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Gyumri (first Kumayri or Gyumri, then Alexandropol (1840-1924), then Leninakan (1924-1990), then again Gyumri), is the capital of the Shirak province in northwest Armenia.

The first settlement at the location occupied by the modern city of Gyumri is believed to have been founded some time in the 5th century BC, perhaps ca. 401 BC, by Greek colonists. An alternative theory suggests that the city was founded by Cimmerians, based on the fact that Cimmerians conquered the region in 720 BC and that the original name of the city was Kumayri. The settlement existed sporadically during the next two millenia until a major Russian fortress was built on its site in 1837. In 1840, the town that was quickly growing around the fortress was named Alexandropol (sometimes transliterated as Aleksandropol). The name was chosen in honor of Emperor Nicholas I's wife, Princess Charlotte of Prussia, who had changed her name to Alexandra Fyodorovna after converting to Orthodox Christianity.

Gyumri is the second largest city in the Republic of Armenia. It suffered major damage in the 1988 Spitak Earthquake, which ruined large parts of Armenia.

External links

http://www.shirak.am http://www.gyumri.am

References

• Encyclopedia Britannica
• Adrian Room, Placenames of the World: Origins and Meanings of the Names for Over 5000 Natural Features, Countries, Capitals, Territories, Cities and Historical Sites, McFarland, 1997, ISBN 0786418141 (pbk) p.192

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Contribution of Information

Some information was contributed by: masterdeath01 and http://www.shirak.am

• Cities and towns in Armenia
• Armenia geography stubs