Vaհe H Apelian
The year one thousand nine hundred and seven,
The twenty-seventh of beautiful May,
Is the feast of the death of the much toiled Gevorg,
Native of Sassoun, the famed brave.
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| Murat Bridge, Armenians called it Soulouk/Souloukh Bridge, over Murat River, Armenians called Aradzani river and its marshes in Mush, Turkey |
Vartan Tashjian reminded of the legendary freedom fighter Kevork Chavoush. Vartan had posted the lyrics of a song about the death of the legendary Kevork Chavoush, whose surviving picture gives credence to his legend. As a matter of fact it is the only picture of Kevork Chavoush that exists and what an iconic picture of him it is! The picture was taken by Vahan Papazian, who wrote under the penname Goms. He took the picture on the Island of Aghtamar in Lake Van where the freedom fighers – fedayees – had gathered. Vahan Papazian recalled that he had Kevork Chavoush stand next to a rock, not far from the Cathedral on the Island, for a snap shot that has gone into Armenian history.
The lyrics of the song Vartan Tashjian posted is well known and is sung to this day. I imagine that there is no youngster who has joined ARF related youth organization who has has not onlyheard that song, but also in all likelihood had sang it in a group singing. The first four sentences of the song are the following:
In the year one thousand nine hundred and seven,
On the twenty-seventh of beautiful May,
It is the feast of the death of the much toiled Gevorg,
Native of Sassoun, the famed brave.
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| Vahan Papazian's picture of Kevork Chavoush |
In 1963, James Mandalian, the long standing editor of Haierink published a concise translation of Rouben Der Minassian memoirs titling the book “ Armenian Freedom Fighters – The memoirs of Rouben Der Minassian”. The book is 245 pages long. He has devoted a long chapter to Kevork Chavoush (Sergent Kevork). The chapter starts on page 134 and ends on page 163, comprising approximately 12% of the book.
The text of the chapter is elaborated under the following titles: Kevork Chavoush Succeeds Serop Pasha, The Second Rebellion of Sassoun, The Return of Kevork Chavoush, The Enounter at Araz, The Encounter at Kars, The Marriage of Kevork Chavoush, Rouben and Kevork Chavoush Meet, Sheer Audacity, The Death of Kevork Chavoush.
Rouben recalling his meeting with Kevork Chavoush and the other legendary freedom fighter Magar of Sbaghan constitute one of the finest readings of Rouben’s memoirs. Regretfully not a single snap shot of Magar of Sbaghan has reached us and that has made a huge impact on retaining an image of Magar Sbaghan’s in our imagination about whom Rouben Der Minassian wrote: “People said Kevork (Chavoush) is a wolf or a tiger but keri (uncle) Magar is a raging bull," - indeed continued Rouben - "with large and bloody eyes, a big head, giant of a body, that fearless person, during a combat, looked neither to his left nor to his right, with a roaring voice, his hands over his dagger, he either charged forward or stood still even if hundreds of cannons exploded around him.”
Kevork Chavoush was killed in the marshes at the bridge Armenians called Soulouk (Souloukh) over Armenians called Aradzani river. The bridge stands to this day and is known as Murat Bridge over Murat River in Muş, Turkey.
Rouben Der Minassian wrote in his memoirs that “The battle of Soulouk took place on May 27, 1907, and lasted until the morning of the 28th. There was something symbolic in the day. Exactly 11 days later, to the day, there was to be born the Independent Republic of Armenia – the final consummation of the blood and sacrifice of the galaxy of Armenian heroes, like the immortal Kevork Chavoush.”
In the same battle one Turkish Pasha, known as Keoseh Binbashi was killed. The prevailing honor code among the Turks and the Kurds was that only a high ranking person could kill an enemy of same rank, such as be a Turkish pasha or Kurdish bek. The killing of the Turkish Pasha Keoseh Binbahi was attributed to Rouben Der Minassian who had come to the region as an envoy of ARF and hence commanded a hight stature. From that day , Rouben Der Minassian wrote “The Turks and the Kurds honored me with the exalted title of “Pasha”, a title which had clung to me to this day. Apparently it weill be nothing short of a resurrection of the dead Pasha to rid of of the Turkish title”,
Rouben Der Minassian wrote that “The battle of Soulouk became the theme of many Armenian, Turkish and Kurdish songs.” Indeed the Armenians sing it to this day (see below)
The fates of Kevork Chavoush's wife Yeghso and his son Vartkes remain unknown (see the link)
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