ERZERUM, or ERZEROUM.
The capital of the vilayet of the same name in Turkish Armenia, situated on a plain 0000 feet above the level of the sea (Slap: Turkey in Asia, J 3). There are a number of mosques, baths, and mausoleums. Its fortifications have been renewed since IS64, and Ezerum is regarded of considerable military importance owing to its inaccessible position and proximity to the fron tier. Erzerum is famous for its copper and iron ware, as well as for its shawls and carpets. The industries, however, have declined considerably en account of emigration and the turbulent state of the' country. Its commerce, which was mostly with Persia, has diminished since the completion of the Transcaucasian Railway, over which route the trade between Persia and Europa is mainly carried. The population is estimated at about 40,000, about half of whom are Turks, the rest being Armenians. Persians, and Greeks. it. is the
),eat of several consular representatives, including one from the lTnited States, Erzerum is an ancient town. Its Armenian name was Garin lchalakh. Near it stood the old Syro-Armenian town of Arsen. When the Sel juks captured this place, the inhabitants fled to a fortress at Erzerum, which the Seljuks accord ingly called Arsen-er-Rum, i.e. Arsen of the Ro mans (or Byzantines), whence the modern Erze rum. In 1201 it fell into the hands of the Set juks ; of the in 1242; and finally, in 1517, into those of the Turks. In the war of l828-29, between the Turks and the Russians, the taking of Erzerum by the latter decided the cam paign in Asia. Erzerum was an important mili tary centre during the war of 1877-78, and held out against the Russians, who were allowed to occupy it at the close of the war. In October, 1878, it was returned to the Turks.