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2025-08-12
Qyalband was one of the Armenian villages of Eastern Transcaucasia. [1] The village was also recorded as Qalband, Qalbant, and Qelbent. The village was located 13.8 km south of the Ismayilli district center, between the Armenian villages of Girk and Qeshkhurd.
Qyalband was founded by settlers from the villages of Jraberd, Chartar, Avetaranots, Shosh, Drakhtik, Ghavakhan (Kavahan), and Yirher (Herher) in Artsakh.
In 1831, the village had 27 Armenian households with 218 inhabitants. According to data in 1861, the village had 180 Armenian households; in 1886 — 104 households with 722 inhabitants; and in 1890 — 104 households with 721 Armenian inhabitants. By 1904, the Armenian population of Qyalband had grown to 897 people in 112 households. In 1912, a significant increase was recorded — 171 households with 1,062 residents, and in 1913 — 190 Armenian households. In 1924, however, the Armenian population dropped sharply to 55 households with 174 people. In 1981, Qyalband had 169 Armenian inhabitants.
The village had scarce water and land resources. The population was mainly engaged in viticulture.
For many years, the village had no school. In November 1890, villagers refused to send their children to the central school opening in nearby Armenian Girk village, deciding instead to establish their own school in Qyalband, which was opened in September 1910. The new school functioned fully only during the 1914–1915 academic year. It had one classroom, three grades, one teacher (Sophia Hakobjanyants), and 60 pupils — 49 boys and 11 girls. In 1915–1916, the school, now with two rooms, had four grades, two teachers (Sophia Hakobjanyants and Gayane Avagyan), and 72 pupils — 61 boys and 11 girls. In 1916–1917, it had 66 pupils. Subjects taught included Armenian language, Russian language, arithmetic, natural sciences, handicrafts, religion, homeland studies, singing, drawing, and calligraphy. During the Soviet era, the school continued to function (principal — Artem Harutyunyan). In 1984, it had 44 pupils, including 13 from neighboring Girk village.
Qyalband was part of the Shamakhy Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Holy Church. In the 1830s, the village had the Church of Surb Astvatsatsin (Holy Mother of God). In 1837, there were two priests in the village. According to Samvel Karapetyan, who visited in 1985, traces of the Church of Surb Astvatsatsin were still visible at the old village site, along with several hundred tombstones — all with Armenian inscriptions.
In 1918, Qyalband did not escape the tragic events that swept Eastern Transcaucasia. Fleeing attacks by Turkic-Tatar forces, most of the villagers joined the retreating armed forces of the Baku Commune in late June and left the village. Those who remained were repeatedly attacked and looted, and many were killed.
Years later, returning villagers decided to establish a new settlement about 1 km southeast of the old site.
In 1988, the Armenians of Eastern Transcaucasia were forced to leave Azerbaijan. In December 1988, the residents of Qyalband also abandoned their native village, after which all Armenian monuments and traces were destroyed by Azerbaijanis.
Bibliography
Mesrop Archbishop Smbatyants. Description of the Monastery of Saint Stepanos of Salian and Other Monasteries and Sacred Sites in the Towns and Villages of the Shamakhi Diocese. Tiflis, 1896, p. 139.
Bishop Makar Barkhutaryants. The Land of Aghvank and Its Neighbors. Artsakh. Yerevan, 1999, pp. 104–105.
Karapetyan, S., Aghvank Proper, Part 1, Yerevan, 2024, pp. 204-207.
[1] Qyalband, Azerbaijani - Kəlbənd։