Latest / The Story of Armenia: Survival Through Empires and Genocide — Fexingo History / The Battle of Sardarapat: How Armenia Almost Lost Its Independence
Transcript
- Lucas: So we've talked a lot about the Armenian Genocide and the fedayee resistance, but there's one battle that really stands out as the moment Armenia almost disappeared — and then didn't. I'm thinking of the Battle of Sardarapat in May 1918. Luna: Sardarapat — I've heard the name but I don't know the details. Was that after the genocide? Lucas: Right at the tail end of World War I. By early 1918, the Ottoman Empire was collapsing on other fronts, but in the Caucasus, they launched a major offensive to reclaim territory lost in 1878. The Russian Revolution had pulled the Russian army out, and the Armenians were basically on their own. Luna: So it was a last stand kind of situation. Lucas: Exactly. The Ottoman Third Army under Vehib Pasha — that's Vehib with a V — was advancing toward Yerevan. The Armenian National Council, which was the de facto government, had just declared independence on May 28, but they had no real army. What they had was a ragtag force of maybe 10,000 men, many of them refugees from the genocide, armed with whatever they could find. Lucas: The main Armenian commander was Movses Silikyan — a former Russian imperial officer. He positioned his troops near Sardarapat, a village about 30 kilometers west of Yerevan. The Ottomans had about 15,000 to 20,000 troops, better equipped and with artillery. Luna: Those odds sound terrible. What made them fight? Lucas: Desperation, mostly. They knew that if the Ottomans took Yerevan, there would be no Armenia — probably no Armenians left in the region. The genocide was still happening; deportations and massacres continued into 1918. So for them, it was fight or die. Lucas: The battle started on May 22. The Armenians launched a surprise attack at dawn, using the terrain — vineyards and irrigation canals — to get close. Silikyan had a cavalry unit that flanked the Ottoman positions. By May 26, they had broken the Ottoman lines and pushed them back. Luna: Wait, so they actually won? I thought the Ottomans took most of that territory in the end. Lucas: They did win the battle — decisively. The Ottomans retreated in disorder. But the political outcome was more complicated. While the Armenians were celebrating, the Ottoman government signed the Treaty of Batum with the new Armenian republic on June 4, 1918. That treaty recognized Armenia's independence but forced it to give up most of the territory the battle had just secured — including Kars and Ardahan. So Armenia ended up with a tiny state around Yerevan and Lake Sevan. Luna: That's heartbreaking. They win the battle but lose the peace. Lucas: Exactly. And that's why Sardarapat is so complicated. On one hand, it literally saved the Armenian nation from extinction — the First Republic of Armenia survived because of it. On the other hand, the Treaty of Batum shows how fragile that survival was. The republic only lasted until 1920, when the Bolsheviks took over. Lucas: But the memory of Sardarapat became a powerful national symbol. In Soviet times, it was downplayed — the official narrative emphasized the Bolsheviks' role in 'liberating' Armenia. But after Armenia regained independence in 1991, the battle was officially commemorated again. There's a memorial complex at Sardarapat with a huge winged arch and a museum. Luna: I've seen photos of that memorial — it's striking. So for Armenians, Sardarapat is like their version of the Battle of Tours or something — a moment where everything hung in the balance. Lucas: Exactly. And it's not just a military victory — it's seen as a rebirth. The date of the battle, May 28, is now Armenia's Independence Day. But the battle itself is also a reminder of how close the nation came to total destruction. If the Ottomans had taken Yerevan, the genocide might have been completed. Lucas: One figure who embodied that spirit was Aram Manukian — he was the civilian leader of the defense, organizing supplies and morale. He died of typhus in 1919, but he's remembered as the 'father of the republic.' Luna: I think I've heard of him from the Van resistance episode. He was a fedayee leader, right? Lucas: Yes, exactly. He was a Dashnak revolutionary who helped organize the Van self-defense in 1915. After the Russian withdrawal, he became the de facto ruler of the Yerevan region. His leadership was crucial in keeping the population united during those desperate weeks. Lucas: There's also a darker side to the story. The Armenian victory at Sardarapat was so complete that the Ottoman commander Vehib Pasha was later tried for war crimes — partly for the genocide, but also for his failure at Sardarapat. He was acquitted, but it shows how the battle reverberated politically. Luna: So what happened to the Armenian commanders after the war? Lucas: Movses Silikyan was arrested by the Bolsheviks in 1921 and executed a few years later — like many of the independent republic's leaders. The Soviets didn't want heroes who might inspire nationalism. So Sardarapat was practically erased from official history until the 1960s, when a memorial was finally built. Lucas: And now, every year on May 28, there's a ceremony at the Sardarapat memorial. It's a place of pilgrimage for Armenians from all over the world. The battle is also taught in schools as a symbol of national resilience. Luna: It's amazing how one battle can carry so much meaning — especially when the country itself didn't survive long after. Lucas: Right. The First Republic only lasted two and a half years, but it established the idea of an independent Armenia that later generations could fight for. Sardarapat proved that Armenians could win against overwhelming odds — and that memory sustained the nation through Soviet rule. Lucas: You know, it's interesting — when we research these episodes, we often come across stories that aren't well known outside of Armenia. Sardarapat is one of them. And it's a reminder of how many crucial moments in history are overlooked. Luna: Yeah, it's a privilege to bring these stories to a wider audience. Lucas: Speaking of which — a quick honest thing. We make these episodes because we love digging into history, and we want to share it with listeners who care. A handful of listeners chip in monthly through buy me a coffee dot com slash fexingo, and that's literally what funds making this many of these. Luna: It really does. No ads, no sponsors — just people who enjoy the show. Lucas: So if you've been getting something out of these conversations, that's the way to keep them going. Anyway — back to Sardarapat. There's one more layer to the story I want to touch on. Luna: What's that? Lucas: The international context. The Armenian victory at Sardarapat happened at the same time as the German-Ottoman alliance was unraveling. Germany actually pressured the Ottomans to accept Armenian independence because they wanted stability in the Caucasus for their own strategic interests. So the Armenians had unexpected diplomatic support. Lucas: But that support came with strings attached. The Treaty of Batum was essentially forced on Armenia by the Ottomans and their German allies. It reduced Armenia to a rump state of about 12,000 square kilometers — roughly the size of Lebanon. And it placed Armenia under Ottoman influence. Luna: So it was a pyrrhic victory — they survived, but barely. Lucas: Exactly. And that's the story of Armenia through much of its history — survival against the odds, but often at a terrible cost. Sardarapat is a microcosm of that. Luna: It's a powerful narrative. I'm glad we covered it. Lucas: Me too. And there's so much more to explore — the role of women in the battle, the diplomatic maneuvers, the aftermath. But I think the key takeaway is that sometimes a single battle can define a nation's identity for generations. Luna: Thanks for bringing it to life, Lucas. Lucas: My pleasure. Until next time.