Sayat Nova
| Sayat-Nova | |
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Soviet stamp from 1962 devoted to Sayat-Nova's 250 anniversary.
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| Born | Harutyun Sayatyan 14 June 1712 Tiflis, Kingdom of Kartli, Safavid dynasty (present-day Georgia) |
| Died | 22 November 1795 (aged 83) Haghpat, Kingdom of Kartli-Kakheti, Qajar dynasty (present-day Armenia) |
| Occupation | Poet, ashik |
| Nationality | Armenian |
| Spouse | Marmar |
Sayat-Nova (Armenian: Սայաթ-Նովա; Azerbaijani/Persian: سایاتنووا / Sayat Nova; Georgian: საიათნოვა; born Harutyun Sayatyan; 1712/1722 – 22 September 1795) was an Armenian poet, musician and ashik, who had compositions in a number of languages. His songs are in Armenian, Georgian, Azerbaijani, and Persian.
The name Sayat-Nova means "King of Songs" in Persian.
Sayat-Nova's mother, Sara, was born in Tiflis, and his father, Karapet, either in Aleppo or Adana. He was born in Tiflis. Sayat Nova was skilled in writing poetry, singing, and playing the kamancheh, Chonguri, Tambur. He performed in the court of King Heraclius II of Georgia, where he also worked as a diplomat and, apparently, helped forge an alliance between Georgia, Armenia and Shirvan against the Persian Empire. He lost his position at the royal court when he fell in love with the king's sister Ana; he spent the rest of his life as an itinerant bard.
In 1759 he was ordained as a priest in the Armenian Apostolic Church. His wife Marmar died in 1768, leaving behind four children. He served in locations including Tiflis and Haghpat Monastery. In 1795 he was killed in Haghpat Monastery by the invading army of Mohammad Khan Qajar, the Shah of Iran. Khan demanded that Sayat Nova convert from Christianity to Islam, which he refused to do, considering it tantamount to 'turning Turk' and declaring his religion is undeniably Armenian Christian. Hence he was promptly executed and beheaded. He is buried at the Cathedral of Saint George, Tbilisi.
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