armenian descent
Burials at Brompton Cemetery
Jacques
Ancient and noble French family names, Jacques, Jacq, or James are believed to originate from the Middle Ages in the historic northwest Brittany region in France, and have since spread around the world over the centuries. To date, there are over ...
Recipients of the Order of St. Anna, 3rd class
Recipients of the Order of St. Anna, 4th class