The Declaration of Armenian Independence on May 28, 1918

34. The Armenian National Council

Following the dissolution of the Transcaucasian federation, the Armenian National Council became the principal political authority representing Armenian interests.

On May 28, 1918, Armenian independence was proclaimed.

The declaration arose under exceptionally difficult circumstances.

Armenian leaders had not inherited a stable state with secure borders, functioning national finances, or an established administrative system.

They faced an advancing Ottoman army, a refugee catastrophe, famine, disease, and political uncertainty.

The proclamation of independence was therefore both a national achievement and an act of necessity.

The First Republic of Armenia was born not from favorable international conditions, but from the collapse of previous political arrangements and the urgent need for self-government.

35. The First Republic of Armenia

The First Republic existed from May 1918 until December 1920.

Its initial territory was small and its population included large numbers of displaced people.

Yerevan became the capital.

The government was dominated by the Armenian Revolutionary Federation, although other political groups also participated in the republic's public life.

The first prime minister was Hovhannes Kajaznuni.

Aram Manukian, one of the leading organizers of Armenian resistance and administration in 1918, played an essential role in establishing governmental authority in Yerevan.

Other prominent figures included Alexander Khatisian, Hamazasp Ohanjanyan, and Simon Vratsian.

The republic sought to establish the institutions necessary for independent political life.

These included a government, legislature, armed forces, administrative ministries, courts, diplomatic representation, and systems of public finance.

36. The Treaty of Batum

On June 4, 1918, the Armenian government signed the Treaty of Batum with the Ottoman Empire.

The treaty imposed severe territorial restrictions on the new republic.

Armenian leaders accepted the settlement under military pressure.

The agreement left Armenia with a relatively small territorial base and limited strategic resources.

Nevertheless, it also marked a formal diplomatic relationship between the Ottoman Empire and the newly established Armenian state.

The defeat of the Ottoman Empire later in 1918 changed the regional balance and created opportunities for Armenia to expand its administration.

37. Refugees, Famine, and Epidemics

The First Republic confronted one of the most serious humanitarian crises in modern Armenian history.

The Armenian Genocide, wartime displacement, military operations, and regional instability had produced enormous refugee populations.

Many refugees arrived with little food, shelter, clothing, or medical assistance.

Agricultural production had been disrupted.

Transportation systems were damaged.

Typhus and other diseases spread through overcrowded communities.

The Armenian government attempted to organize relief, but its financial and administrative resources were extremely limited.

International humanitarian organizations, including Near East Relief, played an important role in supporting Armenian survivors.

Relief operations established orphanages, provided food and medical care, and assisted displaced populations.

The survival of the republic depended not only on military defense but on the ability to prevent social and economic collapse.

38. Building Democratic Institutions

Despite these difficulties, the First Republic attempted to establish representative government.

Parliamentary elections were held in June 1919, with women possessing voting rights.

The election reflected the republic's commitment to modern political institutions, although the difficult conditions of war and displacement limited normal democratic participation.

Women also participated in Armenian political life.

Diana Abgar, appointed honorary consul to Japan in 1920, became an important figure in Armenian diplomacy and is often recognized as one of the earliest women to hold a diplomatic appointment on behalf of a modern state.

The republic also sought to develop public education.

Yerevan State University traces its foundation to 1919, with teaching beginning in Alexandropol before the institution moved to Yerevan.

Educational development was viewed as essential to the long-term survival of Armenian sovereignty.

39. Territorial Conflicts and the Fragility of the Republic

The First Republic faced disputes involving neighboring states and contested territories.

Armenian-Georgian tensions produced armed conflict in late 1918, particularly around Lori.

Armenian-Azerbaijani disputes involved regions such as Nagorno-Karabakh, Zangezur, and Nakhichevan.

These territories had mixed or contested populations, competing political claims, and strategic importance.

Violence between Armenian and Azerbaijani communities included attacks on civilians and displacement.

The region's political borders had not been definitively settled following the collapse of the Russian Empire.

The Armenian government also confronted local rebellions, competing administrations, and the continuing threat of military intervention.

Its ability to establish effective control varied considerably across the territories it claimed.