English: Tracing History: The Okrugs of Ardahan and Kars

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The Ardahan Newspaper | Since 1995 |

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The turning points of history constantly rewrite the destiny of geographies and borders. In the late 19th century, the South Caucasus and Eastern Anatolia witnessed one of these major shifts. Following the Ottoman Empire's defeat in the Russo-Turkish War of 1877–1878, the Treaty of San Stefano initiated a new administrative era in the region

The Kars Oblast, established during this period under the Russian Empire, was divided into four administrative sub-districts, known as "okrugs": Kars, Kağızman, Oltu, and Ardahan

The Administrative Structure of Kars Okrug

The Kars okrug, whose borders were reorganized in 1881, was one of the most dynamic centers of the region. According to 1914 data, this okrug was divided into 5 sectors (uchastoks): Akbaba, Zirishat, Kars, Soganlik, and Shuragel, comprising a total of 21 rural okrugs. This turbulent era came to an end in 1918 with the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk, which returned the entire Kars Oblast to the Ottoman Empire

The Multicultural Demographics of Ardahan Okrug

The Ardahan okrug, another vital part of the region, was a literal cultural mosaic. According to the Russian Empire Census conducted on January 28, 1897, the Ardahan okrug had a population of 65,763 people (34,930 men and 30,833 women).

The distribution of mother tongues clearly demonstrates the rich ethnic texture of the region at the time

According to the Russian Empire Census, the Ardahan okrug had a population of 65,763 on 28 January 1897, including 34,930 men and 30,833 women. Turks, Kurds, Karapapakhs, Greeks, and Turkmens lived together in the region

This historical snapshot remains highly significant today, helping us understand the multi-hued and multicultural past of these borderlands

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