Hemşin

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Hemşin (Armenian: Համշէն (Hamshen) or Համամաշէն (Hamamashen; literally meaning Hamam's Hamlet); also known as Tambut) is a district of the Rize Province of Turkey. The area was founded by the Armenians Princes Hamam and Shapuh Amatuni in the 8th century. The Armenians living in the area came to be collectively known as Hamshenis.

When the region was conquered by the Ottoman Empire, many Hamshenis in the 16th century and on a larger scale in the 18th century were forced to convert to Sunni Islam, though, they managed to preserve their Armenian culture. Still, many of them maintained their Christian faith as well. However, these Christian Hamshenis eventually fled to the Soviet Union with the outbreak of World War I and the Armenian Genocide.

Today there are 4,435 residents in Hemşin, the majority of whom are Muslim Hamshenis who speak a Turkish dialect Hemşince which was adopted under Turkic rule.