Lord Byron also died for Armenia

· February 5, 2025

By Armine Koundakjian

One April day in 1824 in Greece’s Misolongi city a man was dying who was one of the most talented poets and the handsomest man who has ever lived on this earth.

He was so well known for his genius that upon hearing the news of his passing, another talented poet, namely Alexander Pushkin declared, “The world became desolate….”

Truly, that genius, handsome man was dying surrounded by his loyal soldier rebels, for whom he had been a dear friend, confidant, leader and provider of arms and finances.

Next day, at dawn the city shook with the sound of 37 Gun Salute.

The grateful Greece was expressing her debt to a great leader who shed blood against the brutal Ottoman regime by his heroic fight. The people of Greece was mourning and announcing to the entire world, the loss of a great soldier/martyr.

The 37 Gun Salute signified the age of the dying hero. Lord Byron’s struggle against the Ottoman Turkey in Greece, was also the struggle for Armenia.

All of us know that Byron was so familiar with Armenians, that he decided to learn the Armenian language by enrolling at the Mekhitarist Monastery in St. Lazar island, Italy.

He collaborated with linguist Haroutiun Avgerian in writing an Armenian-English dictionary and wrote the foreword of the dictionary in English about the Mekhitarist monks and Armenians:

“These men are members of an exploited and downtrodden noble Nation that like Jews and Greeks, has gone through deportations and slavery, without becoming tough-hearted like the formers, and hostages like the latter. This nation has accumulated wealth and honor under conditions of bondage, without resorting to fraud or forgery.”

Afterward, he reminded us that according to the Bible, the Garden of Eden was located in Armenia and then he added that, “The Persian lords and Turkish pashas have demolished and destroyed that country where God had created it in his Image.”