Armenian question

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Armenian question

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The historical debate concerning the protection and rights of Armenians within the Ottoman Empire.

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Origins & Early Life

The Armenian question was the debate following the Congress of Berlin in 1878 as to how the Armenians in the Ottoman Empire should be treated. The term became commonplace among diplomatic circles and in the popular press. In specific terms, the Armenian question refers to the protection and the freedoms of Armenians from their neighboring communities. The Armenian question explains the 40 years of Armenian–Ottoman history in the context of English, German, and Russian politics between 1877 and 1914. In 1915, the leadership of the Committee of Union and Progress, which controlled the Ottoman government, decided to end the Armenian question permanently by killing and expelling most Armenians from the empire, in the Armenian genocide.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

Following the French Revolution, nationalism movements globally also emerged in the Ottoman Empire from the 19th century onwards, destabilizing the region. Initially, Greeks, followed by Albanians and Arabs, revolted with the help of the Great Powers, each aiming to establish their own nation-states. During this period, Greeks, Serbs, Bulgarians, and other non-Muslim groups achieved independence. The major European powers had been strategizing, at least since the 1870s, to exploit the spoils, including the manipulation of ethnic groups like the Ottoman Armenians. Fearing the effect of revolutionary ideas being imported, the Ottoman government prohibited Armenians from emigrating in 1882 and from returning in 1893.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

To pursue independence, Armenians formed the Hunchak and Dashnak organizations, adopting terror and propaganda. Their strategy involved inciting conflict between Muslims and Armenians to provoke European intervention and support for an independent Armenian state in Eastern Anatolia, using terror as a primary tactic to garner support and instigate rebellion, not only in the eastern provinces but also in Istanbul. Up until 1878, they were seen as millet-i sadıka or the "loyal millet" in the Ottoman Empire. In 1827–28, Tsar Nicholas I sought help from Persian Armenians in the Russo-Persian War, promising that afterward, he would help improve their lives. In 1828, the Russians declared war on the Ottomans.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1827: 1827 Milestone — In 1827–28, Tsar Nicholas I sought help from Persian Armenians in the Russo-Persian War, promising that afterward, he would help improve their lives.
2. 1828: 1828 Milestone — In 1828, the Russians declared war on the Ottomans.
3. 1877: 1877 Milestone — The Armenian question explains the 40 years of Armenian–Ottoman history in the context of English, German, and Russian politics between 1877 and 1914.
4. 1878: 1878 Milestone — The Armenian question was the debate following the Congress of Berlin in 1878 as to how the Armenians in the Ottoman Empire should be treated.
5. 1882: 1882 Milestone — Fearing the effect of revolutionary ideas being imported, the Ottoman government prohibited Armenians from emigrating in 1882 and from returning in 1893.
6. 1915: 1915 Milestone — In 1915, the leadership of the Committee of Union and Progress, which controlled the Ottoman government, decided to end the Armenian question permanently by killing and expelling most Armenians from the empire, in the Armenian genocide.

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Armenian question

True or False: “The Treaty of Berlin explicitly guaranteed Armenian security only against Kurdish and Circassian threats.”

Answer (TRUE ⭕): While Article 61 mentioned protection from Kurds and Circassians, the overall context was a broader commitment to reforms guaranteeing their general security.

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• A. A. Milne — Historical peer (Born in 1882) (1882): Celebrated English author, famed for Winnie-the-Pooh and children's literature.
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Frequently Asked Questions about Armenian question