Battle of Sardarabad

The Battle of Sardarabad (Armenian: Սարդարապատի ճակատամարտ, romanized: Sardarapati chakatamart; Turkish: Serdarabad Muharebesi) was a battle of the Caucasus campaign of World War I that took place near Sardarabad, Armenia, from 21 to 29 May 1918, between the regular Armenian military units and militia on one side and the Ottoman army that had invaded Eastern Armenia on the other. As Sardarabad is approximately 40 kilometres (25 mi) west of the capital of Yerevan, the battle not only halted the Ottoman advance into the rest of Armenia, but also prevented the complete destruction of the Armenian nation. The battle paved the way for the establishment of the First Republic of Armeniaand the Treaty of Batum: recognition of Armenia by the Ottoman Empire.

Battle of Sardarabad
Part of the Caucasus campaign

The memorial dedicated to the Armenian victory at the battle of Sardarabad near Araks, Armavir, Armenia
Date21–29 May 1918
Location
Near Sardarapat (present-day Nor Armavir, Armenia)
40°05′36″N 43°56′46″E
Result

Armenian victory

Belligerents

Armenian National Council

  • Armenian Army Corps
 Ottoman Empire
Commanders and leaders
Tovmas Nazarbekian
(Commander of the Armenian Army Corps)
Movses Silikyan
(Commander of the Yerevan Detachment)
Daniel Bek-Pirumyan
Poghos Bek-Pirumyan
Christophor Araratov
Aram Manukian
Enver Pasha
Wehib Pasha
Kazim Pasha
(Commander of the I Caucasian Corps)
Rüştü Bey
(Commander of the 9th Caucasian Division)
Zihni Bey
(Commander of the Zihni Bey Detachment)
Strength
9,000 30,000-33,000 Including Kurdish cavalry 1,500–3000
40 cannons
Casualties and losses
unknown 5,500 dead alone from 22 to 26 May

In the words of Christopher J. Walker, had the Armenians lost this battle, "it is perfectly possible that the word Armenia would have henceforth denoted only an antique geographical term".

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