Gyumri is the capital and largest city of the Shirak province in northwest Armenia. It is located about 75 miles (120 km) from the capital Yerevan, and, with a population of 150,917 (2001 census), is the second-largest city in Armenia.
The name of the city has been changed many times in history. It was first known as Kumayri or Gyumri, then Alexandropol (1840–1924), then Leninakan (1924–1990), then again as Gyumri.
History
The first settlement at the location occupied by today's city of Gyumri is believed to have been founded some time in the 5th century BC, perhaps ca. 401 BC, by Greek colonists. An alternative theory suggests that the city was founded by Cimmerians, based on the fact that Cimmerians conquered the region in 720 BC and that the original name of the city was Kumayri. The settlement existed sporadically during the next two millennia until a major Russian fortress was built on the site in 1837.
Gyumri started to develop in the 19th century, when, along with its surroundings, it became part of Russia, as a result of the Russo-Persian War (1804-1813). Gyumri came under Russian control in 1804 around 25 years earlier than the entirety of Eastern Armenia. During this period it became one of the famous cities of the Trans-Caucasus region. In 1829, on the heels of the Russo-Turkish War there was a major influx of population as about 3000 families from Western Armenian cities of Kars, Erzurum, Dogubeyazit and other places in the Ottoman Empire migrated and settled in Gyumri.
In 1837 Russian Czar Nicholas I arrived in Gyumri and renamed the town Alexandropol. The name was chosen in honor of Czar Nicholas I's wife, Princess Charlotte of Prussia, who had changed her name to Alexandra Fyodorovna after converting to Orthodox Christianity.
In 1840, the town of Aleksandrapol was quickly growing. It was an important outpost for the Imperial Russian military in the Transcaucasus, where their military barracks were established (Poligons, Severski, Kazachi Post).
Alexandropol was considered to be the third trade and cultural center in the Trans-Caucasus after Tiflis and Baku (Yerevan would not rise to prominence until being proclaimed the capital of the independent Republic of Armenia in 1918 and Armenian SSR in 1920.). At the end of 19th century the population of Alexandropol reached 32,000 residents. From 1858-1876, St. Prkich (Saviour) church was erected, made to resemble the Cathedral of Ani. The first rail link to Alexandropol was finished in 1899, which was the Tiflis-Alexandropol railway. The rail line was then extended from Alexandropol to Yerevan, Jolfa (in 1906) and Tabriz. As a result, Alexandropol became an important rail hub.
During the Turkish-Armenian War, Turkey attacked Gyumri and occupied the city on November 7, 1920 after winning the Battle of Alexandropol. After the battle, The Turks were headquartered in Gyumri. From this city Turks presented the Armenians with an ultimatum that Armenia was forced to accept -- otherwise Turkey would have invaded Yerevan, Armenia's capital, from their headquarters in Gyumri. Armenia was forced to sign the Treaty of Alexandropol to stop the Turkish advance towards Yerevan, the capital of Democratic Republic of Armenia, thus ending the Turkish-Armenian War.
In 1924 the name was changed to Leninakan after the deceased Soviet leader Vladimir Lenin. Leninakan was a major industrial center for the Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic and its second largest city, after Yerevan, the capital. The city suffered major damage during the 1988 Spitak Earthquake, which devastated large parts of the country.
The current name of the city was chosen in 1990, at the time of the breakup of the Soviet Union. The Russian 102nd military base is located in the city. Today, Gyumri is Armenia's second largest city.
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