Gyumri (Armenian: Գյումրի, Greek: Αλεξανδρουπολις (Alexandroupolis), Russian: Гюмри or Александрополь (Alexandropol)) is the capital and largest city of the Shirak province in northwest Armenia. It is located about 75 miles (120 km) from the capital Yerevan, and, with a population of 150,917 (2001 census), is the second-largest city in Armenia.
The name of the city has been changed many times in history. It was first known as Kumayri or Gyumri, then Alexandropol (1840-1924), then Leninakan (1924-1990), then again as Gyumri.
History The first settlement at the location occupied by the modern city of Gyumri is believed to have been founded some time in the 5th century BC, perhaps ca. 401 BC, by Greek colonists [1]. An alternative theory suggests that the city was founded by Cimmerians, based on the fact that Cimmerians conquered the region in 720 BC and that the original name of the city was Kumayri [2]. The settlement existed sporadically during the next two millennium until a major Russian fortress was built on its site in 1837.
Gyumri started to develop in the 19th century, when along with its surroundings it became part of Russia in 1804, during the Russo-Persian War (1804-1813). Around one quarter of a century earlier than the entire Eastern Armenia. During this period it became one of the famous cities of Trans-Caucasus. In 1829 about 30 hundreds of families from Western Armenian cities of Kars, Erzurum, Dogubeyazit and other places migrated and stopped in Gyumri, due to which the city became relatively crowded.
In 1837 Russian Czar Nicholas I arrived in Gyumri and named the town Aleksandrapol. The name was chosen in honor of Czar Nicholas I's wife, Princess Charlotte of Prussia, who had changed her name to Alexandra Fyodorovna after converting to Orthodox Christianity.
In 1840, the town of Aleksandrapol was quickly growing. It was an important post for the Imperial Russian military in the Transcaucasus, where their military barracks were established (Poligons, Severski, Kazachi Post).
Aleksandrapol was considered to be the third trade and cultural center in the Trans-Caucasus after Tiflis and Baku. At the end of 19th century the population of Aleksandrapol reached 32,000 residents. From 1858-1876, St. Prkich (Saviour) church was constructed resembling Ani Catholic Cathedral. The first railway in Aleksandrapol was constructed on 1899, which was the Tiflis-Aleksandrapol railway, and then Aleksandrapol-Yerevan railway was constructed In 1906 the railway reached Julfa, and then Tabriz. All of this railways made the city one of the important railway midpoints.
At the time, Alexandropol was considered more important than Yerevan, which was then viewed as an insignificant village. During the Russian-Turkish War, Armenians from cities such as Kars, Erzurum, and other territories of what was then the Ottoman Empire, immigrated to Alexandropol, where the Russians had established a fortress. Yerevan would not rise to prominence until being proclaimed the capital of the independent Republic of Armenia in 1918 and Armenian SSR in 1920.
During the Turkish-Armenian War, Turkey attacked Gyumri and occupied the city on November 7, 1920 after winning the Battle of Alexandropol. The Turks, were headquartered in Gyumri after the battle. From this city Turks presented the Armenians with an ultimatum which Armenia was forced to accept, otherwise Turkey would have invaded Yerevan the capital of Armenia from their headquarters located in Gyumri. Armenia was forced to sign the Treaty of Alexandropol to stop the Turkish advance towards Yerevan the capital of Democratic Republic of Armenia and ending the Turkish-Armenian War.
In 1924 the name was changed to Leninakan after the deceased Soviet leader Vladimir Lenin. It was a major industrial center for the Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic, and its second largest city, after Yerevan, the capital. The city suffered major damage in the 1988 Spitak Earthquake, which devastated large parts of the country. The current name of the city was chosen in 1990 at the time of the Soviet breakup. Russian 102nd military base is located in the city. Today, it remains the second largest city in the Armenia.
Buildings and constructions
Sports
Gyumri is home to the Armenian football (soccer) team FC Shirak. They play their home games at Gyumri City Stadium that was build in 1924.
Religious
There are five churches, one convent, and one Russian chapel in Gyumri. One of the most important and historical churches is the Church of the Holy Saviour of All (Sourb Amenaprkich), resembling Ani Catholic Cathedral. Construction on the church began in 1859 and was completed in 1873. It was greatly damaged by the 1988 Spitak earthquake and is currently being reconstructed.
Famous natives
- G.I. Gurdjieff, mystic/philosopher
- Avetik Isahakyan, poet
- Edmond Keosayan, film director and musician
- Frunzik Mkrtchyan, film actor
- Hovhannes Shiraz, poet
