Churs
Persian: چورس | |
|---|---|
Village | |
| Coordinates: 38°49′51″N 45°02′07″E / 38.83083°N 45.03528°E | |
| Country | Iran |
| Province | West Azerbaijan |
| County | Chaypareh |
| District | Central |
| Rural District | Churs |
| Population (2016) | |
• Total | 2,081 |
| Time zone | UTC+3:30 (IRST) |
Churs (Persian: چورس) is a village in, and the capital of, Churs Rural District in the Central District of Chaypareh County, West Azerbaijan province, Iran.
The location of modern-day Churs proved to be extremely pivotal in Armenian history. On 26 May 451 AD, a decisive battle was fought at the location that would be one of the single most important events in Armenian history.
On the Avarayr Plain, at what is modern-day Churs in the West Azerbaijan Province, the Armenian Army under Vardan Mamikonian clashed with Sassanid Persia. Although the Persians were victorious on the battlefield itself, the battle proved to be a major strategic victory for Armenians, as Avarayr paved the way to the Nvarsak Treaty (484 AD), which affirmed Armenia's right to practice Christianity freely.
At the time of the 2006 National Census, the village's population was 2,367 in 636 households, when it was in the former Chaypareh District of Khoy County. The following census in 2011 counted 2,430 people in 733 households, by which time the district had been separated from the county in the establishment of Chaypareh County. The rural district was transferred to the new Central District. The 2016 census measured the population of the village as 2,081 people in 660 households. It was the most populous village in its rural district.
So spirited was the Armenian defense, however, that the Persians suffered enormous losses as well. Their victory was pyrrhic and the king, faced with troubles elsewhere, was forced, at least for the time being, to allow the Armenians to worship as they chose.
The Armenian defeat in the Battle of Avarayr in 451 proved a pyrrhic victory for the Persians. Though the Armenians lost their commander, Vartan Mamikonian, and most of their soldiers, Persian losses were proportionately heavy, and Armenia was allowed to remain Christian.