Elviye-i Selâse (Kars, Ardahan and Batum) During the National Struggle

In World War I, the Ottoman State took military operation to seize Elviye-i Selâse (Three Sanjaks), which it had lost with the 1878 Treaty of Berlin. However, when the military operation failed, all Eastern Anatolia and the Black Sea were occupied by the Russians. Although, within the framework of the events that developed as a result of the 1917 Russian Revolutions, the Ottoman State captured the entire Elviye-i Selâse in the spring of 1918 and annexed the region to the motherland in August 1918. However, after the Armistice of Mudros, the Ottoman armies had to evacuate Elviye-i Selâse. Thereupon, with the support of the Turkish army in the region, Shura (Council) Governments began to be established in order to protect the rights of the Turkish-Muslim people. Although these Shura Governments united and formed the National Government of the South-western Caucasus in January 1919, the British dissolved this government in April 1919. The Turkish National Struggle, formed around Mustafa Kemal Pasha, has always been related to Elviye-i Selâse. Therefore, Elviye-i Selâse was within the borders of the National Pact, which was accepted in the last Ottoman Parliament of Deputies. Upon the occupation of Istanbul by the Entente Powers on March 16, 1920, the Grand National Assembly opened in Ankara. It was officially accepted that Elviye-i Selâse annexed Türkiye in May 1920. In order to save Elviye-i Selâse from the Armenians and Georgians, a military operation was organized against the Armenians in October 1920, and Kars remained in Türkiye with the Gyumri Treaty signed as a result. On the other hand, a military operation was organized against the Georgians in February-March 1921 and Artvin, Ardahan and Batum came into the hands of the Turks. However, with the Moscow Treaty signed on March 16, 1921, Batum was left to Soviet Georgia. Although this situation was accepted as the first concession from the National Pact, great gains were obtained in return. This situation was also confirmed with the Treaty of Kars in October 1921 with the Caucasian Republics. By the laws enacted in the Grand National Assembly of Türkiye, it was tried to adapt Elviye-i Selâse to the homeland in terms of civil, economic and social aspects.

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