Handaberd

File:Храм Андаберд7.jpg

One of several castles in the highlands of Kalbajar, Handaberd was constructed over the Ayrım Gorge, on a high mountain ridge surrounded by thick forest, {{convert|600|m|ft}} from the right bank of the Levçay River flowing by Ganlykend village.{{Unreliable source?|date=February 2018}}

{{Cite web

| title = Mağaralar - memarlığın ilkin nümunələri

| url=http://www.anl.az/down/meqale/azerbaycan/2010/avqust/131316.htm

| access-date = 17 November 2010 }} Handaberd is first mentioned as "Handu berd" by the 10th century Armenian historian Movses Kaghankatvatsi, who wrote in his work History of the Country of Albania that the fortress was built by Prince Atrnerseh of Khachen in the second quarter of the 9th century. Atrnerseh, a member of a branch of the Siunia dynasty, ruled over an area approximately corresponding to the historical Armenian province of Artsakh. Handaberd was located in the Tsar province (also known as Upper Khachen) of the Principality of Khachen․ It served as Atrnerseh's residence as well as a prison for prisoners sentenced to death.{{cite book |last1=Hakobyan |first1=Tadevos Kh. |last2=Melik-Bakhshyan |first2=Stepan T. |last3=Barseghyan |first3=Hovhannes Kh. |date=2001 |title=Հայաստանի և հարակից շրջանների տեղանունների բառարան [Dictionary of toponymy of Armenia and adjacent territories] |volume=3|url=http://www.nayiri.com/imagedDictionaryBrowser.jsp?dictionaryId=61&dt=HY_HY&pageNumber=2412 |location=Yerevan |publisher=Yerevan State University Publishing House |page=348 |language=hy}}

According to the inscription on one of the khachkars kept at Dadivank, a nearby Armenian monastery, from 1142 to 1182 Handaberd belonged to Hasan I Vakhtangyan, prince of Upper Khachen. Some time after the initial construction under Atrnerseh, the fortress was significantly expanded. Around 1250, the fortress is mentioned in the history written by the Armenian historian Kirakos Gandzaketsi. According to one legend, the fortress was repaired using funds sent by Levon I, King of Cilician Armenia, and called Levonaberd (see variations thereof below) in his honor.

Handaberd's inscriptions were studied by the French orientalist Marie-Félicité Brosset in the mid-19th century.{{cite book|last=Brosset|first=Marie-Félicité|title=Additions et éclaircissements à l'Histoire de la Géorgie depuis l'antiquité jusqu'en 1469 de J.-C.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ofIKAAAAIAAJ|location= St. Petersburg|date=1851 |volume= |pages=338, 340, 364}} Less than a kilometer to the east of the fortress is a medieval monastery complex bearing the same name, which has also been excavated.

The fortress has historically been referred to by various names and renderings, such as Lev (also the Armenian name for the Levçay River), Levaghala, Levkala, Levonaberd, Lohaberd, Handberd, and Handuberd.

The castle is surrounded by steep rocks and streams from three sides, and looks like a natural rock relief. The only entrance to the castle is from the gates on the north-eastern edge. The internal length of the castle is {{convert|90|m|ft}}, and its width is {{convert|35|to|40|m|ft}}. The internal castle is in the higher south-western corner. The average thickness of the walls of Handaberd fortress is {{convert|1.3|m|ft}}.{{Cite web

| title = Karabakh Foundation - Kalbajar

| url = http://karabakhfoundation.org/regions/kalbajar/

| access-date = 17 November 2010

| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110726213031/http://karabakhfoundation.org/regions/kalbajar/

| archive-date = 26 July 2011

| url-status = dead

}}{{Unreliable source?|date=February 2018}} There are 5-6 water wells {{convert|3|to|5|m|ft|0}} deep that were used for storage, the cooling of food, and as a source of drinking water.{{Unreliable source?|date=February 2018}}

{{Cite web

| title = ABİDƏLƏR, QALALAR

| url=http://www.anl.az/down/meqale/adalet/2010/iyun/122623.htm

| access-date = 17 November 2010 }}{{Unreliable source?|date=February 2018}} Nowadays, the walls are in ruins. Around Handaberd fortress, there are other smaller satellite castles on surrounding mountain peaks such as Pahak or Garavul (both meaning guard) and Jomard castles.{{Unreliable source?|date=February 2018}} Close to the Handaberd fortress there are two caves where archaeologists found items indicating the early presence of human beings.{{Unreliable source?|date=February 2018}}

The castle is designated as a place bearing state historical importance in Azerbaijan.{{Cite web

| title = Lex qalası

| url = http://www.mct.gov.az/?/az/abide/view/1492/&PHPSESSID=t5v38hp0h2j657ed0du0sgkfb1

| access-date = 17 November 2010

| url-status = dead

| archive-date = 27 March 2012

| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120327100450/http://www.mct.gov.az/?%2Faz%2Fabide%2Fview%2F1492%2F&PHPSESSID=t5v38hp0h2j657ed0du0sgkfb1

}}

Handaberd Fortress.jpg|Handaberd fortress

The Handaberd fortress.jpg|Gates, remains of the walls, view from the courtyard of the fortress

Walls of the Lekh fortress.jpg|Fortress walls

Walls of the Lekh fortress2.jpg|Fortress walls

Tendir in Lekh fortress.jpg|Tonir oven in the fortress

Храм Андаберд2.jpg|Handaberd monastery

Крепость Андаберд.jpeg|Handaberd fortress

• Kalbajar
• Shusha State Historical and Architectural Reserve

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{{Reflist}}

• [https://avproduction.am/?ln=am&page=culture&id=61 About Handaberd]

{{Armenian Fortresses}}

{{Castles and fortresses in Azerbaijan}}

Category:Monuments and memorials in Azerbaijan

Category:Palaces in Azerbaijan

Category:Tourist attractions in Azerbaijan

Category:Castles and fortresses in Azerbaijan