Arsiats‑por (Armenian: Արսյաց փոր) was a historical canton (district) located within the province of Tayk in the ancient Kingdom of Armenia. The area corresponds to the modern Kiskim Valley in the present‑day district of Yusufeli, Turkey.
Geography
The canton encompassed the Kiskim (Aras) valley and included several settlements:
- The fortified town of Berdagrak (present‑day Yusufeli).
- The city of Arsiq in the southern part of the canton.
- The city of Parkhar in the northern part.
Historical Overview
- Armenian Period: Arsiats‑por formed part of the Armenian province of Tayk and was under the control of the noble Mamikonian family, which governed the region during the Sassanid‑Armenian era.
- Islamic Rule: Following the Arab conquests, the canton became part of the Emirate of Armenia, administered by the Bagratuni dynasty.
- Byzantine, Georgian, and Ottoman Eras: Subsequent centuries saw the area pass to Byzantine, then Georgian (Meshkheti) control, before being incorporated into the Ottoman Empire.
Demographic Changes
By the early 18th century, a significant portion of the indigenous Armenian population had converted to Islam. Venetian Mekhitarist priest Inchichian documented an Armenian Muslim village named Khewag (now Yaylalar, Yusufeli), noting that its inhabitants were of Armenian origin and retained cultural ties to their Christian ancestors.
Legacy
Arsiats‑por’s historical trajectory illustrates the complex layers of political and cultural influence in the South‑Caucasus region, reflecting transitions from Armenian autonomy through successive Islamic, Byzantine, Georgian, and Ottoman administrations.
References: Wikipedia article “Arsiats por”; related historical sources on the province of Tayk and the Mamikonian family.
