Foreign relations between Iran and the Ottoman Empire and its impact on Echmiadzin based on the Persian documents of Matenadaran

Abstract— The foreign relations between Iran and the Ottoman Empire have had profound effects on the border regions, especially on the city of Echmiadzin in Armenia, during different historical periods. The documents available in Matenadaran, the National Library of Armenia, as a reliable source, represent the political, economic, and cultural interactions between these two empires. This research examines how these relations affected the social and religious situation of Echmiadzin. According to the available documents, it can be seen that the political and military competitions between Iran and the Ottoman Empire have affected not only the geographical borders but also the cultural and religious identity of the region. Also, these relations have led to the formation of new religious and social institutions in Echmiadzin. This research seeks to answer the following questions using an analytical-documentary method: 1. How have the political competitions between Iran and the Ottoman Empire affected the social and religious situation of Echmiadzin? 2. What roles did religious institutions play in Echmiadzin in response to changes in Iranian-Ottoman relations? The research findings suggest that 1. The changing relations between Iran and the Ottomans led to significant changes in the social and religious structure of Echmiadzin. 2. Religious institutions in Echmiadzin acted as intermediaries that not only helped preserve the region's cultural identity but also resisted political pressures from the two empires.