The First Republic of Armenia

When the Armenian Kingdom of Cilica fell in 1375 the first Armenia state was established, however, when the Russian Empire started to crumble in the early part of the twentieth century the Republic of Armenia was formed. now referred to as the First Republic of Armenia. This new territory was established in Armenian populated areas from the Russian Empire which was disintegrating at the time. It is often referred to by Scholars as Russian Armenia, due to the significant influence the Russian Empire had on the fledgling republic.

The First Republic of Armenia

Fledgling Democracy
It was the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF) that forced through the revolt that led to the republics creation and much of the new government was drawn from their ranks. However, this was not an easy time for the fledgling democracy as to the north they bordered the Democratic Republic of Georgia, to the west was the Ottoman Empire and with Persia due south, the country had many aggressive neighbours. 

Disputes and Difficulties
However, the early days for the country were fraught with problems. As well as keeping potentially aggressive neighbours at bay the country was plagued by internal disputes and difficulties. Many of the people who took up residence in the new country had escaped massacres in the former territory of Western Armenia committed by the advancing Ottoman Empire. This mass genocide by the Ottoman’s was part of wider operation to eliminate all Armenians living in the region.

Failed Alliance
After its difficult birth, the First Republic of Armenia reluctantly formed an alliance with neighbouring Georgians and Muslims to form the Tanscaucasian Federation in an attempt to show a unified front to the Soviet Red army.  However, disputes amongst the group were common and they never really achieved their goal of a unified front. Subsequently, the new Republic lasted for only two years and in the later months of 1920 the republic was seized and subjugated by the Soviet Red Army.

Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic
A year later the country had officially become the Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic and existed under the red banner of Soviet rule until 1991, when the Soviet Union disbanded. It was then, when independence was granted to Armenia, that the Third Republic of Armenia came in to existence and continues to thrive to this day.

Memorial
In remembrance of the First Republic of Armenia the Sardarapat Memorial, located at the site of the Battle of Sardarabad, is visited annually in May by all departments of the government of Armenia to publically celebrate the first independent Armenia.