1. Drastamat Kanayan, better known as Dro, was an Armenian military commander and politician.
17 Facts About Drastamat Kanayan
1. 2.
Drastamat Kanayan was a member of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation.
3.
Drastamat Kanayan briefly served as Defence Minister of the First Republic of Armenia in 1920, during the country's brief independence.
4.
Drastamat Kanayan was born in Igdyr in the Surmalu uezd of the Russian Empire in 1884.
5.
Drastamat Kanayan was the son of Martiros Kanayan, the head of the Kanayan clan in Igdir, and his wife, Horom.
6.
Drastamat Kanayan was no better in the Gymnasium school as the grades he achieved were barely enough for a promotion.
7.
Drastamat Kanayan served as detachment commander in the Russian Caucasus Army during World War I Drastamat Kanayan was one of the commanders of the Armenian volunteer units and was decorated by the Tsar.
8.
Drastamat Kanayan had already become a popular military leader after the victories over the Ottoman Empire at the Caucasus Campaign.
9.
Drastamat Kanayan was the commander of the Armenian forces in the Battle of Bash Abaran.
10.
Drastamat Kanayan commanded Armenian forces during the brief Armeno-Georgian War in December 1918 over the disputed Borchaly and Akhalkalaki uezds.
11.
That same day, Drastamat Kanayan left Artsakh with his units and withdrew to Syunik.
12.
From 24 November to 2 December 1920, Drastamat Kanayan was the Defence Minister of Armenia.
13.
Drastamat Kanayan was one of the signatories of the declaration of the transfer of power to a Soviet government made by the government of Armenia on 2 December 1920, which declared Dro de facto leader of Armenia pending the arrival of the Revolutionary Committee of Armenia to Yerevan.
14.
Drastamat Kanayan stayed in Moscow until 1923, and traveled in Europe before finally settling in Bucharest, Romania in 1925.
15.
Drastamat Kanayan returned to the United States several times for medical treatment.
16.
Drastamat Kanayan was survived by his third wife Gayane, their son Mardiros and Dro's stepdaughter Olga.
17.
Drastamat Kanayan's remains were taken to Armenia for final burial in Aparan, on 28 May 2000, coinciding with the commemoration of the 82nd anniversary of the First Republic of Armenia.