Sarkis Agha

Alexander-Michael Hadjilyra
katoomba@cytanet.com.cy
As part of my research regarding the Armenian community of Cyprus, I came across the
name of Sarkis Agha several times. Not only in Armenian documents, but also in Ottoman
documents, registers of the Holy Archbishopric of Cyprus, consular reports and - last but
not least - the well-known Excerpta Cypria, containing travellers accounts of Cyprus. The
following is a compilation of data from the aforementioned sources.
In the late 18th century/early 19th century, Nicosias leading citizen was an Armenian
merchant called Sarkis Agha. Sarkis - the son of Avak - was originally the dragoman
(interpreter) for the French Consul (between 1774-1798) and then he became the
dragoman for the English Consul (between 1798-1810) - as was his eldest son, Krikor
(between 1799-1809). He was also a beratli (bearer of a privilege, issued in 1798) and
used to pay the annual baksheesh (bribe) to the Muhassil (Governor).
He lived in a konak (mansion) with 80 rooms, richly and elegantly decorated, resembling
an Oriental palace: the finest carpets, numerous windows near the roof with carved
wooden encasements, divans covered with satin and embroidered cushions, raised floors
in some chambers, even a harem; it was known as the house of many rooms and was
said to be as large as 100 ordinary houses - including a beautiful garden full of fruit trees
and marble fountains. We do not know exactly where this mansion was, but it was
certainly close to the Sourp Asdvadzadzin church; in all probability, it was taken down
during the July 1821 events, when the Ottomans tried to degrade the wealthy Christian
locals.
Sarkis Agha had an annual income of 30-35 tons of wheat, farms and animals. His wealth
reached the enormous amount of 79.859 kurush (piasters), together with 13 mules, 7
donkeys and 30 oxen, not to mention the valuable items contained within his mansion and
the lands he owned. When he died in 1810, the Mufti (Muslim archpriest), the Kadi
(Judge), the Muhassil (Governor), the Armenian Bishop and Sarkis son-in-law, Hadji
Symeon Agha of Crimea, all co-operated to make the most of his great fortune - rousing
even the interest of the central Ottoman government in Constantinople; the latter
contested that his wealth amounted to 90.844 kurush. He was certainly a unique case.
Sarkis and his wife, Mariam, had Krikor, Avak and Mardiros (all merchants) and Anna (the
wife of Hadji Symeon Agha of Crimea). Krikor died in 1809, but he owed money to several
people, while Avak died in 1819, after bequeathing to the Monastery a mill in the Kornos
region. Mariam and Mardiros were alive until at least 1816, at which time they donated a
house next to the church and two mills in Kythrea. As for Anna - which possessed the title
Khatoun (similar to Lady), she was already dead in 1814, at which time her husband had
built some rooms in her memory; she probably passed away in 1811, when Symeon Agha
started the restoration of the Magaravank.
We have no information regarding the ancestors of his other children, but we do know that
Krikor and his wife Maritsa had at least five (5) children: Henya (?), Yeghsapet, Caterina,
Artin and Sdepan. Using the data from the registry at the Prelature, I was able to trance
some of Sdepans descendants - some of whom are related to the Eramian dynasty!
Sdepan and Heghine Boghossian had four children: Maritsa (we do not know if she was
married), Srpouhi (wife of Virab, probably childless), Yeghsapet (wife of Boghos Eramian the son of Artin Boghos Eramian and Caterina Carletti) and Philip (husband of Yeghsapet

Ohanian). Yeghsapet Sdepanian and Boghos Eramian had, amongst others, Sdepan,
father of Asdig, mother of Berge Kouyoumdjian. On the other hand, Philip Sdepanian and
Yeghsapet Ohanian had Anna (wife of Hagop Eramian - childless), Sima (wife of Apraham
Sinanian), as well as the spinsters Akabi, Mariam and Zarif. Sima and Apraham had Philip,
who married Gulenia Boudaghian and had Alice; Alice married Hagop Keukdjian and had
Elsie; finally, Elsie and Aris Utidjian had Haig Utidjian.
Below are two of the references we find of him in Excerpta Cypria:
Lieut. Colonel W. M. Leake (13/02/1800)
At Lefkosia we are very hospitably entertained by an Armenian merchant, of the name of
Sarkes, who is an English baratli, and under that protection has amassed a considerable
property, and lives in splendour; he and his relations seem to occupy all the principal
offices of the island held by the Christians, such as interpreter and banker to the
Mutesellim, or deputy of the Qapudan Pasha, collector of the contributions of the
Christians, head of the Christian community &c.
Rev. Edward Daniel Clarke, June 1806
We went to the house of Mr Skis (the English Dragoman as he is vulgarly called), a rich
Armenian merchant, who enjoys the English protection for transacting whatsoever
business their nation may have with the Governor. His house was in all respects a palace,
possessing the highest degree of Oriental magnificence. The apartments were not only
spacious, but they were adorned -with studied elegance; the floors being furnished with
the finest mats bought from Grand Cairo, and the divans covered with satin, set round with
embroidered cushions. The windows of the rooms, as in all Oriental houses, were near the
roof, and small, although numerous, and placed close to each other. They had double
casements, one being of painted glass, surrounded by carved work, as in the old Gothic
palaces of England. These perhaps derived their original form from the East, during the
Crusades. So many instances occur to strengthen the opinion, that I may be liable to
unnecessary repetition, when allusion is made to this style of building. The custom of
having the floor raised in the upper part of a chamber, where the superiors sit, as in our old
halls, is strictly Oriental; it is the same in the tents of the Tartars. We were permitted to
view the Harem. This always consists of a summer and a winter apartment. The first was a
large square room, surrounded by divans; the last an oblong chamber, where the divans
were placed parallel to each other, one on either side, lengthways; and at the upper
extremity was the fire-place, resembling our ancient English hearths.
About half an hour after our arrival, the worthy old Armenian came home; and throwing
himself at full length upon the divan, began to fan himself with a bunch of coloured
feathers, while his secretary opened and read to him our letters. Refreshments were
instantly served, and pipes brought by his attendants; soon after this he proposed that we
should accompany him to the Governor's. As we descended, he shewed us his beautiful
garden, filled with, standard apricot-trees laden with ripe fruit, and our wine, as he said, for
dinner, already cooling in marble fountains, beneath the shade of orange, citron, lemon,
fig, vine, and pomegranate trees.