Population
“The main Armenian community in Süngürlü, 1,000 strong, was to be found in the principal town of the kaza, located at its the southernmost tip. There were a few other small, dispersed groups in the kaza, bringing the total Armenian population to 1,936.”[1]
In 1872-73, there were 310 Armenian households in the village of Sungurlu, 250 Turkish and 30 Greek households.[2] In 1914, the Armenians of Sungurlu possessed one church (Surb Astvadzadzin – Holy Mother of God) and two schools with an enrolment of 170 pupils.[3] Armenians were engaged in crafts, art and agriculture, especially blacksmithing and tailoring. At the end of 19th century, the Armenian Haygazian collage had 200 students.
Settlements inhabited by Greeks
Σουγγουρλού – Soungourlou [Sungurlu]
Γούρμπαγλου (Κουρμπαγλού) – Gourpaglou (Kourpaglou)
Τσαρτσίντερε – Tsartsindere
Τσατμά – Tsatma[4]
History
Sungurlu has been settled by Hittites, Assyrians, Phrygians, Cimmerians, Alexander the Great, Galatians, Ancient Romans, and Pontic Greeks. Following the defeat of Byzantium by the Turks at the Battle of Manzikert in 1071, the area was settled by Danishmend lords.
Destruction
The Armenians of the kaza of Sungurlu were all liquidated in the course of July 1915.[5]
