Movses Silikyan
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| Movses Silikyan (Armenian: Մովսես Սիլիկյան |
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| 1862 - 1937 | |
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| Allegiance | Armenian People |
| Service/branch | Army |
| Rank | Major General |
| Commands held | Russia: Russian Caucasus Army
Armenian nationals: Armenian rifle division Armed forces of Democratic Republic of Armenia |
Movses Silikyan (Armenian: Մովսես Սիլիկյան, Russian: Мовсес Силиков, Movses Silikov) (1862 - 1937) was a famed Armenian general and national hero, Major General in the Russian army and subsequently in the Armenian army.
Silikyan graduated from the Moscow Military Gymnasium, Alexandrople Military School and the officer rifle school. From 1884 he served in the Russian Army, being promoted from battalion adjutant to division commander.
On the eve of the First World War he was the deputy commander of the forces stationed in Yerevan participating in the Caucasian Front.
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[edit] WWI - Caucasus Campaign
- See also: Caucasus Campaign
In 1915, Colonel Silikyan commanded a regiment during the Van resistance.
In 1916, Colonel Silikyan took part in taking of Mush during the Battle of Mush. Also Bitlis with the Battle of Bitlis. He was also participated the assault on Battle of Erzerum.
After his regiment entered the Erzurum, he was promoted to General. He was rewarded with many orders, including the Order of St. George. He become a Major General before Russian Revolution.
[edit] Democratic Republic of Armenia
Silikyan left the Russian army after the Russian Revolution of 1917 as the Russian Caucasus Army disintegrated. He became the commander of the 1st Armenian rifle division in January 1918. 1918, He was in effective control of the Armenian forces in Yerevan. With the declaration of the Democratic Republic of Armenia on April 24 1918, his forces united under Armenian military. Within a short period Silikyan created combat-effective regular units and prepared them for the repulsion of Ottoman Empire.
The Grand vizier Talat Pasha signed the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk on March 3, 1918 with the Russian SFSR which stipulated that Bolshevik Russia cede Batum, Kars, and Ardahan to Ottoman Empire. ADR did not accepted the lost of territory, and Treaty of Brest-Litovsk acknowledge the existence of a state of war between Armenia and the Ottoman Empire[1].
In May 1918, Ottoman Third Army began to advance toward Batum, Kars, and Ardahan. Silikyan was in general command of regular troops and militia. In the Battle of Sardarapat and the Battle of Bash Abaran the Ottoman Empire were defeated under his command. Future Marshal of the Soviet Union Hovhannes (Ivan) Baghramian who participated in the Battle of Sardarapat noted that
Silikyan was the most gifted military leader of all Armenian Generals of that time...
In Autumn of 1920 Silikyan commanded Armenian troops against Turkish revolutionaries at the Turkish-Armenian War.
[edit] Transcaucasian SFSR
After the Bolshevik takeover of Armenia and establishment of Transcaucasian SFSR, Silikyan worked in a number of Soviet establishments. He was arrested and imprisoned during the purges by Stalin in 1937 on charges of nationalism; and rehabilitated posthumously during the Kruschev era.
[edit] Notes
- ^ Richard Hovannisian "The Armenian people from ancient to modern times" Pages 292-293
