Armenians in Iran
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Armenian-Iranians (Armenian: "Իրանահայ" translit. Iranahay or "Պարսկահայ" translit. Parskahay) are ethnic Armenians who live in Iran. Their current population is somewhere around 100,000-200,000.[citation needed] They mostly live in Tehran and Isfahan Jolfa. The Armenian-Iranians were very influential and active in the modernization of Iran during the 19th and 20th centuries. After the Iranian Revolution, many Armenians immigrated to Armenian diasporic communities in North America and western Europe. Today the Armenians are Iran's largest Christian religious minority.
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[edit] History
There was a lot of interaction between Ancient Armenia and Persia (synonymous to Iran) ever since Antiquity.
On the Behistun inscription of 515 BC, Darius I of Persia indirectly confirmed that Urartu and Armenia are synonymous when he was describing his conquest of that area.
Armenia became a satrap of the Persian Empire for a long period of time. Regardless, relations between Armenians and Persians was cordial. Both peoples worshipped almost the same gods, while keeping their unique regional characteristics.
After Persia was conquered by Alexander the Great, Armenia became independent.
Persia and Armenia had cordial relations with each other, until the introduction of Christianity in Armenia. The Zoroastrian rulers of Persia now considered Armenia its enemy. Armenia lost its independence in 428. This led to the battle of Avarayr 451 between the Persian army (featuring the legendary Immortals) and Armenian rebels who were motivated by Christianity. Although the Armenian side lost the battle, it was able to secure a peace treaty which let the Armenians worship freely.
More rupture occurred when the Islamic Army took over Persia and converted most Persians to Islam, while Armenians stayed true to Christianity.
Although Armenians have a long history of interaction with Persia/Iran, Iran's Armenian community emerged when Shah Abbas relocated tens of thousands of Armenians from Nakhichevan to an area of Isfahan called New Julfa, which was created to become an Armenian quarter. Iran quickly recognized the Armenians' dexterity in commerce.
The community became active in the cultural and economic development of Iran.
Certain notable Armenian figures like Yeprem Khan had an important role in the Iranian constitutional revolution of the early 20th century.
After the Iranian Revolution of 1979, thousands of Armenians left Iran, fearing repression. Regardless of the Revolution, the Armenians kept some religious privileges as Iranian citizens.
