The Armenian Genocide and the Genesis of the Diaspora: Where's our Home, nanny?

Throughout their eventful history, Armenians have resettled in different segments and periods, either voluntarily or by force, from their homeland to nearby or remote countries. Emigration occurred due to various reasons such as loss of statehood, foreign domination, genocide, economic, social, and political crises, famine, and epidemics, to name only a few factors.

During the Middle Ages, Armenians were confirmed to have migrated en masse, separately, in groups, or individually to Byzantium, Iran, and the Ottoman Empire (central and western states, Arabic countries). At the beginning of the new century, Armenians started to migrate in large numbers to India, Russia, different states of Europe, etc. New settlers have widely prioritized their communities' national organization and cultural development. This social engineering hinged on the preservation of the Armenian language, national beliefs, self-awareness, and traditional lifestyle.

The consequences of the emigration of Armenians from Armenia were severe. The potential of the Armenian people in the homeland itself decreased, leading to essential changes in the population. The almost uniform ethnic image of Armenia was worn away as the number of newcomers, nomads, and Muslims in the country greatly reduced the number of native Armenians. That handful of Armenians who survived the Ottoman hell were effectively stripped of their homeland.

Large Colonies

Large Armenian settlements or colonies have existed since the Middle Ages and continue to exist to this day. Emigration had disastrous consequences, with the sizes of nomadic tribes and raids in the circle of Armenian kingdoms contributing to the fall of Armenia.

At the dawn of the Modern Era, Armenians established residence in more than 20 countries, with the main settlements being in Iran, India, Russia, and the Western countries that developed such as Syria, Lebanon, and Egypt. During this time, some communities flourished, while others struggled and fell. The Armenian community of Constantinople eventually became the center of Armenian civilization and an important part of Western Armenian culture.

At the end of the 19th century, there were 200,000 Armenians living in Constantinople, where the Armenian community played a significant role in Armenian national, religious, public, and political life. Another important community was formed in Smyrna, where 12,000 Armenians lived at that time.

Since the Modern Era, the Armenian community in Iran had a population of about 200,000. Starting from the 11th century, new Armenian communities were established in Iran. After the implementation of mass deportations by Shah Abbas I (1587-1629), around 150-200 thousand people were resettled in the capital city of Isfahan and the neighboring regions. In Egypt, there were about 15,000 Armenians during the same period. The Armenian community in Egypt has become active since the middle of the 18th century when the Egyptian cities were turned into international trade centers, where the European merchants used the intermediary services of many Armenian, Greek, and Syrian traders.

In India Armenian settlements date back to the 15th-16th centuries, and the community grew in size during the 17th-18th centuries with the arrival of Iranian-Armenians who settled in 20 cities and trading centers across India. The Mughal Emperor Akbar (1556-1605) played a significant role in the formation of the Indian-Armenian community, allowing Armenian merchants to travel freely throughout the empire to promote commerce and craftsmanship. By the 17th-18th centuries, the community had grown to around 20-25 thousand people.

The largest Armenian settlement was formed in the Russian Empire. Vibrant communities were established in Tbilisi, Baku, North Caucasus, Moscow, and St. Petersburg. Additionally, there was an Armenian community in Crimea since the Middle Ages, and large settlements were also formed in Poland, Bulgaria, Romania, and France.

The Bloody Empire

While the diaspora is not a new phenomenon, the mass killings and deportations that took place at the end of the Ottoman Empire resulted in the deaths of more than one million Armenians and led to the displacement of many others. This resulted in the enlargement of some of the pre-existing diaspora centers and the creation of new ones.

The concept of the homeland for Armenians, like for many other groups, is complex and has evolved over time. It is influenced by personal experiences, memories, and the aspirations and plans of leaders and intellectuals. There has not been a universally agreed upon center and periphery for Armenians throughout history. The idea of returning to the old lands is also uncertain, as people may have emotional ties to their ancestral homes but have become accustomed to their new surroundings in the diaspora.

The Armenian Genocide is one of the gravest and most gruesome crimes against the Armenian population that took place in all regions of the Ottoman Empire where Armenians lived, not just in Western Armenia. This ruthless act caused a significant portion of Western Armenia's depopulation, leading to the death and displacement of more than 2.5 million Armenians, 1.5 million of whom perished.

Those who escaped the Ottoman sword were spread throughout the world. Around 250,000 women and children remained in the country and converted to Islam. Around 300,000 survivors found shelter in Eastern Armenia and other regions in Eurasia. The genocide also led to the formation of the Armenian diaspora as hundreds of thousands of Armenians had to relocate and establish residences in different countries. The loss incurred by the Armenian people included material wealth, amounting to at least 20 billion francs in gold. Armenians lost their portable and immovable properties, which were confiscated by the authorities or looted by Turks and Kurds.

Thousands of Armenian historical and cultural values, including churches, monasteries, 1500 schools, and over 20,000 manuscripts and books, were destroyed or robbed. These were material witnesses to the existence of the Armenian nation, which had lived in one place for millennia.

The Armenian Genocide has impacted Armenians across all generations, influencing their way of life, character, national identity, and worldview. The trauma of the genocide has been passed down through families and has become an essential part of their identity. The genocide has also influenced the Armenian diaspora's activities, including their political, cultural, and social engagements. Despite the hardships and losses, the Armenian people have shown remarkable resilience, and the genocide has become a rallying point for their unity and strength. The memory of the genocide continues to be an essential part of the Armenian national consciousness․

The formation of the Armenian Diaspora is a result of the mass killing of Armenians by the Turks in 1915-1916. The Armenian Diaspora is often referred to as a "victim Diaspora," which has similarities to Jewish and African ones. However, there are significant differences between the Jewish and Armenian Diasporas. The Jewish Diaspora had been in existence for 2000 years before the Holocaust, whereas a significant Armenian Diaspora emerged after the Armenian massacres of the late 19th century and World War I. Armenians were indigenous to the areas where they lived, while Jews were a minority in Germany. The Nazis considered Jews racially inferior, while the Young Turks accused Armenians of elitism due to their wealth and hard work. Nazi Germany was more modernized than the Ottoman Empire. The Turks began mass deportation and killing of Armenians out of fear of losing Armenian parts of the Ottoman Empire. It is estimated that 1.5 million Armenians died from 1915 to 1922, but Turkey and the Israeli State refuse to acknowledge the events as a "genocide."

Aleppo and other cities in Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, Iran, Palestine, and Egypt sheltered the devastated, half-death and shattered remnants of the Armenian population who had for centuries, from its very dawn indeed lived in the Homeland, which absurdly and unfortunately happened to be under the brutal political yawn of so-called “Ottoman” so-called “Empire”. Some Armenian settlements already existed, and these were enlarged while new ones were created. However, finding a permanent home was not easy for the Armenians, as they had to move and rebuild many times. Due to unstable political situations, nationalism, and violence, many Armenians living in Europe and North America today migrated from countries such as Syria, Lebanon, Egypt, Iraq, and Iran.

Following the Genocide and the establishment of Soviet Armenia in 1922, only a small and devastated part of Greater Armenia remained, with many orphans and refugees. This led to waves of Armenians leaving for North America and Europe due to the pressure from Communist Russia. During the interwar period (1920-1945), there was a parallel process of rebuilding. While Soviet Armenia adopted Soviet principles, Armenians scattered across the world had to adapt to their host countries, which was a difficult process due to language barriers, finding employment, and integrating into new communities. However, they eventually organized themselves and established cultural centers, schools, churches, and economic enterprises, which helped to preserve and consolidate the Armenian language through education and mass media. It took several decades for them to overcome the economic and psychological difficulties they faced, but they were eventually able to stand firmly on their feet.

A Global Community?

Looking at the current state of affairs, it is interesting to note that the Armenian diaspora continues to experience significant migratory processes and emigration, not only from the Middle Eastern region where it originated but also from other places. This trend started decades ago and is still considered explosive to this day. Many Armenians continue to leave their home countries for the USA, Europe, Australia, and other parts of the world.

With that said, let's take a closer look at some countries where the Armenian diaspora has established significant communities. It's worth noting that this is not an exhaustive list, and I will be focusing only on a few of the communities that swelled particularly due to the Armenian Genocide and its aftermath.

Argentina

The Armenian community in Argentina emerged in the early 1900s due to the 1909 massacres in Adana, Turkey, which led to the immigration of around 2,000 Armenians by 1914. Survivors of the Armenian Genocide from Cilicia and Izmir expanded the community between 1922-1930.

The community saw a significant increase in Armenian immigration after World War II, with around 10,000 Armenians arriving in 1952-1953 from Syria, Lebanon, Greece, and France, and another 4,000 from Turkey in 1955. By 1962, the Armenian population in Argentina was estimated to be around 40,000, and today it is around 120,000, concentrated mainly in Buenos Aires with smaller communities in Cordoba, Rosario, Mar del Plata, and other states including Misiones, Mendoza, Neuquen, and Rio Negro.

Uruguay

Armenians first began settling in Uruguay during the early 19th century. In 1912, a significant number of Armenians from Marash, Kessab, Ayntap, Zeytun, and Kesaria settled in Montevideo. The community began to grow in the 1920s when large groups of Armenian refugees who survived the Armenian Genocide moved to Uruguay.

Currently, there are between 15,000 and 20,000 Armenians in Uruguay, mostly concentrated in Montevideo, with a few families in Piriápolis.

The Armenian community in Uruguay is represented by the Central Administrative Council of the Armenian Apostolic Church, which has one Apostolic, one Catholic, and two Evangelical churches with two-day schools. Armenian national parties (ARF, SDHP, ADL) are also involved locally with their patriotic, charitable, cultural, and youth unions/clubs.

The country has a monument in Montevideo's central square called “Armenia,” which honors the victims of the Armenian Genocide. Uruguay was the first country to officially recognize the Armenian Genocide in 1965 and declared April 24 "Armenian Martyrs' Remembrance Day."

The United States

In the mid-19th century, American missionaries in Western Armenia, Cilicia, and other Armenian-populated areas of the Ottoman Empire brought an influx of Armenians to the United States. Armenian Americans participated in the Civil War, providing 30 volunteers and doctors.

The first Armenian unions were established in the late 1870s, with about 500 Armenians living in the US in the early 1880s. At the end of the 19th century, a large-scale outflow of Armenians from the Ottoman Empire began, increasing the influx of Armenians in the US due to violence and massacres committed against them. In 1891-1895, 5,500 Armenians from Ottoman Turkey emigrated to the United States. By 1900, the number of Armenians in the USA reached about 15-20 thousand, according to some reports even 25,000.

Armenians from the Russian Empire, who emigrated for economic and political factors, also settled in the US. Before World War I, there were 60,000 Armenians in the USA. The ban on emigration during the war led to only a small number of Armenians being able to emigrate. After the war, the rise of the Kemalist movement in Ottoman Turkey, accompanied by massacres and deportations during the Armenian Genocide, sparked Armenians' emigration to the US. In 1921, their number reached the highest level compared to previous years, with most being survivors of the Armenian Genocide.

South Africa

The history of Armenians in South Africa dates back to the late 1890s when the first Armenian settlers arrived after the Hamidian massacres. According to local accounts, the site where the Leeu River Dam, named Armenia, was constructed in 1954, was owned by an Armenian.

The Armenian Society of South Africa was established in 1970 and has since organized various groups, including a Sunday school that teaches Armenian language, history, and singing, as well as national dance groups. The Armenian Apostolic Church operates in Swatina, formerly known as Swaziland, and until recently, the Armenian General Benevolent Union (AGBU) also operated in South Africa.

Currently, there are about 350 Armenians living in South Africa, with most residing in Johannesburg. The Armenian community actively participates in the Festival of Nationalities of South Africa, with the Armenian showcase being recognized as the best in 1992. Additionally, a Holocaust and Genocide Center operates in Johannesburg, where events dedicated to the memory of genocide victims are occasionally organized. In recent years, a new organization called "Armenian Youth in South Africa" was established, showcasing the continuation of the Armenian presence in the country.

Australia

Armenians from Western Armenia, India, and Southeast Asia settled in Australia in the 1850s. In 1918, a small group of Armenian refugees fled the Armenian Genocide and found shelter in Australia with the help of charities. Australian Armenians gradually concentrated in major cities such as Melbourne and Adelaide at the start of the 20th century, working mostly as artisans or occasional ship workers. The community grew in the 1960s when Armenians from Egypt, the Middle East, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Armenia, and the former Soviet Republics moved to Australia. The Australian-Armenian community now consists of up to 60,000 people.

The states of South Australia and New South Wales have officially recognized the Armenian Genocide, and the United Church of Australia (Evangelical Church), the Sydney suburb of Reid, and the Willow City Council have also recognized the genocide. In 2012, the state of New South Wales recognized the right to self-determination of the people of Artsakh.

Russia

The influx of Armenians to Russia, which had begun in the 11th century, continued in the 13th and 14th centuries as communities were established in various regions, including Moscow, Novgorod, Kazan, Astrakhan, and the North Caucasus. Armenians who survived the Armenian Genocide migrated from Western Armenia to larger cities in the southern part of the Russian Empire. New Armenian communities were established, and the number of Armenians increased significantly. Charitable organizations and aid committees were formed in Russian-Armenian communities to help Armenian refugees.

After Eastern Armenia joined Russia, it became the main cultural center for Armenian communities. The Armenian House of Culture in Moscow and the Lazarian Seminary played important roles in the development of Oriental and Armenian studies. Armenians also got involved in the social-class struggle in the country. In 1917, the Armenian Commissariat for National Affairs was established under the Russian Commissariat for Nationalities.

From the second half of the twentieth century, the cultural life of the Armenian communities in Russia gradually decreased due to the closure of Armenian schools and periodicals and the banning of Armenian Church activities. However, after the collapse of the USSR, democratic processes gave rise to the social and cultural life of the Armenian communities in Russia, and a significant number of Armenians emigrated to Russia.

The Russian State Duma recognized the Armenian Genocide in 1995. Currently, there are 2.5-3 million Armenians living in Russia, with the largest population in Moscow and significant numbers in the surrounding regions of Rostov, Krasnodar, and Stavropol Territory.

France

The Armenian community in France grew significantly after the Armenian Genocide in 1915, with about 60,000 survivors finding refuge in the country. In the 20th century, thousands more Armenians migrated to France from Lebanon, Syria, Turkey, Iran, and Armenia. It is estimated that around 650,000 Armenians live in France, with most residing in Paris, Lyon, Marseille, and surrounding areas.

Recently, many Armenians have settled in northeastern France, with most of them originally from Armenia. There are approximately 500 community-based organizations and branches in France, with some being part of the Coordination Council of Armenian Organizations of France (CCAF) formed in 2001. In 2016, the Hayassa Federation was established in Paris, comprising around three dozen organizations with branches in Lyon and Marseille.

There are approximately 70 Armenian schools in France, as well as numerous Armenian churches, cultural houses, media outlets, and libraries. Many famous Armenians have made significant contributions to French culture, including singer Charles Aznavour, poet and political activist Missak Manouchian, painter Jean Jansem (Hovhannes "Jean" Semerdjian), and composer Michel Legrand.

On January 29, 2001, the Senate of the French Republic passed a law recognizing genocide. In 2019, French President Emmanuel Macron signed a decree officially recognizing April 24 as the National Day of Remembrance of the Armenian Genocide.

Lebanon

The current Lebanese-Armenian community was mainly formed after the Hamidian massacres during the Armenian Genocide and in the following years (1915-1939) when thousands of survivors took refuge in the districts of Bourj Hammoud and Hadjin in Beirut, in Jounieh, Zahlé, Jbeil, Tripoli and other cities in Lebanon. In the same area (near the Lebanese-Syrian border) Armenians founded the Armenian rural town of Anjar (Musa Dagh) in the Bekaa Valley, which is still inhabited by Armenians. Initially, Lebanese-Armenians were mainly engaged in trade, crafts, as well as agriculture.

The Armenian community in Lebanon, as a leading center of the Armenians of the Near and Middle East, has traditionally occupied a pivotal place among the Armenian communities of the region. Our compatriots, who survived the Armenian Genocide and settled in Lebanon, in a very short period of time created a prosperous Armenian community with various and diverse infrastructures, raised Armenian-speaking and patriotic new generations due to their diligence and persistence. Armenians, thanks to the fraternal attitude of the Lebanese authorities and people were able to preserve their rich national culture and values, and being full-fledged citizens, made a significant contribution especially to the development and prosperity of Lebanon in the political, socio-economic and cultural spheres.

Lebanon is the first Middle Eastern country, the legislative body of which has passed two resolutions condemning the Armenian Genocide. The first resolution to declare “April 24 as the memorial day of the massacres perpetrated against the Armenian people” was passed on April 3, 1997, and the second is the resolution of May 11, 2000, that condemns the massacre of 1.5 million Armenians carried out in the Ottoman Empire․

Until the mid-1970s, the Lebanese-Armenian community had around 250-300 thousand members. According to various sources, about 100-120.000 Armenians reside in Lebanon today, due to the protracted Lebanese Civil War (1975-1990) and the resulting need and lasting economic crisis. As a result of the Syrian war, most Armenians left their second homeland, Syria. Around 15.000 of them settled in Lebanon.

Syria

The current Armenian community in Syria was formed mainly in the aftermath of the Armenian Genocide from 1915-1920. Prior to the Syrian war in 2011, approximately 100,000 Armenians resided in Syria, with approximately 60,000 in Aleppo and the remainder in Damascus, Latakia, Kessab, Qamishli, Homs, Raqqa, Hasakah, Deir Zor, and other regions totaling over 30,000. Due to the Syrian war, more than 60,000 Armenians left Syria, leaving approximately 30,000 in the country, most of whom live in Aleppo. Since the start of the Syrian conflict, Armenia has received around 25,000 Syrian-Armenians.

Armenians have been present in Syria's legislative body since 1928, and high-ranking officers have served in the Syrian army. Currently, there are two Armenian deputies in the Syrian Parliament, who actively participated in adopting a resolution on recognizing and condemning the Armenian Genocide in February 2020. The resolution was unanimously adopted by the Syrian Parliament with the active participation of the Syria-Armenia Parliamentary Friendship Commission. It confirms the recognition and condemnation of the genocide committed by the Ottoman Empire against the Armenian people in the early 20th century.

Syria is the second Arab country, after Lebanon, to recognize the Armenian Genocide. The People's Council of Syria held a special session on March 17, 2015, to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide and pay tribute to the memory of more than one and a half million victims.

I am a Witness

The Armenian Diaspora is a testament to the resilience and determination of the Armenian people. Despite the atrocities committed against them, Armenians have maintained their identity and culture, and have thrived in communities around the world. However, despite the success and accomplishments of the diaspora, there is a palpable longing for their homeland, Armenia. This deep connection to their ancestral land speaks to the strength of the Armenian people, who continue to honor their history and traditions while also adapting to new environments.

The existence of such a widespread diaspora is a clear indication of the planned and systematic nature of the Armenian Genocide. Despite Turkey’s barbaric efforts the Armenian people have persisted and flourished around the world. While the diaspora may be seen as a bitter outcome of the genocide, it is also a source of pride and a testament to the strength of the Armenian people.

In the face of adversity, the Armenian Diaspora has demonstrated remarkable resilience and organization, defying the Turkish plan to eradicate their people. The global Armenian community stands as a tribute to the strength and endurance of the Armenian people and a reminder of the atrocities committed against them. As Armenians around the world continue to thrive, they honor their ancestors and keep their legacy alive, ensuring that their stories will be remembered for generations to come.