Tayk

This article is about the province in Armenia. For the rapper, see Tay-K.

Tayk (Armenian: Տայք, Armenian pronunciation: [tajkʰ] Taykʿ) was a historical province of the Kingdom of Armenia, one of its 15 ashkarhs (worlds). Tayk consisted of 8 cantons:

• Kogh
• Berdats por
• Partizats por
• Tchakatk
• Bokha
• Vokaghe
• Azordats por
• Arsiats por

Historical regions of Greater Armenia

Arshakuni Armenia in 150

Map showing Tayk of the house of Mamkionians.

In the 999 A.D., Tayk or Tao became part of the Georgian Bagrationi principality Tao-Klarjeti. The Tao province covered the contemporary Turkish districts of Yusufeli (Kiskim) in Artvin Province and Oltu, Olur (Tavusker), Tortum and Çamlıkaya (Hunut) to the north of İspir in Erzurum Province. To its southwest is found the ancient region of Sper. After World War I, Armenia and Georgia contested the region, with particular conflict over Oltik. As a result, in 1920, after the Russo-Turkish attacks Armenia lost the region of Oltik, which become a part of Turkey.

Sources

• Arutyunova-Fidanyan, Viada A., Some Aspects of the Military-Administrative Districts and Byzantine Administration in Armenia During the 11th Century, REArm 20, 1986-87: 309–20.
• Garsoian, Nina. The Byzantine Annexation of the Armenian Kingdoms in the Eleventh Century, 192 p. In: The Armenian People from Ancient to Modern Times, vol. 1, edited by Richard G. Hovannisian, St. Martin's Press, New York, 1977.
• Hewsen, Robert. Armenia. A Historical Atlas. The University of Chicago Press, Chicago, 2001, Pp 341.
• Tayk - Tayots Ashhar (Тайк - Тайоц ашхар)

See also

• List of regions of ancient Armenia
• Bana cathedral
• Tao