Taron

Taron is the historic Armenian province whose chief city is Mush. Before 1915 the province of Mush, which is Taron, was one of the most densely Armenian parts of Western Armenia. More than 95,000 Armenians lived there, including those of the city of Mush, about two thirds of the population of the province. They lived in 111 villages, and Hasgegh, with about 5,000 people, was the largest rural Armenian settlement in Western Armenia.¹

Taron had three well-known monasteries: Surb Karapet, Holy Apostles Monastery (Arakelots) and St. Hovhannes of Eghrdut.¹ The priest Khachatur of Taron is credited with introducing the khaz notation of Armenian church music (see Khaz notation).² The Armenian melikate of Baghlu, a semi-independent principality, lasted in Taron until the 1840s.¹

In July 1915 the Armenians of Mush were massacred, between 9 and 14 July.³