Erivan Governorate
The Erivan Governorate (pre-reform Russian: ; ) was one of the guberniyas of the Caucasus Viceroyalty of the Russian Empire, with its centеr in Erivan (Yerevan). Its area was 27,830 sq. kilometеrs, roughly corresponding to what is now most of central Armenia, the Iğdır Province of Turkey, and the Nakhichevan exclave of Azerbaijan. At the end of the 19th century, it bordered the Tiflis Governorate to the north, the Elisabethpol Governorate to the east, the Kars Oblast to the west, and Persia and the Ottoman Empire to the south. Mount Ararat and the fertile Ararat Valley were included in the center of the province. 

In 1828, the khanates of Erivan and the Nakhichevan were annexed from Persia by the Russian Empire through the Treaty of Turkmenchay. The newly annexed territories were incorporated into a single administrative unit known as the Armenian Oblast. In 1849, the oblast was reorganized into a governorate, and from 1872 until its disestablishment, it consisted of seven uezds (counties).

History 
By decree of Tsar Nicholas I on April 10, 1840, Transcaucasia was divided into two administrative units: The Georgia-Imeretia Governorate and the Caspian Oblast. The religious and national affiliations of the peoples of Transcaucasia were not considered during the administrative arrangements, which led to the dissatisfaction of the indigenous peoples.

In 1846 these two units were dissolved, and instead of the Georgian-Imereti governorate, the Tiflis Governorate and Kutais Governorate were formed. By a special imperial decree in 1849, the Erivan Governorate was detached and established separate from the Tiflis Governorate. The region of Meghri was temporarily annexed into the Erivan Governorate before being reallocated to the Elisabethpol Governorate. 

In 1872, the Erivan Governorate was consisted of 7 administrative districts: Alexandropol, Erivan, Nor-Bayazet, Sharur-Daralayaz, Etchmiadzin, Nakhichevan and Surmalu.  Besides Erivan, other important cities included Alexandropol, Nakhichevan, Nor-Bayazet and Etchmiadzin.

In 1918, the First Republic of Armenia was formed in the territory of Erivan Governorate and parts of Kars Oblast, Elisabethpol and Tiflis governorates, with Erivan (Yerevan) as its national capital. Following the Sovietization of the Caucasus, the territory of the Erivan Governorate was divided between the Armenian and Azerbaijani Soviet republics, and the Republic of Turkey.

Development 

Between 1880-1890, the cities of the Erivan Governorate experienced rapid growth as they became interconnected with the neighboring provincial capitals of Tiflis (Tbilisi), Kutais (Kutaisi), Elisabethpol (Ganja), and Baku. The Transcaucasus railway had been developed since the end of the 19th century, from Tiflis reaching Alexandropol in 1897, which shortly after became a regional railway center (Gyumri railway station). The Kars-Alexandropol-Tiflis (Kars-Gyumri-Tbilisi) railway was put into operation in 1899, and the railway from Alexandropol to Erivan in 1901. In 1906, the Erivan-Julfa railway was put into operation, thereby establishing a connection between Erivan and Iran. Highways of state significance were also improved, thus the trade between cities became increasingly active, the crafts developed again, and the first industry began in the province. Shortly after, the first hydropower plant was put into operation. A long distance telephone and telegraph connection was later established. Later, the Transcaucasus Railway was connected to the Russian railway network, thereby connecting Erivan with Moscow, St. Petersburg, and through the seaport of Batum to the Mediterranean countries.

Development of Erivan 
(see also: History of Yerevan)

The Armenian secular elite, together with the Russian authorities, started a new phase of development in Erivan, transforming it from a Persian frontier town to a provincial capital. In 1832, the provincial school of Yerevan was opened. In the same year a library was established, which was later enriched and became the largest and famous library in Armenia (National Library of Armenia). Five years later, in 1837, a diocesan school was opened. In 1850, the girls' college was founded. In 1856, the first plan of the city was approved. In 1860, a parish school was opened in Nork. In 1863, Astafyan (Abovyan) Street was opened, and by the end of the century, there were also other parallel vertical streets, which created a more or less regular network of transport routes in the center. In 1866, the Gaianean Girls' College was opened.

In 1879, by decree of the Tsar, the position of mayor of Erivan was established, wherein Hovhannes Ghorghanyan was appointed. Through the efforts of Ghorghanyan and the city elite, under the auspices of the Russian Empire, in 1881 the Erivan Teachers' Seminary was opened (now a Yerevan State University building). In the same year, the Yerevan Beer Factory was opened, in 1887, Tairyan Vodka, Alcohol and Wine Factory, in 1892, Mineral Water and Syrup Factory, in 1893, Afrikyan and Gyulazyan Factory, and in 1894, Sarayev Wine and Brandy factory. In 1890, Tairyan's factory was bought by the Russian manufacturer Shustov, with large investments, the production of brandy increased tenfold (see Shustov vodka). In 1907, the city was partially electrified, in 1913, it was telephoned. In 1912, drinking water was brought from Forty Springs. There was an electric tram and a horse-drawn carriage in the city. New shops and hotels were opened. In 1913, the first car entered the city. In 1913, there were 4 clinics, 3 pharmacies, an ophthalmology clinic and a psychiatric hospital.

At the end of the 19th century, Yerevan continued to be an eastern town with its narrow, crooked streets, houses built of clay and small stones, markets and baths, churches and mosques. The width of the streets did not exceed 3-4 meters. Streams flowed on both sides. The city had a number of well-known urban areas: the city center - , the market -   (Persian: Libra), Kond or Tsirani Tagh, , Nork, Shen Tagh, Boulevard, Berd, etc.  Due to economic development, the city's population tripled in 30 years, reaching 35,000 in 1913. Along with the Armenian districts, there were districts inhabited by other nations, mainly Tatars (later known as Azerbaijanis). The national minorities had their own schools, secular and spiritual centers. Several new Armenian churches were built, one of which was St. Gregory the Illuminator Church (now demolished). At the end of the 19th century and at the beginning of the 20th century Russian churches were built, St. Nicholai Cathedral and Church of the Intercession of the Holy Mother of God.

Administrative divisions

Until 1872, the various districts of the Erivan Governorate were still referred to by their Persian designation mahal ("small district"). After 1872, the Russians split the Erivan Governorate into seven uezds ("large districts"). The seven uyezds were: Erivan, Etchmiadzin, Surmalu, Nakhichevan, Alexandropol, Sharur-Daralayaz and Nor-Bayazet. Nor-Bayazet was the largest uezd of the governorate, whereas Sharur-Daralayaz was the smallest.

Demographics

Russian Imperial Census of 1897 
According to the Russian Empire Census of 1897, the Erivan Governorate had 829,556 inhabitants 92,323 living in the cities. The largest cities were Alexandropol (30,616) and Erivan (29,006). 53.2% of the governorate's population were Armenians, 37.8% were Tatars (later known as Azerbaijanis). The Tatars were in a majority in the Erivan, Nakhichevan, Sharur-Daralayaz, and Surmalu uezds; the other three uyezds (Alexandropol, Nor-Bayazet, Etchmiadzin) were predominantly Armenian. Wherein, in the city of Erivan and in Igdyr (center of Surmalu Uyezd) the Armenian population exceeded the Tatar one. Other ethnic minorities were including Kurds (8.4%), Russians (2.1%), as well as smaller numbers of Assyrians, Greeks, Georgians, Jews, Poles, and Gypsies.

As a result of the constant immigration of Armenians to the Russian Armenia after the Hamidian massacres in the Ottoman Empire in 1894-96, the percentage of the Armenians in Erivan Governorate gradually increased. According to the Central Statistical Committee of the Russian Empire, in 1905 there were 901,900 residents in Erivan Governorate. The demographic composition changed dramatically in favor of the Armenians, especially after the World War I and the Armenian genocide due to the influx of Armenian refugees from the Ottoman provinces.

In terms of religion, the Armenians and Russians profess Christianity, Tatars (later known as Azerbaijanis) and Kurds - Islam. Armenians predominantly follow the Armenian Apostolic Church, and Russians the Eastern Orthodox Church.

Ethnic groups by uezd
Ethnic groups in Erivan Governorate according to 1897 Russian census.

Ethnic groups by settlement 
Ethnic groups in the centers of Uyezds according to 1897 Russian census.

Caucasian Calendar of 1917 
The 1917 Caucasian Calendar which produced statistics of 1916 indicates 1,120,242 residents in the Erivan Governorate, including 589,125 men and 531,117 women, 1,014,868 of whom were the permanent population, and 105,374 were temporary residents.

Governors 
Louis Joseph Jérôme Napoléon (1864–1932), grandnephew of Napoleon I, was made governor in 1905 to help calm the governorate after the Armenian-Tatar conflicts.

List of the governors of Erivan Governorate.
1849 - 1859 Ivan Nazarov
1860 - 1862 Mikhail Astafev
1862 - 1863 Nikolai Kolyubakin
1863 - 1865 Aleksey Kharitonov
1869 - 1873 Nikolai Karmalin
1873 - 1880 Mikhail Roslavlev
March 22, 1880 - December 22, 1890 Mikhail Shalikov
February 2, 1891 - November 16, 1895 Alexander Frese
February 20, 1896 - 1916 Vladimir Tiesenhausen
1905 Louis Joseph Jérôme Napoléon
1905 - 1906 Maksud Alikhanov-Avarskiy
1916 - 1917 Arkady Strelbitskiy
March 14, 1917 - November 1917 V.A. Kharlamov
November 1917 Avetis Agaryan
1917-1917 Sokrat Tyurosyan

See also

Russian Armenia
History of Yerevan
Ėrivan Gubernia Taxation — Microfilm scans of lists of village inhabitants and their taxable possessions, FamilySearch.org.

Notes

References

Further reading
 

 
Caucasus Viceroyalty (1801–1917)
Governorates of the Caucasus
Modern history of Azerbaijan
Modern history of Armenia
History of Iğdır Province
States and territories established in 1868
States and territories disestablished in 1917
1850 establishments in the Russian Empire
1917 disestablishments in Russia
19th century in Armenia
20th century in Armenia
19th century in Azerbaijan
20th century in Azerbaijan