Մասնակից:Arpine Darbinyan/Ավազարկղ3

Անվան այլ կիրառումների համար տե՛ս՝ Tavush (other uses)Tavush Fort or Tslik Amram Fort (Armenian-Տավուշ բերդ, Ցլիկ Ամրամի բերդ), a medieval fortress on the outskirts of the city of Berd, Tavush Province, Republic of Armenia, on the right bank of the Tavush River, Utik region of the historical Great Hayk.

History

The town Berd, Tavush fortress is visible in the distance.

Tavush Fortress was first mentioned at the beginning of the 10th century as the residence of the governors of Ashot Yerkat (mainly Tslik Amram). In the 10th-11th centuries, the castle passed to the Kyurikyans of Lori. Pottery and other items are still found on the territory of the castle. The castle was one of the unique ones that had its own harmonious water supply. The fortress has been abandoned since the 4th century, now it is in a bad condition. People cannot enter because the entry and exit points are unknown.

The date of establishment is not known. The fortress of Tavush was a famous place in the 9th-10th centuries. The princes sitting here rebelled several times against the kings of Bagraton. Ashot II (914-928) broke their resistance by force of arms and captured the fortress of Tavush.

In the written sources at the beginning of the 10th century, it is mentioned as the residence of the governors of the Armenian king Ashot II Yerkat. In the 10th-11th centuries it belonged to the Kyurikian branch of the Bagratunis, and to the Zakarians in the 12th-13th centuries. At the end of the 14th century, Tavush, remained unoccupied, was gradually destroyed and disintegrated. Tavush consisted of a citadel and a lower fortress. The citadel occupied a narrow (maximum width of 25m), tongue-like area of the top of the hill, bordered by steep rocks. The remnants of the wall fortified with semi-cylindrical pyramids (up to 12m high, built with small river stones and cracked andesite stones) have been preserved in the eastern and northwestern parts. The entrance was from the south side. No traces of buildings have been preserved in the area. The citadel extended on the northern side at a lower position on a small hill, to which it had an exit. The lower fort was located at the eastern foot of the citadel, where the remnants of the Cyclopean wall with broken large stones, the walls of the single-nave hall type church, traces of residences and economic buildings have been preserved. Drinking water was brought to the lower fort from the springs called Glglan on the southern side with clay pipes (remnants have been preserved).

The ruins of the fortress, which can still be seen today, are located in the Berd town, on a high and steep mountain. His buildings occupied quite a large space. Now they all, almost without explanation, under a thick layer of soil. Partial excavations have been carried out here.

Legend

When the Arabs came to these parts of the country, Ashot Yerkat fortified himself with his army in a fortress built on a cliff called Ghali stone. The enemy besieged it, but could not do anything to the fortresses. An old woman sneaks out of the fortress to bring food for the besieged. The Arabs forcefully find out the water route from her and cut off the water. Despite this, Ashot Yerkat in the fortress does not indulge. One dark night, he leaves the fortress with his army and moves to the sides of Sevan.

See also

• Տավուշի մարզ
• Սահակ Սևադայի բերդ

External links

• Tavush Fort