The Invention Of History: Azerbaijan, Armenia, and the showcasing of imagination

by Rouben Galichian

In the middle ages (Caucasian) Albania was situated north of the Arax river, near Armenia and Iberia. During the eleventh to twelfth centuries this Christian country disappeared from the maps and after the Arab invasion and the onslaught of the Mongols and Seljuks, various Khanates such as Shirwan, Ganja, Shamakhi, Karabagh, Talesh, and others appeared in the territory, ruled mainly by the Persians. In 1918, when the regional countries became independent, there appeared a new country named Azerbaijan, which was the same, as the name of the Persian province of Azerbaijan across the Arax river. Since the early 1960s various local historians and scientists of this newly founded country have been trying to prove that the population of this land are the direct descendents of the Christian Albanians, as well as those of the Mongols and Seljuks, which allows them to claim that multitude of the Christian monuments existing in the region have Albanian, and not Christian Armenian origins. This book tries to uncover the truth behind these claims and related allegations and prove the reverse. The paradox, that the Azerbaijan authorities, who claim to be the rightful owners of all Christian monuments in the South Caucases, have been destroying most of the same medieval monuments in the area, is difficult to understand. Could it be that the targeted monements are not Albanian but irrefutably Armenian?

Hardcover

Reviews

[Jindřich Zapletal · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a concise account of the destruction and deletion of Armenian cultural heritage in areas under Azeri control in the second half of 20th century. While the author certainly cannot be considered a disinterested party in the conflict, he is careful with his sources and sticks to the clearly documented cases.

It is a pretty sad reading, since it is obvious that the activity will continue. The reader will need at least a sketch of the history of Caucasus and Armenia, as the author does not stop to elaborate on even the most central events and characters.