25 Facts About Simon Vratsian

Simon Vratsian was one of the leaders of the First Republic of Armenia and served as its last prime minister for 10 days in 1920.

Simon Vratsian headed the Committee for the Salvation of the Fatherland for 40 days during the anti-Bolshevik February Uprising in 1921.

Simon Vratsian received further education at the Gevorgian Seminary in Echmiadzin from 1900 to 1906.

Simon Vratsian returned to Nor Nakhichevan as an ARF operative and took part in the 4th General Congress of the Dashnaktsutiun at Vienna in 1907, where he supported the adoption of socialism in the party program.

Simon Vratsian earned his teaching credentials but was instructed to flee Russia before completing his law degree due to increased repression of ARF members by the Tsarist authorities.

Simon Vratsian went first to Constantinople and then to Erzurum, where he was invited to train Armenian teachers at the Sanasarian Academy and teach history at a secondary school for girls.

Simon Vratsian then travelled to the United States in 1911 where he edited the Hairenik newspaper in Boston.

Simon Vratsian was elected to the party's Bureau and mixed with the leaders of the Young Turks.

Simon Vratsian's positions carried over to the government of Hamo Ohanjanyan; he assumed responsibilities for information and propaganda.

Simon Vratsian subsequently went into hiding, and later emerged in February 1921 as the chairman of the Committee for the Salvation of the Fatherland, which led the anti-Bolshevik February Uprising that briefly overthrew Soviet rule in Armenia.

Simon Vratsian appealed to Europe and Turkey for assistance against the Bolsheviks.

Simon Vratsian then travelled over Europe, settling in Paris to edit the ARF's official newspaper Droshak from 1924 to 1933.

Simon Vratsian traveled extensively, appealing to various European powers to help Armenia regain its independence.

Simon Vratsian finally settled in Beirut, Lebanon in 1952, where he was principal of and taught courses at the College Armenien, one of the main schools of the Armenian diaspora.

Simon Vratsian died in Beirut aged 87 on 21 May 1969.

Simon Vratsian's surname was changed by a schoolteacher, Melikian, who incorrectly assumed that Grouzian was a corruption of Gruzinian, and thus Armenianized it to Vratsian.

Vratsian describes that after the incident with Melikian, his family was divided into three camps: the Grouzian camp, which included his mother, who thought he was a traitor, and his conservative uncle Garabed; the Grouzinian camp, which consists of his "lover of all new things" uncle Mergian; and the Vratsian camp, of which Simon was the only member.

Simon Vratsian describes his father as a storyteller, whose stories increased business for the family coffee shop.

Simon Vratsian writes in his memoirs about his rich maternal uncle Mikishka, and estimates that his net worth in several millions of dollars.

Simon Vratsian recalls how later, when he was getting involved in Armenian political parties, he was going to be a member of the Social-Democrat Hnchakian Party.

Simon Vratsian describes the ARF General Congresses in minute detail, such as which member of the congress wanted an alliance with Russia, who wanted to fund the curing of Armenian villagers from lice, which hotel he stayed in, and who he became friends with.

Simon Vratsian describes his friendship with prominent figures of the Armenian national movement such as Rostom, Hamazasp, Andranik, Armen Garo, Aram Manukian, among others.

Simon Vratsian hit Andranik's daughter, and was summoned to the Headmaster's office.

Simon Vratsian was a close friend of Drastamat Kanayan, with whom he lived in Beirut for several years; Simon Vratsian wrote a book about Dro's life titled Mrrkatsin Dron.

Simon Vratsian was at the house of Dr Clarence Ussher when a messenger from Vratsian arrived asking Dr Ussher to keep his wife and son safe when the Bolsheviks took over.