History

Shirak is one of the chief towns of Airarat province in historic Armenia. It lies on the middle and lower reaches of the river Akhurian and occupies about 3730 square kilometers. Set at 1530 sea level, Shirak plateau is mainly in black earth belt. The biggest river of the region is Akhurian that originates from lake Arpi and dividing the plateau into two parts joins the Araks in the South. The river has several tributaries that wash the valley.

Historic district Shirak has been inhabited since the early stone age. The flora and the fauna, the latter is argumentated by various discoveries remains of fossils, give an evidence that the region was favorable for gathering, hunting and sources of flint, dacite, volcanic glass served as raw materials for making stone tools.

At the end of the 4th century BC Shirak turns into the bronze age. Numerous places with historic monuments, castles testify to this period. Though in Shirak region Enolitic monuments haven't been studied yet, but early rich bronze age culture is supposed to have been undoubtfully inherited by the previous one. In early bronze age are utilized not only foothills but also highly mountainious regions that are 2000 meters above the sea level. The early and late bronze age (20-12 centuries BC) gave birth to the development of economy, culture and social relations that are witnessed by various monuments and archeological units.

In this period in Armenian chains, according to Hittite and Assoryan sources, are created tribal communities.

In the 12 century BC in Armenian plateau begins treatment of iron favoured the further development of Shirak's economy and social relations, growth of agriculture, cattle-breeding and arts.

In the 9th century BC in the pond of Vana lake is creared Urartu state which with its simultaneous growth began to occupy and override neighbour tribes, making their territories its organic part.

The first Urartu kings (Argishti I 786-764 BC) two cuneiform records remain, where he tells us about Eriarkh's invasion of Shirak and about its booty.

Victorious records of Van's kingdom contain rich material about the population of Shirak, about highly developed agriculture and cattle-raising of this period there is a version that Shirak originates from the name Eriarkh that is recorded in Urartu cuneiforms.

For many centuries Shirak has been one of the main hearths of wheat cultivation.

After the fall of Urartu Shirak was still one of the organic parts of Armenian kingdom and which later turned into a satrap Achemenid Iran. One of the best manisfestation of Shirak culture of this period is Beniamin antique residence (5-2BC) in the royal house of which is vividly outlined the influence of Achemenid culture and its local mainfestation.

During the last years of reign of king Ervand (3 century BC) the royal residence moved from capital Armavir to newly estabilished Ervandashat town that was in the south of Shirak, in the place where the waters of the river Araks join the waters of Akhurian.

King Artashes I reign (189-160 BC) brought about a rapid advance in national economy, culture and it became especially powerful and prevalent under the Armenian king Tigranes the Great (95-55 BC).

Written records gave evidence that Shirak being on the crossroads was bound up with cultural centers of neighbouring countries.

Artashat-Sebastapolic highway, that was mentioned in Pyetingeryan boards, passed through Shirak to Georgia and Abkhazia. The importance of this way was also highly estimated in middle ages.

During the Arshakids reign (half of the 1 century AD) when feudal relations rooted in Armenia, Shirak previously regalprovince was given to a great Kamsar family.

At the beginning of the 4th century after having adopted Christianity in Armenia as state religion, new types of religious constructions began to be built among which cathedral Yererots and others that have survived up to nowdays as masterpieces of middle Armenian architecture. After the fall of Arshaks reign and after seizure of Armenia by Arabs, Kamsar nobility was still at the power in Shirak. This was a period of rising of material and cultural level; the province became famous for its numerous astounding architectural monuments, for its cultural workers and service men.

At Bagratids time (9-11 centuries) the province was on a new rise. In 961 Ani was estabilished as capital and in a short time it became one of the biggest and popular cities in the East. The population was about 100.000 in the 11-13 centuries. The fast upsurge of the city was conditioned not only by the economic rise but also by its suitable geographical position; it was nearly in the heart of the Bagratunyants kingdom and with its convenient ways was tied both with various parts of Armenia and with Georgia, Caucasus Alban, Iran, the Mediterraneian, Byzantine and with the districts neighbouring the Black Sea. Arts, culture, trade are flourished in the city. Ani had a wide market square, numerous hotels and inns.

In the second half of the 10 century the descendants of Kamsar family - Pahlavuni generation who had been cut off social life, played an active part in economic, cultural, military, political life of the province. A lot of castles, barracks, cloister composites as Haringe, Horomos, Khtkong, Marmashen etc, were not only hearts of religion and art but they were also great industrial economic units.

Numerous historical-archeological monuments in Shirak region, several lithographs and family cemetry in Marmashen cloister testify to energetic activity of Pahlavuni generation in constructing.

There was a considerable abatement in national economy, culture when the province was occupied by turks and after the fall of Bagratunyan family. Only in 1199 when the province was set free from turks and the Zakaryans began to rule the country. They brought about a rapid advance in economy, culture, arts. In the 12-13 centuries are highly developed outer and inner trades. But at the same time inner fights in nobilities all over the territory of Iran, rising of dines prevented the further development of trade. The situation made them find out new ways of trade with Poland, Russia etc. This short "flight" of Shirak was interrupted by the seizure of Mongolians and Tatars who ruled the country in the 13-14 centuries.

In 1555 Sephid Iran and Ottoman Turkish concluded a treaty according to which Armenia was divided into two parts: Western Armenia became an organic part of Iran and Eastern Armenia - part of Turkey. This political situation survived till the 19 century. After Russo-Persian war of 1804-1813 according to Gylistan treaty Western Shirak became an integral part of Russia. Within the years of 1829-1830 a lot of Armenian families from Western Shirak towns Kars and Karin migrated to this part.

In 1837 Russian tsar Nikolay I paid a visit to Shirak. On the river Akhurian near the village Gyumri was built a fortress and a stronghold town which was called Alexandrapol in honour of tsarina, which later in 1924 was renamed Leninakan and in 1992 Gyumri. Gyumri is one of the ancient towns of Armenia. All over the territory of town you can find several monuments, fortress-residence, mausoleum fields, churches testifying to the fact that there has been life here for more than 5000 years. For the first time it is mentioned in the 8 century manuscript as Kumayri by historician Gevond. Here in Shirak province in 744 took place a victorious battle against Arabic usurpers. For many centuries Kumayri has been mentioned in variations Koumiri, Kimiri, Giumri. In 1992 the town was again renamed Giumri.

In 1849 was created province Yerevan and district Alexandrapol, which with its borders mainly corresponded to the eastern part of historic Shirak. Later the western part of Shirak was included in region Kars.

Very soon Alexandrapol became one of the biggest flourishing towns in Shirak. In 1897 according to general census its population was 131417, including 120 villages. In 1899 when the first railroad was built, it turned into an important transport junction. At the turn of the 20 century the population of town was 51000. Industry, arts, trade, education and culture were in the process of development.

The First World War, revolutions, Turkish intervention of 1918-1920 that was accompanied booty massdere destroyed the industry of the province and made thousands of people migrate. Especially Turkish occupation of 1918-1921 was very cruel. After the establishment of Soviet Power a new page began in the life of province. In 1924 Alexandrapol was renamed Leninakan and Leninakan province was abolished. According to a new territorial -administration division Shirak was divided into 5 regions. In 1926 the total population was 54857 but in 1988 204.000. The development of industry, culture and science ceased when terrible earthquake of 1988 began.

According to new administration division of Armenian Republic Shirak region with its capital Gyumri occupies the same territory.