Hovhannes Hakhverdyan
| Hovhannes Hakhverdyan | |
|---|---|
| File:Hakhverdyan.jpeg | |
| Defence Minister of Armenia | |
| In office 30 May 1918 – 27 April 1919 |
|
| Preceded by | position established |
| Succeeded by | Christophor Araratov |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 29 June 1873 Saint Petersburg, Russian Empire |
| Died | Script error: The function "death_date_and_age" does not exist. Moscow, Soviet Union |
| Resting place | Armenia |
| Nationality | Armenian |
| Political party | Independent |
| Relations | Ruben Hakhverdyan (grandson) |
| Awards | see below |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  Russian Empire (1890–1917) Republic of Armenia (1918–1920) |
| Years of service | 1890—1920 |
| Rank | Major General |
| Battles/wars | Russian-Japanese War World War I |
Hovhannes Vasily Hakhverdyan (Armenian: Հովհաննես Հախվերդյան; Russian: Ованес Ахвердян) (29 June 1873 – 28 March 1931) was the first Minister of Defense of the First Republic of Armenia from 30 June 1918 to 27 March 1919.
Early life
Hovhannes Hakhverdyan was born in Saint Petersburg on 29 June 1873 in an Armenian noble family. His father, Vasily Fyodor Hakhverdov, was a Real State Councilor. He had two brothers, Major General Gavriil Hakhverdov and Lieutenant Colonel Georgiy Hakhverdov.
He graduated from the 1st Cadet Corps of Saint Peterburg in 1890, the 1st Military Pavlov School in 1892 and the Nikolaev Academy of Joint Staff in 1902.
Military career
Hakhverdyan participated in the Russian-Japanese War. He was appointed a Major General of the Russian Army on 22 October 1915. On 11 May 1916, he became head of Joint Staff of 120th Infantry Division.
After switching aliegence to the Republic of Armenia, Hakhverdyan was appointed Minister of Defense in the cabinet of Hovhannes Katchaznouni on 30 June 1918. He was not member of any political party and was supported by most of the powers as a professional and fair candidate for the Defense Minister position. Drastamat Kanayan was originally chosen to be the first Defence Minister, but had turned the position down. On 27 April 1919, Hakhverdyan left his position and Christophor Araratov became Defense Minister. Afterwards, he occupied the position of Head of Joint Staff. From 5 May 1920 to 25 November 1920, he was Vice-Minister of Defense.
During the Soviet invasion in December 1920, he was arrested with about 1,500 Armenia officers, including Tovmas Nazarbekian and Movses Silikyan. He later worked as a cashier. In 1930, he was arrested "for being a member of the counter-revolutionary monarchist officers' group, participating in the gatherings of the group, and having uncompromising attitudes toward the Soviet government". He was shot in Moscow on 28 March 1931. Hakhverdyan had been fully rehabilitated on 20 October 1989.
Personal life
Hakhverdyan is the grandfather of famous Armenian bard Ruben Hakhverdyan.
Military Awards
- Order of St. Anna, 4th degree (1902)
- Order of Saint Stanislaus, 3rd degree with Swords and Bow (1905)
- Order of St. Anna, 3rd degree with Swords and Bow (1905)
- Order of Saint Stanislaus, 4th degree with Swords and Bow (1906)
- Order of Saint Stanislaus, 2nd degree with Swords (1906)
- Order of St. Anna, 2nd degree with Swords (1906)
- Order of St. George, 4th degree (3 February 1916)
Order of the Golden Star of Bukhara, 2nd degree
External links
- Pages with broken file links
- Articles containing Armenian-language text
- Articles containing Russian-language text
- Articles with Russian-language external links
- 1873 births
- 1931 deaths
- People from Saint Petersburg
- Imperial Russian Army generals
- Russian military personnel of the Russo-Japanese War
- Russian military personnel of World War I
- Armenian generals
- Armenian people of World War I
- Recipients of the Order of Saint Stanislaus (Russian), 2nd class
- Recipients of the Order of St. Anna
- Recipients of the Order of St. George of the Fourth Degree
- First Republic of Armenia
- Defence Ministers of Armenia
- People murdered in Russia
- Executed people from Saint Petersburg
- Armenian people murdered abroad
