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Varak Ketsemanian
Varak Ketsemanian is a graduate of the American University of Beirut (AUB) and the University of Chicago’s Center for Middle Eastern Studies (2014-2016). His master’s thesis titled “Communities in Conflict: the Hunchakian Revolutionary Party 1890-1894” examines the socio-economic role of violence in shaping inter-communal and ethnic relations by doing a local history of the Armenian Revolutionary Movement in the Ottoman Empire. Ketsemanian’s work tackles problems such as the development and polarization of mainstream historiographies, inter-communal stratifications, nationalism, and the relationship of the Ottoman State with some of its Anatolian provinces. He is currently completing a PhD at Princeton University, where his doctoral dissertation will focus on the social history of the National Constitution of Ottoman Armenians in 1863, and the communal dynamics/mechanisms that it created on imperial, communal, and provincial levels. Ketsemanian’s research relates to the development of different forms of nationalism in the 19th and 20th centuries, revolutionary violence, and constitutional movements.
Latest posts by Varak Ketsemanian (see all)
- Memoirs of a Soldier: Bedros Haroian’s recollections of the Great War available in English - September 1, 2022
- Armenia a Century on: Lessons in Challenging the Status Quo - May 28, 2018
- The First Republic as Turning Point for the Armenian Nation: A Conversation with Professor Richard G. Hovannisian - May 28, 2018
I have question.
Is the Armenian American diaspora fighting politically, for its cause and against all Turkish and pro-Turkish propaganda, as hard as the Armenian Legion fought militarily?
Very interesting article – well researched and articulated. I’m writing a film script on the Armenian Legion and am especially interested in the Armenian Americans that volunteered. Can anyone provide a reference, written in English on the subject, especially as it pertains to Armenian American recruits?
Robert
Please contact me. I have information on the Rhode Island volunteers.
It was said that my uncle went back to join the Legion. He has since past away although my cousins can likely tell their fathers story. One is in NY the other in So. Cal.
Robert,
My grandfather was a “Gamavor”. We have pictures of him with the Legion. These were featured in an exhibit at the Armenian Museum in Waterton MA. They still have a traveling exhibition on the Legionnaires and they would be a great source of information. My grandfather, Arsen Samuelian, came to the US from Marash before the Genocide and worked at the Hood Rubber Factory in Watertown, MA with so many other Armenians. He was recruited, trained and fought with the Legion. He met a refugee woman who was fighting the Turks alongside the regular troops with a captured gun. Her name was Arshalous Mourousian (sp?). Her father was Morris Khacher who was ghe general store owner in Zeytoon who was murdered in front of his shop during the Genocide. They returned to the US and settled in the Boston area and had 3 children. The youngest, Kourken is my father. Hope this helps.
Ken Samuelian, Belmont MA
samuelian@verizon.net
times have changed, we now have a turkish state with a powerful godfather: America…things are just not that simple anymore as all our efforts encounter diplomatic turbulance, case and point Obama´s campaign promise for genocide recongnition !! we know where that ended dont we…preservation of democracy and social well being within Armenia are the keys to our new BATTLE.
My father Sharam Stepanian joined the Frech Army because they were the ones
fighting the Turks. His mother and 2 sisters were massacered while he was in America mak
Thanks! I appreciate knowing about my history.
SOME OBSERVATIONS, ARMENIANS WERE USED AND LIED TO,THEY WERE NEVER ALLOWED TO FIGHT IN CILICIA TO TAKE THEIR LANDS BACK! THE FRENCH AND BRITISH DID NOT TRUST EACH OTHER, AND SOMETIMES WORKED TOGETHER, THE ARMENIANS WERE USED AS CANNON FODDER IN THE BATTLE OF ARARA.AND THE GERMANS WERE ALWAYS FIGHTING ALONGSIDE THE TURKS IN ALMOST MAJOR BATTLE,THEY SUPPLIED AND BUILT THE TURKISH ARMY, THEY HAD GENERALS AND OFFICERS IN THE TURKISH ARMY, THEY WERE VERY MUCH AWARE OF THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE THEY COULD HAVE PUT A STOP TO IT, BUT THEY DID NOT HAVE THE MORAL COURGE TO DO IT. THEY BUILT THE BAGDAD-BERLIN RAIL-ROAD WITH ARMENIAN MEN THAT WERE STARVED! THOUSANDS OF ARMENIANS DIED BUILDING THE RAIL-ROAD!!! UNDER THE EYES OF THE GERMANS. VARAK THERE IS PLENTY OF INFORMATION ABOUT THIS ON THE INTERNET, WITH PICTURES OF GERMAN CAPMS,LABORERS(IN SHATTERED CLOTHES!!, DEPORTEES ALL FROM GERMAN SOURCES, VARAK PLEASE SEE IF YOU COULD WRITE ABOUT THIS THANK YOU
I can appreciate the detailed information of this article. However, given the subsequent history that transpired, I feel more embarrassed than proud, for the Armenians being the dupes of these two phonies France and England.
Thanks to France, we don’t have Cilicia. And we may never have it.
Thanks to England, besides Genocide denial by them and their darling Turkey, we have “Azerbaijan” to deal with. Those Turkophile Brits were the root cause of why we could not secure Artsakh after the war, and had we not listened to their lies the Armenians in Artsakh would not have gone through 70 years of barbaric oppression and a war that cost us thousands of innocent lives trying to undo the damage. That was a joint British-Bolshevik venture. And their damage still lingers over our heads.
Robert
There is a booklet about the kessabtsi Armenians who volunteered from America. You may contact Kessab Educational Association of LA. Its very likely that they have a copy in their library.
Dr.Antranig Chalabian has dedicated one of his books titled “Revolutionary Figures to his paternal uncle Nshan Chalabian. You may find Nhan’s picture in the book and Dr. Chalabian’s commentary in the introduction.
If we knew then what we know now – it would have been a different story. The moral of the story – lack of advance knowledge of a fellow-traveller’s agenda can prove fatal.
The Ottomans had a wise saying – “one does not lower oneself down a deep water-well with that kind of person’s rope.”
Lost in modern day Armenian history is the legacy of the Kessabtsi Armenian volunteers from America in Kessab. They had the training and the materiel and became instrumental in organizing the defense of Kessab at the aftermath of the WWI. For the two years during 1918-1920/1921 the Armenian enclave Kessab established a de-facto self-rule under their protection.
Ovsia Saghdejian, affectionately known among the Kessabtsis as Daye, was a volunteer from America who took part in the Battle of Arara and became the undisputed leader in organizing the defense of kessab. He opted to stay in Kessab and not return. He sheltered orphaned young men and women, acted as matchmaker to many of them marrying to establish their own families. He remains a much-revered figure for the Kessabtsi Armenians.
There is no doubt that this period of time in our history was full of hope, betrayal and frustration. But let’s not forget it was also an inspiring time when our people had little to cheer. My grandfather was a gamavor from America. Like many of his peers, he had come to New England to earn money and return to western Armenia. Trapped here by the war’s outbreak and hearing the stories of the genocide, they were anxious to serve. He trained in Cyprus, landed in Port and engaged the enemy up the Levant. After the Armistice in the fall of 1918, he remained as part of the occupation army stationed in Adana . As Armenian survivors began returning, I heard stories of the pride felt by local Armenians to see their protection included uniformed Armenian soldiers. Despite the betrayals and the horrors of the French withdrawal, these men served the cause and have been an inspiration to many generations. Learning about my grandfather’s involvement ( from my Dad and uncles) has inspired me to a lifetime of learning and participating in our communities. Thank you for the article and God bless these people.
There are so many interesting and useful comments here! Varak, one of my grandfathers was in the French Army but I’m not sure if he was in the Legion. He was one of the soldiers from the Turkish Army that you mentioned. Was in Mosul for a time and in Jerusalem where he saw train loads of deported Armenians who feared his uniform. He promptly join the British forces and then somehow the French Army. His captain eventually got him papers for him to go to France and eventually the U.S., and even take my grandmother-to-be, her sister, and mother, the only survivors or their large family from Keghi whom he had met in Syria. I have a photo of him in uniform but not sure if it is Turkish or French. Perhaps you can help with the identification?
My father was a volunteer for the freedom of Armenia. His name was Barsoom Bedrossian and lived in Philadelphia. My uncle John Zakarian lived in Watertown , Mass decided to go to France to fight for the cause.
I have his pictures and discharge papers from France. I proud of his courage along with other Armenians that fought for the freedom of Armenia.
I enjoyed this article very much, I had no Idea of Historical events
that took place , keep up the good work.
My maternal grandfather, Hagop(James) Hovsep Apelian, was also among the volunteers …he went from Kessab to America and joined the Armenian volunteers.
To Mr. Ken Samuelian, I just came across your interesting note. I have written on Zeytun during the Genocide, and was hoping you could provide me more information about Morris Khacher (maybe with his name Morris spelled in Armenian?) and how he was killed, as well as how your grandmother Arshaloys Mourousian (in Armenian?) left Zeytun and joined the troops. My email is arkuna@earthlink.net.
Recently got into genealogy and found documents that my Grandfather, Georges Abdulkerim Saraf (went by other names as well) served in the La Legion d’Orient. Originally from Armenia, left during the genocide and moved through Beirut, Sidon, Aleppo, France, and New York (this is where he enlisted in the Legion). Other documents show him leaving the Legion in Aleppo and traveling back through France and United States.
My great grand father Kerop Ketsoyan was also in legion at the time
He was an officer. I have send his pictures to world war 1 museum.
I don’t have two many documents because they where stolen after migration to Soviet Union Armenian 1946 from Beirut. If any one knows any way to obtain more documentary please
Let me know
I am researching the stay of the armenian legion in cyprus. It would be wonderful if you have any letters,documents or photographs from that period that could give me an insight.
Wow. Excellent article. My grandfather, Nishan Mathosian, was in the Legion from America. He joined to get revenge on the Turks who killed his parents during the genocide. He was raised in an orphanage in Jerusalem and met my grandmother there, who was also an orphan. He wrote a short memoir many years later about joining and fighting for the Legion. He was at Mt. Arara and lost friends in the battle. He penned his anger against the British for selling the Armenians out after the war.
Proud to report my grandfather, Nishan Mathosian, served as an American volunteer in the Legion. He fought at the battle of Arara and was disheartened over the loss of several of his fighting comrades. He wrote a short memoir in his later years which I had translated into English. He was very angry at the British for reneging on their promise of a new Armenian homeland. Both of his parents, and the parents of my grandmother were killed in the Armenian genocides by the Turks. Both were raised in an orphanage in Jerusalem, Palestine.