What was the Armenian population of Kayseri (Caeserea)?

[bellthecat]

Help - does anyone know what was the size of the pre-1915 Armenian population of the city of Kayseri (also known as Caeserea) in central Turkey?

 

Steve

[Taguhi]

You can find it in one book:

Mc Carthy Justin "Muslims and Minorities, the population of Ottoman Anatolia and the end of the Empire" New York 1983

[THOTH]

I would not trust the population figures contained in that book. McCarthy uses Ottoman figures which contained severe undercounts of Armenians. Though McCarthy acknowledges the undercounts he also (essentially) dismisses them. Perhaps the figures are OK for a ballpark estimate/starting point - but you must remember that McCarthy is pushing an (Anit-Armenian) political agenda and has been shown on a number of occasions that he is not beyond falsification and idstortion in support of his singly (and admittedly) pro-Turkish cause. Both Ismadun and myself have factual information/posts which back up these claims if you are interested (I/we can re-post)

[bellthecat]

If I had a book to hand giving the figures, why would I be asking here

 

I agree about McCarthy and his figures - they should not be taked at face value (and, yes, Armenian sources should also not be automaticaly trusted). However, I think a big (and fairly modern by early 20th century standards) place like Kayseri would have accurate population statistics somewhere.

 

Steve

[edward demian]

I have a very old book written before "Chart" about the populatins and ethnic composition of the Ottoman empire and Europe. The name of the author seems Armenian allthough is Anglisized somewhat. It too uses Ottoman Archival data, but it comments extensively on the quality of the data and also uses data obtained from the local Church (Parish)records.

I would have to fight the Black Widows to get to it but if you still need the data I'll retrieve it. My father was born in Kaysery, and there is a union of Kaysertzis somewhere around us. My granfather, Margaros Demiraiakoghlu (Demiraiakian), had 6 brothers and he is the only survivor as far as we know. However, In Kaysery there were two massacres. One in 1912(?) and the one in 1915. So the earlier numbers are the important ones. Don't forget that around Kaysery, the penalty for speaking Armenian was the cutting of the tongue. Many Armenians became Turkified in the 1600's and 1700's due to the horror of the penalty.

[edward demian]

bellthecat

the book i had mentioned before is: The Frontiers of language and Nationality in Europe" by Leon Dominian Published for The American Geological Society of New York by Henry Holt and Company in 1917. I was previously wrong about the date of the publication.

In this book, the Kaiseriye district was 20 to 30% Armenian.The region adjoining just North of it is listed as over 50% Christian.

See Map Page 294 of above.

This publication is a must for every serious student of ethnology.

[bellthecat]

The data was to be for a webpage on the still extant Armenian church in Kayseri - but if you can get the population figure then I can put it on that page.

[bellthecat]

Thanks, there is a copy in my local reference library. I've got it on my "I'll have a look at it someday" list - I'll move it up to "I'll have a look at it next time I'm there" list!

Steve