Battle of Nakhchivan

The Battle of Nakhchivan was a battle that took place in Nakhchivan, during the Aras War. It was fought by the troops of the First Republic of Armenia, and troops of the Republic of Aras. The battle would be the decisive factor to the capitulation of the Republic of Aras, and its annexation by Armenia.^[6]

Battle of Nakhchivan
Part of Muslim Uprisings,Aras War and Armenian-Azerbaijani War
Date Mid June, 1919 Location Nakhchivan, Republic of Aras, (present day Republic of Azerbaijan) Result Armenian victory End of Aras War Territorial changes Capitulation and Annexation of Aras Republic by First Republic of Armenia
Belligerents
Armenia	Republic of Aras Supported by: Ankara Government[1] Azerbaijan
Commanders and leaders
Drastamat Kanayan	Jafargulu Khan Nakhchivanski
Strength
18,000[2][3]	6,000–12,000[4]
Casualties and losses
Light[5]	Heavy[6]

Armenian Offensive

The Armenian Offensive towards the city of Nakhchivan began in early June, as they advanced from south-western Kangarli with their highly moralised and professionally trained force of 18.000 Armenian infantrymen under the command of Drastamat Kanayan.^[6]The Armenians swiftly marched through the south of the Nakhchivan region in order to reach the city, following the railway within the region and defeating numerous smaller units of the Aras army, usually numbering armies in the one thousands composing of ethnic Azerbaijanis.^[6]The Armenian army would reach the city of Nakhchivan by mid-June, attacking it in well organised hit and run attacks before beginning a direct march into the city with 18.000 Armenian infantrymen^[6]The smaller Azerbaijani army stood little to no chance against the much larger and better trained Armenian one, and within only days of fighting the Azerbaijanis were forced to surrender, as the city would effectively be in Armenian hands following the battle.^[6][7][8]

Aftermath

Following the Battle, Drastamat Kanayan met with Kalb Ali Khan Nakhichevanskii in the city, where they would negotiate the terms for the capitulation of the Republic of Aras.^[9] The negotiations would result in the direct annexation of all territories by the Republic of Aras, these territories were entirely the region of Nakhchivan, this would also mark the quelling of the Muslim uprisings in Armenia.^[6][10]