Rupen Zartarian
Encyclopedia
Rupen Zartarian or Roupen Zartarian (1874–1915) was an Armenian writer, educator, and political activist. He was killed by Turkish
authorities during the Armenian Genocide
.
, but moved to Harput (or Kharpert) (Armenian: Խարբերդ) when he was two. He received his education from the educational institutions of that city.
Zartarian became a student of Tigandintsi (Hovhannes Harutiwnian, 2010–2012), who was a leading figure in rural Armenian literature. Tlgandintsi was also killed by the Turkish authorities during the Armenian Genocide. Zartarian was greatly influenced by his mentor, and his writing career stemmed from the encouragement he obtained. At the age of 18, he started teaching, and for the following decade, he continued in the field of education. At first, he taught at Tlgandinsti’s institution, he then spent three years in French religious institutes.
In 1903, he was arrested by the Turkish government and subsequently forced to leave the country because of his political activity. He established himself in Bulgaria
and in 1906, founded a new newspaper called Razmig (Armenian: Ռազմիկ). When writing for the newspaper, he would often reiterate the need for Armenian nationals living outside their homeland to pursue working towards the ultimate goal of an autonomous Armenia. In 1908, he returned to Constantinople
(Istanbul
), along with many other Armenian intellectuals. A year later, he worked for the newspaper Azadamard (Armenian: Ազատամարտ) while teaching the Central College (Armenian: Կեդրոնական Վարժարան).
During the Armenian genocide
, Zartarian was taken to Ayaş
and kept in prison on 5 May and later taken under military escort to Diyarbakır to appear before a court martial there and was murdered by Cherkes Ahmet, and lieutenants Halil and Nazım, at a locality called Karacaören shortly before arriving to Diyarbakır
.
.
His duties as an editor often hindered his creativity as a writer. He had many responsibilities and he would have surely produced more books had he been free of them.
Some of his stories include:
All of these narratives are a mixture of ordinary life situations and fiction. He was able to cultivate this mixture in a new and very interesting way. His poetry usually focused on the beauty of nature. It can almost be said that he was the fore figure in this new genre of the Armenian literature
scene.
described his writing as the cleanest, most opulent and haughtiest of their time.
Inspiration was a key element for this author. He often said that the pages on his desk would remain unfilled until he would feel inspired enough to write. He was never in a rush to write and did not see it as a job, but rather as stimulating work. Being more of poet by nature, his works are peppered with poetic influences. His love of poetry contributed significantly to the splendor of his works.
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
authorities during the Armenian Genocide
Armenian Genocide
The Armenian Genocide—also known as the Armenian Holocaust, the Armenian Massacres and, by Armenians, as the Great Crime—refers to the deliberate and systematic destruction of the Armenian population of the Ottoman Empire during and just after World War I...
.
Life
Zartarian was born in 1874 in the city of TigranakertTigranakert
Tigranakert was a city possibly located near present-day Silvan, Turkey, east of Diyarbakır. It was founded by the Armenian Emperor Tigranes the Great in the 1st century BC. Tigranakert was founded as the new capital of the Armenian Empire in order to be in a more central position within the...
, but moved to Harput (or Kharpert) (Armenian: Խարբերդ) when he was two. He received his education from the educational institutions of that city.
Zartarian became a student of Tigandintsi (Hovhannes Harutiwnian, 2010–2012), who was a leading figure in rural Armenian literature. Tlgandintsi was also killed by the Turkish authorities during the Armenian Genocide. Zartarian was greatly influenced by his mentor, and his writing career stemmed from the encouragement he obtained. At the age of 18, he started teaching, and for the following decade, he continued in the field of education. At first, he taught at Tlgandinsti’s institution, he then spent three years in French religious institutes.
In 1903, he was arrested by the Turkish government and subsequently forced to leave the country because of his political activity. He established himself in Bulgaria
Bulgaria
Bulgaria , officially the Republic of Bulgaria , is a parliamentary democracy within a unitary constitutional republic in Southeast Europe. The country borders Romania to the north, Serbia and Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkey to the south, as well as the Black Sea to the east...
and in 1906, founded a new newspaper called Razmig (Armenian: Ռազմիկ). When writing for the newspaper, he would often reiterate the need for Armenian nationals living outside their homeland to pursue working towards the ultimate goal of an autonomous Armenia. In 1908, he returned to Constantinople
Constantinople
Constantinople was the capital of the Roman, Eastern Roman, Byzantine, Latin, and Ottoman Empires. Throughout most of the Middle Ages, Constantinople was Europe's largest and wealthiest city.-Names:...
(Istanbul
Istanbul
Istanbul , historically known as Byzantium and Constantinople , is the largest city of Turkey. Istanbul metropolitan province had 13.26 million people living in it as of December, 2010, which is 18% of Turkey's population and the 3rd largest metropolitan area in Europe after London and...
), along with many other Armenian intellectuals. A year later, he worked for the newspaper Azadamard (Armenian: Ազատամարտ) while teaching the Central College (Armenian: Կեդրոնական Վարժարան).
During the Armenian genocide
Armenian Genocide
The Armenian Genocide—also known as the Armenian Holocaust, the Armenian Massacres and, by Armenians, as the Great Crime—refers to the deliberate and systematic destruction of the Armenian population of the Ottoman Empire during and just after World War I...
, Zartarian was taken to Ayaş
Ayas
Ayaş is a town and district of Ankara Province in the Central Anatolia region of Turkey, 58 km from the city of Ankara which is very rich for historical monuments. According to 2000 census, population of the district is 21,239 of which 7,839 live in the urban center of Ayaş...
and kept in prison on 5 May and later taken under military escort to Diyarbakır to appear before a court martial there and was murdered by Cherkes Ahmet, and lieutenants Halil and Nazım, at a locality called Karacaören shortly before arriving to Diyarbakır
Diyarbakır
Diyarbakır is one of the largest cities in southeastern Turkey...
.
Works
Zartarian started writing poems at the age of 11, and his articles were published in many newspapers. In 1910, he released a volume called nocturnal clarity (Armenian: Ցայգլոս) that was subsequently translated in French. Many of his works were collected by a group called “The Friends of Fallen Authors” and released as a volume in 1930 in ParisParis
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
.
His duties as an editor often hindered his creativity as a writer. He had many responsibilities and he would have surely produced more books had he been free of them.
Some of his stories include:
- The Petrified (Karatsadznere, Armenian: Քարացածները),
- The Lake’s Bride (Dzovagin Harse, Armenian: Ծովակին հարսը),
- Flowers, Red Flowers (Dzaghigner Garmir Dzaghigner, Armenian: Ծաղիկներ, կարմիր ծաղիկներ),
- The Injured Hunter (Zarnevadz Vorsorte Armenian: Զարնուած որսորդը)
- The Prisoner’s Tear (Prnavorin Artsoonke Armenian: Բռնաւորին արցունքը)
- HomeLove (Dan Ser Armenian: Տան սէր)
All of these narratives are a mixture of ordinary life situations and fiction. He was able to cultivate this mixture in a new and very interesting way. His poetry usually focused on the beauty of nature. It can almost be said that he was the fore figure in this new genre of the Armenian literature
Armenian literature
-Early literature:Armenian literature begins about 406 with the invention of the Armenian alphabet by Mesrop.Isaac, the Catholicos of Armenia, formed a school of translators who were sent to Edessa, Athens, Constantinople, Alexandria, Antioch, Caesarea in Cappadocia, and elsewhere, to procure...
scene.
Writing style
Zartarian was a great figure from the rural Armenian scene. He was a true admirer of beauty and always wrote with a somewhat critical viewpoint. He wrote in Western Armenian and was a true connoisseur of the language. He writing style was one of finesse and very delicate depictions. ErukhanErukhan
Erukhan was the pen name for Yervant Srmakeshkhanlian . He was an Armenian writer of the late 19th and early 20th century. He was arrested, tortured, and killed by the Turkish authorities during the Armenian Genocide.- Life :Erukhan was born in 1870 in the city of Constantinople...
described his writing as the cleanest, most opulent and haughtiest of their time.
Inspiration was a key element for this author. He often said that the pages on his desk would remain unfilled until he would feel inspired enough to write. He was never in a rush to write and did not see it as a job, but rather as stimulating work. Being more of poet by nature, his works are peppered with poetic influences. His love of poetry contributed significantly to the splendor of his works.
See also
- Armenian GenocideArmenian GenocideThe Armenian Genocide—also known as the Armenian Holocaust, the Armenian Massacres and, by Armenians, as the Great Crime—refers to the deliberate and systematic destruction of the Armenian population of the Ottoman Empire during and just after World War I...
- Armenian notables deported from the Ottoman capital in 1915Armenian notables deported from the Ottoman capital in 1915The deportation of Armenian notables, also known as the Red Sunday refers to the night when leaders of the Armenian community of the Ottoman capital, Constantinople, and later other centers were arrested and moved to two holding centers near Ankara by the Minister of the Interior Mehmed Talaat Bey...
- Krikor ZohrabKrikor ZohrabKrikor Zohrab was an influential Armenian writer, politician, lawyer and philanthropist, living in Constantinople...
- ErukhanErukhanErukhan was the pen name for Yervant Srmakeshkhanlian . He was an Armenian writer of the late 19th and early 20th century. He was arrested, tortured, and killed by the Turkish authorities during the Armenian Genocide.- Life :Erukhan was born in 1870 in the city of Constantinople...
- SiamantoSiamantoAtom Yarjanian , better known by his pen name Siamanto , was an influential Armenian writer, poet and national figure from the late 19th century and early 20th century. He was killed by the Ottoman authorities during the Armenian Genocide.- Life :He was born in 1878, in the town on Ağın on the...