Artsakh, also known as Nagorno-Karabakh (literally “Mountainous Karabakh”), was a de-facto independent, predominantly Armenian-populated state, which existed following the conclusion of the First Karabakh War in 1994 to 2023, when Azerbaijan attacked and seized control of its territory. In pre-modern times the region was home to a now extinct culture that had converted to Christianity in the fourth century and had assumed some Armenian cultural traits. In 1813 the region was incorporated into the Russian empire, and later into the Soviet Union. Initially Karabakh was allocated to Soviet Armenia, but this decision was countermanded to see the region given instead to Soviet Azerbaijan as an autonomous district. Which eventually lead to the current conflict.
On the postcard: Monasterial complex of Amaras (IV century)
