Arakel Babakhanian
Encyclopedia
Arakel Grigori Babakhanian ; – November 14, 1932) was an Armenia
n historian
, publicist
, writer
, critic and professor
of Yerevan State University
(from 1925). He is recognized as an authoritative historian on Armenia and is best known as the author of the multivolume History of Armenia. Leo addressed the difficult issues of Armenian history
, history of literature and many key issues of the early 20th century.
. He graduated from the local school there in 1878. Due to the death of his father Grigor, Leo was unable to attend university to receive higher education and stayed in the region to support his family. He took up several jobs in Shushi and Baku
as a notary clerk, telegraphist
, and the manager of a publishing press called Aror (Wooden Plough). From 1895 to 1906, Leo worked as a journalist and secretary in Tiflis for the prominent Armenian-language paper Mshak (Tiller). In 1906, he began teaching at the Gevorkyan Religious Seminary at Etchmiadzin, although he returned to Tiflis a year later, dedicating himself to academic work.
Politically, Leo was opposed to the policies of the Armenian Dashnaktsutyun political party and was a member of the Populist (Zhoghovrdakan) Party, joining it in 1917. Other prominent positions Leo held include being an adviser to the Seim delegation which held negotiations with the Turks in Trebizond in March 1918 and the president of the Karabakh Armenian Patriotic Association from 1918 to 1920.
in 1920 and offered his services to the newly established state. In 1924, he was invited Yerevan
to teach as a professor
at Yerevan State University
in the field of Armenian studies
. He already had worked for numerous publishing houses and published several books on Armenian history but his three volume work, History of Armenia (Patmutyun Hayots, vol. I, Tiflis, 1917; vols. II and III, Yerevan, 1946–1947), is perhaps the most notable. After Soviet Russian writer Andrei Bitov
visited Yerevan in 1960, he remarked that "he did not enter any house which did not have the familiar three volumes of Leo's History of Armenia." Leo's History traces Armenian history from its beginnings until the end of the nineteenth century, with the exception of the time stretching from the 11th to the 15th centuries (the third volume began from the 16th century, whereas the second volume had ended in the 11th). The work reserves a particular importance to the political, cultural and social issues that surrounded Armenian life and the role Armenia's neighbors played in the country's history.
Armenia
Armenia , officially the Republic of Armenia , is a landlocked mountainous country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia...
n historian
Historian
A historian is a person who studies and writes about the past and is regarded as an authority on it. Historians are concerned with the continuous, methodical narrative and research of past events as relating to the human race; as well as the study of all history in time. If the individual is...
, publicist
Publicist
A publicist is a person whose job is to generate and manage publicity for a public figure, especially a celebrity, a business, or for a work such as a book, film or album...
, writer
Writer
A writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
, critic and professor
Professor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
of Yerevan State University
Yerevan State University
Yerevan State University is a university in Yerevan, Armenia. Founded on May 16 1919, it is the largest university in the country with 110 departments. Of its 3,150 employees, 1,190 comprise the teaching staff which includes 25 academicians, 130 professors, 700 docents , and 360 assistant lecturers...
(from 1925). He is recognized as an authoritative historian on Armenia and is best known as the author of the multivolume History of Armenia. Leo addressed the difficult issues of Armenian history
History of Armenia
Armenia lies in the highlands surrounding the Biblical mountains of Ararat. The original Armenian name for the country was Hayk, later Hayastan , translated as the land of Haik, and consisting of the name Haik and the suffix '-stan' ....
, history of literature and many key issues of the early 20th century.
Biography
Leo was born in Shushi on April 14, 1860, then a part of the Russian EmpireRussian Empire
The Russian Empire was a state that existed from 1721 until the Russian Revolution of 1917. It was the successor to the Tsardom of Russia and the predecessor of the Soviet Union...
. He graduated from the local school there in 1878. Due to the death of his father Grigor, Leo was unable to attend university to receive higher education and stayed in the region to support his family. He took up several jobs in Shushi and Baku
Baku
Baku , sometimes spelled as Baki or Bakou, is the capital and largest city of Azerbaijan, as well as the largest city on the Caspian Sea and of the Caucasus region. It is located on the southern shore of the Absheron Peninsula, which projects into the Caspian Sea. The city consists of two principal...
as a notary clerk, telegraphist
Telegraphist
Telegraphist is an operator who uses the morse code in order to communicate by land or radio lines. Telegraphists were indispensable at sea in the early day of Wireless Telegraphy. During the Great War the Royal Navy enlisted many volunteers as Telegraphists. Telegraphists are also called Telegraph...
, and the manager of a publishing press called Aror (Wooden Plough). From 1895 to 1906, Leo worked as a journalist and secretary in Tiflis for the prominent Armenian-language paper Mshak (Tiller). In 1906, he began teaching at the Gevorkyan Religious Seminary at Etchmiadzin, although he returned to Tiflis a year later, dedicating himself to academic work.
Politically, Leo was opposed to the policies of the Armenian Dashnaktsutyun political party and was a member of the Populist (Zhoghovrdakan) Party, joining it in 1917. Other prominent positions Leo held include being an adviser to the Seim delegation which held negotiations with the Turks in Trebizond in March 1918 and the president of the Karabakh Armenian Patriotic Association from 1918 to 1920.
Academic career
Leo's education and knowledge was based almost solely on self-erudition. He had welcomed the sovietization of ArmeniaArmenia
Armenia , officially the Republic of Armenia , is a landlocked mountainous country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia...
in 1920 and offered his services to the newly established state. In 1924, he was invited Yerevan
Yerevan
Yerevan is the capital and largest city of Armenia and one of the world's oldest continuously-inhabited cities. Situated along the Hrazdan River, Yerevan is the administrative, cultural, and industrial center of the country...
to teach as a professor
Professor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
at Yerevan State University
Yerevan State University
Yerevan State University is a university in Yerevan, Armenia. Founded on May 16 1919, it is the largest university in the country with 110 departments. Of its 3,150 employees, 1,190 comprise the teaching staff which includes 25 academicians, 130 professors, 700 docents , and 360 assistant lecturers...
in the field of Armenian studies
Armenian studies
Armenian studies, or Armenology is a field of humanities covering Armenian history, language, religion and culture.- Early scholars :*Lord Byron *Ghevond Alishan *Mikayel Chamchian...
. He already had worked for numerous publishing houses and published several books on Armenian history but his three volume work, History of Armenia (Patmutyun Hayots, vol. I, Tiflis, 1917; vols. II and III, Yerevan, 1946–1947), is perhaps the most notable. After Soviet Russian writer Andrei Bitov
Andrei Bitov
Andrei Georgiyevich Bitov is a prominent Russian writer. Many consider him among the foremost Russian writers of the late 20th century.Among the novels that solidified his reputation are: Flying-Away Monakhov, Life in Windy Weather, Pushkin House, Captive of the Caucasus, and The Monkey Link.Bitov...
visited Yerevan in 1960, he remarked that "he did not enter any house which did not have the familiar three volumes of Leo's History of Armenia." Leo's History traces Armenian history from its beginnings until the end of the nineteenth century, with the exception of the time stretching from the 11th to the 15th centuries (the third volume began from the 16th century, whereas the second volume had ended in the 11th). The work reserves a particular importance to the political, cultural and social issues that surrounded Armenian life and the role Armenia's neighbors played in the country's history.