Bazaberd Fortress

Bazaberd Fortress or Chakhalaberd is located in the Lori Region of Armenia, in the administrative area of the Jiliza community on the border with Georgia. You can go to Bazaberd on the Alaverdi-Jiliza highway 2.5 km southwest of the village. The total area of the fortress occupies 0.52 ha, and the citadel occupies 0.25 ha. It was surrounded by a wall 10-12 m high and 2-3 m thick. Historically, Bazaberd Castle is located in the Tashir-Dzorapor province of the Great Hayk Gugark World, south of the eponymous river of Lalvar mountain (Haik Nahapet's grandson Khori) on a high hillside stretching to the northwest from Khorakert township, surrounded by the ruins of old settlements and dense forests.

Hayk Nahapet divides the territory of his country and gives inheritance to his sons and grandsons, after which the period of construction of buildings of Haykaz wealth (Dynasty) immediately begins. The place names originated according to heritage from Gegham - Gegharkunik, from Garnik - Garni, from Sisakan - Sisakan, from Shara - Shirak, from Khor - Khorakert, from Baz - Bazaberd, from Badak - Mshkavank (Mazhak-Cappadocia, Caesarea) and so on. 977 After the death of King Ashot the Merciful of Bagratuni, the fortress was inherited by Lori Governor Gurgen, the founder of the Curician branch of the Bagratuni, then it passed to the Zakarians and served its purpose as a safe haven. Based on the testimonies of a number of historians of the 9th century and the historian Vardan Areveltsi of the 13th century, it is stated that the fortress was built by Hayk Nahapet's grandson Baz, according to other sources, it was also called Buz.

Photo By: Cosmo Deus