Aram Manukian
| Aram Manukian | |
|---|---|
 |
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| 1st Minister of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Armenia | |
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In office 30 June 1918 – 29 January 1919 |
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| Prime Minister | Hovhannes Katchaznouni |
| Preceded by | position established |
| Succeeded by | Alexander Khatisian |
| Head of the Civil Administration in Yerevan | |
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In office 20 December 1917 – 30 June 1918 |
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| Provisional Governor of Van | |
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In office 19/20 May – 31 July 1915 |
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| Personal details | |
| Born |
Sargis Hovhannisian 19 March 1879 Elisabethpol Governorate, Russian Empire |
| Died | 29 January 1919 (aged 39) Yerevan, Republic of Armenia |
| Political party | Armenian Revolutionary Federation |
| Signature |  |
| Nickname(s) | "Aram pasha", "Aram of Van" |
Aram Manukian (classical Armenian: Արամ Մանուկեան, reformed: Արամ Մանուկյան), also referred to as simply Aram (19 March 1879 – 29 January 1919), was an Armenian revolutionary, statesman, and a leading member of the nationalist Armenian Revolutionary Federation (Dashnaktsutyun) party. He is widely regarded as the founder of the First Republic of Armenia.
Born and educated in Russian (Eastern) Armenia, he was mostly active in Van, one of the largest cities in Western Armenia. He rose to prominence there as a community organizer. During the first months of World War I he worked with local Ottoman officials to de-escalate rising tensions until mid-April 1915, when Turkish forces laid siege to the city. He led the successful Armenian civilian self-defense of Van. As a result, tens of thousands avoided being deported and massacred by the Turkish government while the Armenian Genocide was underway. He briefly served as the head of the provisional government in Van.
Following the Russian Revolution and the collapse of the Caucasian front in 1917–18, Aram was "popular dictator" of the unconquered area around the city of Yerevan. In May 1918, he organized the defense against the advancing Turkish army, which were effectively stopped at the Battle of Sardarabad, preventing the possible destruction of the Armenian nation. Manukian played an important role in the establishment of the First Republic of Armenia and served as its first minister of internal affairs. He died of typhus in January 1919, short of his 40th birthday.
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