The Armenian Rebellions (1890 - 1894)

3. Kumkapi Demonstration (15 July 1890)

It was the Hunchakian Party which organized the demonstration at Kumkapl. Nalbandian tells about this incident:

"The Hunchakian Revolutionary Party revealed its power for the first time in Constantinople on Sunday, July 15, 1890, when it organized the Demonstration of Kumkapi. The demonstration started in the Armenian Cathedral in the Armenian quarter of Kumkapi. Here Patriarch Khoren Ashikian was addressing a large congregation gathered for the Vartavar services. In the cathedral, Haruthiun Jangulian, a party member, read a Hunchak protest directed to the Sultan which advocated Armenian reforms. Afterward, he went to the Patriarchate and smashed the Turkish coat of arms. Although the Armenian Patriarch protested, he was forced by the Hunchaks to join them in presenting the protest to the Sultan. Hardly had the procession toward Yildiz Palace started when it was blocked by Turkish soldiers, and a riot ensued in which a number of people were killed and wounded. "(22)

The decision to hold a demonstration was taken by the Istanbul Committee of the Hunchak Party. It was led by Jangulian, Damadian and Boyajian. Damadian, later organized an anti-Turkish demonstration in Athens in 1891 and both Damadian and Boyajian took part in the Sassun rebellion.

The Armenians believed that the Kumkapi demonstration was successful in drawing attention of Europe and the Hunchak newspaper sent the following message to Europeans:

"Armenians shall refuse European proposals that are contrary to their supreme objective, and are ready to fight for this cause until their last drop of blood." in its issue dated 7 September 1890.

At the beginning of 1891, Sultan Abdulhamid declared an amnesty for Armenians. 76 Armenians who were freed in Istanbul went to the Patriarchate and gave an oath that they would never take part in such movements again. However, the agents of the Hunchak Party continued their activities.

4. Merzifon, Kayseri, Yozgat Incidents (1892)

Nalbandian writes that the Hunchaks were not deterred. "They continued to organize demonstrations and insurrections in towns and villages inhabited by Armenians ... Hunchak revolutionary activities were markedly evident in 1892 and even more so in 1893". (23)

In the summer of 1892, Merzifon was chosen as the center for propaganda activities. Kayseri, Yozgat, Corum, Amasya, Tokat were some other towns where similar activities were carried out.

Nalbandian informs us that "the Hunchaks made the most of Turkish oppression by spreading various alarming reports through their publications, including exaggerations of Turkish atrocities. Hunchak revolutionaries posted placards on public buildings and walls of houses in the regions of Marsovan, Yozgat, Amasia, Chorum, Tokat, Angora, Sivas,and Diarbekiar. "(24)

In December 1892, there was an attempt to assassinate the Governor-General of Van.

In September 1893, the Ottoman authorities raided a house of the revolutionaries in Merzifon. The Armenians who were in the house opened fire and threw a bomb at the soldiers. Twenty-five soldiers died or were wounded.
In December of the same year, an Armenian revolt occurred in Yozgat where armed attacks were carried out against the soldiers.

5. The First Sassun Rebellion (August 1894)

Nalbandian records that in the region of Sassun (located in the province of Bitlis) a revolutionary named Damadian, the Hunchaks, and others had been inciting hostilities between the Kurds and the Armenians. In August 1894, an actual rebellion broke out.
In fact, Mihran Damadian, who was one of the leaders of the Kumkapi demonstration first escaped to Athens where he organized anti-Turkish demonstrations in 1891, and later came to Sassun with the aim of inciting the Armenians to rebel. Damadian and his band raided the village Avzim in Mus(h) in December 1892 and killed a Turk named Sergeant Ishak. Hostilities continued between the Kurds and Armenians after the Armenian band attacks. Another Armenian named Boyajian joined Damadian and later pursued his agitation activities. Boyajian's band organized many attacks on communities living in the area and pillaged their properties throughout 1894. Nalbandian describes these events:

"Murat (Boyajian) and a band of followers started minor acts of aggression against the Kurds, who countered with attacks against the Armenians. "(25)

The intervention of the government soldiers met with armed resistance of the Armenians. The Sassun rebellion ended with Boyajian's arrest on 23 August 1894.

According to pro- Armenian writers the number of the Armenians who lost their lives in this rebellion changes between six thousand to twelve thousand. A commission of Consuls of Britain, France and Russia reported the number of the Armenians died as 265. Neither of these sources mentioned the number of the Moslems killed. However. the Commission of the Consuls confirmed the attacks of the Boyajian band.

(22) Nalbandian, op. cit., P118
(23) Ibid, pp. 119
(24) Nalbandian, op. cit., pp.119, 120
(25) Nalbandian, op. cit., p.121