Hayro Petoyan, descendant of Peto’s princely clan of Geligyuzan village, hunting in Armenia after the genocide and expulsion from Sasun.
The axe on his back is a traditional weapon from Sasun called a Nalchkh, kept on the back and used to hunt game and/or as a side arm when fighting (They had three bladed weapons including this, a dagger, and a sword and shield when fighting 19th century).
https://i.redd.it/bbtguuogr6id1.jpeg
Posted by TheJaymort
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Sasun had an interesting system of governance. The villages were subjected to paying some tribute to Kurdish Aghas (feudal lords), but other than that they were basically completely independent.
Villages in Sasun were basically a semi-elective monarchy. The village headman bore the title of prince (Ishkhan), and his villagers obeyed him extremely loyally. In the most remote, highland, and independent canton of Sasun, Talvorik, the princes exercised total control over their villagers, the decision to do anything like attack the Kurds, harbor revolutionaries, etc etc was made by his sole decision.
I said “Semi-elective”, because although it was elective in principle in practice people from the most famous and “brave” clans tended to be elected as the prince over and over again.