Armenia: A Year at Erzerum

Curzon’s Armenia describes the author’s residence at Erzerum, in Eastern Turkey, from 1843 to 1844. Appointed to the joint Anglo-Russian, Turkish and Persian commission whose task it was to establish a fixed Turkish-Persian boundary across highland Armenia, and thus check border incursions by Kurdish tribes, Curzon paints a detailed portrait of this fascinating area during the mid-19th century. Commencing with a description of his journey via the Black Sea, Trebizond (Trabzon) and the mountain route to Erzerum, he goes on to describe in detail, not only the city of Erzerum itself, but also the character, history, climate, flora and fauna of the surrounding area. Together with a more general history of Armenia, Curzon also gives details of its ecclesiastical history and religious establishments, manuscripts and monastic libraries, modern division and population. This edition maintains all the material from the original 1854 edition, including the map and illustrations.