Kapan
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Kapan Կապան |
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From top left:
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 Kapan
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| Coordinates: 39°12′04″N 46°24′54″E / 39.20111°N 46.41500°ECoordinates: 39°12′04″N 46°24′54″E / 39.20111°N 46.41500°E | ||
| Country |
 Armenia
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| Marz (Province) | Syunik | |
| Founded | 10th century | |
| City status | 1938 | |
| Government | ||
| • Mayor | Arthur Atayan | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 36 km2 (14 sq mi) | |
| Elevation | 910 m (2,990 ft) | |
| Population (2011 census) | ||
| • Total | 43,190 | |
| • Density | 1,200/km2 (3,100/sq mi) | |
| Time zone | AMT (UTC+4) | |
| Postal code | 3301-3308 | |
| Area code(s) | (+374) 285 | |
| Website | Official website | |
Kapan (Armenian: Կապան), is a town in southeast Armenia and the capital of the Syunik Province. It is located on the northern slopes of Mount Khustup, in the valley of the Voghji River. According to the 2011 census, the population of Kapan is 43,190, slightly declined from 45,711 in the 2001 census. Kapan is the most populous town in the Syunik Province and the entire region of southern Armenia.
The town was known as Ghapan (Armenian: Ղափան) during the Soviet period.
The word Kapan originates from the Armenian verb kapel/gabel (կապել), meaning "to lock", and points to an old Armenian geographic term for valleys surrounded by interlocked mountain chains.
The area of modern-day Kapan was first mentioned in the 5th century as a small settlement. Historically, the town was part of the Baghk canton of Syunik, the 9th province of the historic Kingdom of Armenia (Armenia Major). By the end of the 10th century, the ruler of Syunik; prince Smbat II, moved to the town of Kapan and founded the Kingdom of Syunik, proclaiming himself a king under the protectorate of the Bagratid Kingdom of Armenia.
In 1103, Kapan was entirely ruined by the Seljuk invaders. Between the 12th and 15th centuries, Syunik along with the rest of the historic territories of Armenia suffered from the Seljuk, Mongol, Ag Qoyunlu and Kara Koyunlu invasions, respectively.
At the beginning of the 16th century, Kapan became part of the Erivan Beglarbegi within the Safavid Persia. By the beginning of the 18th century, Kapan was associated with the Armenian military leader David Bek, who led the liberation campaign of the Armenians of Syunik against Safavid Persia and the invading Ottoman Turks. David Bek started his battles in 1722 with the help of thousands of local Armenian patriots who liberated Syunik. The centre of David Bek's struggle was the Baghaberd Fortress northwest of Kapan and Halidzor Fortress southwest of Kapan where he died in 1728.
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Wikipedia