| Conflict: | Aras War |
| Place: | Nakhchivan |
| Partof: | Armenian-Azerbaijani War (1918-1920) |
| Date: | May – June 1919 |
| Result: | Armenian victory |
| Territory: | Armenian annexation of the Republic of Aras |
| Combatant1: | Armenia |
| Combatant2: | Republic of Aras
|
| Strength1: | 18,000[1] |
| Strength2: | 6,000-10,000[2] |
| Casualties1: | Light[3] |
| Casualties2: | Unknown, but heavy[4] |
| Commander1: | Drastamat Kanayan |
| Commander2: | Jafargulu Khan Nakhchivanski Kelbali Khan Nakhchivanski |
The Aras War was a military conflict which was fought by the First Republic of Armenia, who had lost the region of Nakhchivan (Nakhichevan) following Muslim uprisings, which led to the formation of the Republic of Aras under Jafargulu Khan Nakhchivanski, who worked closely with the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic. The war lasted from May 1919 until mid-June 1919, with the Republic of Aras forced into a capitulation following the capture of Nakhchivan.[5]
The Caucasus Campaign was a conflict which was fought within the Caucasian region and the Armenian Highlands following the outbreak of World War l, it was primarily fought between the Ottoman Empire and the Russian Empire, the Russian army had captured significant territories within the Ottoman Empire such as Trapizund, Karin, Baghesh and Van. However, Russian dominance on the frontier halted following internal turmoil caused by the February Revolution, and by 1918 the Russians would be defeated in the region and forced into signing the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk. The signing of the treaty would mark the beginning of major clashes in the Caucasus, with newly formed Caucasian states including Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan quickly entering wars with hopes of gaining territories within the region who were claimed by their governments.
The on-going Armenian-Azerbaijani war (1918–1920) significantly helped with the foundation of the Republic of Aras, which was ruled by Azerbaijani officials within Nakhchivan who were supported by Azerbaijan during the war. The region of Nakhchivan itself had a population which composed of 81,191 Azerbaijanis and 54,209 Armenians, the two ethnic groups have had a long history of internal unrest within the region, which eventually led to Azerbaijani uprisings in Nakhchivan, and the creation of the Republic of Aras.
Fighting began in May 1919, with 18,000 Armenian troops under the command of Drastamat Kanayan preparing for an offensive into Nakhchivan. However, this would quickly be stopped following the establishment of a British governorship in the district in order to prevent further clashes between the Armenians and Azerbaijanis. However, the British attempt at preventing a war in Nakhchivan would quickly be halted due to Sir William Montgomerie Thomson's suspicions, who believed that the Republic of Aras was under the influence of Pan-Turkism, and attempted to create a land connection between the Ottoman Empire and Azerbaijan. The Armenian invasion plans were thus approved by the British, the Armenians began their offensives on late May 1919, quickly making significant gains within the region, as the Armenian troops had taken Sadarak, Kangarli and Sharur back within a week. The outnumbered Azerbaijanis had little to no chance against the much better armed and trained Armenians, and by June 1919 the Armenians had seized most of northern and western Nakhchivan, with Kanayan's and Ozanian's forces continuing a direct offensive through the southern districts of Nakhchivan following the local railway directly to the capital of the Republic of Aras, Nakhchivan. Kanayan's and Ozanian's forces would succeed, as Nakhchivan would be directly attacked by Armenian troops in early-June, the city of Nakhchivan would fall in mid-June following the Battle of Nakhchivan and thus the Republic of Aras capitulated, with remaining parts of the Nakhchivan region being captured by Armenian forces shortly following the capitulation of Aras.
Following the war, the Armenians would annex the territories of the Republic of Aras, effectively integrating the former state into the First Republic of Armenia. The Aras War would also mark the ending of the Muslim uprisings in Armenia, with the Armenians having quelled the Muslim attempt at seizing both Nakhchivan and Kars. Due to Drastamat Kanayan's presence in this conflict and many more he is considered by many Armenians a national hero of Armenia, who assisted in the creation of the First Republic of Armenia and the protection of its border. However, only a year after the Aras War the Soviet Union would invade Armenia, taking Nakhchivan in the process and ending Armenian political presence within the region.