2nd century B.C. – 4th century A.D.

Since the beginning of the 2nd century B.C. the region was part of Greater Armenia and was known as the Province of Artsakh (according to Greco-Roman sources, it was called Orkhistena). Since that time, started the formation and penetration of the Armenian culture in the territory of Artsakh. In the 1st century B.C., Armenian King Tigran II the Great founded the city of Tigranakert – one of the four cities named after him at that time. After the partition of Armenia in the 4th century A.D., Artsakh became part of the Caucasian Albania (vassal of Persia) which, in its turn, ceased to exist at the beginning of the 8th century after the Arab invasion.

9th – 11th centuries

The territory of Artsakh formed part of Bagratid Armenia.

Early 9th century

Under the leadership of Sakhl Smbatyan, in the territory of Artsakh formed was the Armenian feudal princedom of Khachen.

Late 16th – early 17th century

After the Khachen Princedom broke up, it was replaced by five Armenian principalities (Khachen, Dizak, Varanda, Jraberd and Gyulistan) known as Khamsa Melikdom (after Arabic “khamsa” meaning “five”). Under subordination of Artsakh beglerbek residing in Ganja, those princedoms (melikdoms) existed till the end of the 18th century.

1720’s

Artsakh became part of the centers of the national liberation struggle of Armenians against the Shah of Iran and the Ottoman Empire.

1747

In Lowland Karabakh formed was Karabakh Khanate, which soon took power over the predominantly Armenian-populated Nagorno Karabakh: the first two Karabakh khans – Panah-Ali Khan and Ibrahim Khalil Khan – subdued the Armenian meliks and settled in the center of the Armenian Varand melikdom, in the fortress city of Shoushi built by Panah. As a result of feuds among Armenian meliks, for the first time in its history, Nagorno-Karabakh fell under the Turkic rule.

18th century

Starting from mid-18th century, Artsakh saw the outflow of the Armenian population and mass migration of Turks to the region.

1805

During the Russian-Persian war the Khanate was occupied by the Russian forces.

1813

Upon the Treaty of Gyulistan, Ganja and Karabakh khanate, along with other north-eastern provinces of Eastern Armenia, became part of Russia.

1822

Liquidation of the Khanate. Nagorno-Karabakh first became part of Karabakh province and then – part of Elisabethpol Governorate of the Russian Empire.

1917

After the fall of the Russian Empire, Artsakh practically became a state – governed by the Assembly of the Artsakh Armenians.

1920 – 1921

With the establishment of the Soviet government, Artsakh was first proclaimed part of Soviet Armenia, however, later it became part of Azerbaijan SSR with provision of regional autonomy – “based on the need of national peace between Muslims and Armenians, and economic relations between Upper and Lower Karabakh, its constant communication with Azerbaijan.”

Feb. 13, 1988

The first demonstration took place in Stepanakert, the center of the Nagorno Karabakh Autonomous Oblast (NKAO), demanding the re-unification of NKAO with the Armenian SSR.

Feb. 20, 1988

The extraordinary session of the NKAO Soviet of People’s Deputies passed the resolution “On Petitioning the Supreme Soviets of the Azerbaijan SSR and Armenian SSR for NKAO’s Transmission from the Azerbaijan SSR Structure to the one of the Armenian SSR.”

Feb. 23

The Bureau of the Nagorno Karabakh District Committee of the Communist Party elected Henrikh Poghossian the First Secretary of the Party District Committee, releasing Boris Kevorkov from this position.

Feb. 26, 1988

One million people rallied in Yerevan in support of NKAO’s re-unification with the Armenian SSR.

Feb. 27-29, 1988

Mass pogroms and killings of Armenian citizens in the Azerbaijani town of Sumgait took place. March 1 With the aim of leading the national-liberation movement of Karabakh Armenians, a public-political organization “Krunk” was founded in the NKAO capital, headed Arkady Manucharov.

March 17, 1988

The plenary session of the Nagorno Karabakh District Committee of the Communist Party approved the resolution from the session of the NKAO Council of People’s Deputies on NKAO’s secession to the Armenian SSR.

March 24, 1988

The Central Committee of the USSR Communist Party and the USSR Council of Ministers adopted the resolution “On the Measures on Intensification of the Social-Economic Development of the Nagorno Karabakh Autonomous Oblast of the Azerbaijani SSR in 1988-1995.” This resolution ignored the constitutional demand of the Karabakh Armenians, transforming a political problem into an economic issue.

June 1, 1988

The Nagorno Karabakh District Television Station was established.

June 15, 1988

The Supreme Soviet of the Armenian SSR gave its consent for NKAO’s inclusion into the Armenian SSR, on the basis of Article 70 of the USSR Constitution.

July 18, 1988

The Presidium of the USSR Supreme Soviet discusses the Nagorno Karabakh problem. First Secretary of the Nagorno Karabakh District Committee of the Communist Party, Henrikh Poghossian, emphasizes the impossibility of NKAO’s remaining within the Azerbaijani SSR. USSR Central Television broadcast the sessions.

July 27, 1988

First Secretaries of the Azerbaijan SSR and Armenian SSR Communist Parties’ Central Committees, A.Vezirov and S. Haroutiunian, visit NKAO by invitation from Moscow’s representative in Stepanakert, A.Volsky.

Sep. 21, 1988

Moscow announces the introduction of martial law in NKAO.

December 24

Famous human rights advocate, Academician Andrey Sakharov, visits Stepanakert.

Jan. 12, 1989

Presidium of the USSR Supreme Soviet established the NKAO Special Administration Committee (SAC), headed by A. Volsky. Thus, NKAO was removed from the administrative submission of Azerbaijan. Simultaneously, the activities of the District Committee of the Communist Party and the District Soviet of People’s Deputies were suspended, with the subordination of personnel to the Special Administration Committee.

March 25, 1989

During the elections of the USSR People’s Deputies, Henrikh Poghossian, Zory Balayan, Boris Dadamian, Vachagan Grigorian, Vahan Gabriyelian, Arkady Volsky and Vagif Jafarov are elected USSR People’s Deputies from NKAO.

Aug. 16, 1989

Congress of the plenipotentiaries of Nagorno Karabakh takes place, during which the NKAO National Soviet was created under the guidance of Vachagan Grigorian. Azerbaijan starts the economic blockade of Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh.

Nov. 28, 1989

Presidium of the USSR Supreme Soviet dissolves the NKAO Special Administration Committee and establishes the Republican Organizational Committee of NKAO, appointing Second Secretary of the Azerbaijani Communist Party, V. Polyanichko as its head. With this act, Moscow attempts to return NKAO to Azerbaijan. However, the Karabakh Armenians rejected this resolution.

Dec. 1, 1989

The joint session of the Supreme Soviet of the Armenian SSR and the National Soviet of NKAO unanimously adopt a resolution on re-unification of Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh.

Jan. 13-20, 1990

Armenian pogroms begin in Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan.

Jan. 15, 1990

The Presidium of the USSR Supreme Soviet introduces a state of emergency in Nagorno Karabakh and some regions of Azerbaijan and Armenia.

Jan. 14, 1991

The Supreme Soviet of the Azerbaijan SSR passes a resolution unifying the Armenian-populated Shahoumian region with the Kasum-Ismailov region of Azerbaijan, creating the new, Geranboy region. January – June Azerbaijan, supported by the USSR Internal Forces, carries out deportations of Armenians in twenty-four Karabakh villages. These deportations become known as the “Koltso /Ring/ Operation.” July 16 The delegation of the First International Congress in headed by Vice-Speaker of the House of Lords of the British Parliament, Baroness Caroline Cox, visits NKAO. Baroness Cox, who later visits Karabakh more than fifty times, continues to actively support the right of the Karabakh Armenians for self-determination.

Aug. 30, 1991

The Azerbaijan Parliament passes a declaration on the restoration of Azerbaijan’s national independence of 1918- 1920.

Sep 2, 1991

At the joint session of the local legislative councils of Artsakh and the Shahumian district, the Declaration of Proclaiming Nagorno-Karabakh Republic within the boundaries of the Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Region and neighboring Shahumyan district of Azerbaijan SSR was signed.

Dec 10, 1991

A referendum was held on the status of NKR, with 99,89% of participants voting for its independence. The same year started the military conflict between Artsakh Republic and Azerbaijan.

1992-1994

Azerbaijan failed in its attempt to destroy NKR via mass military entrance and bombing the civilian population. Despite large numerical superiority of the Azerbaijan army, Karabakh Armenian armed forces not only repelled the invasion, but also succeeded in expanding the territory of Artsakh, forming “security zone” in the surrounding regions of the Lower Karabakh.

May 1994

A Ceasefire Agreement between Artsakh and Azerbaijan was signed, which actually fixed the existing borders of the Artsakh Republic. This status-quo is preserved to this day.

2017

Artsakh is a presidential democracy since the 2017 constitutional referendum.