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The Young Turks come to power
A group of reformers calling themselves the "Young Turks" overthrow Sultan Abdul Hamid and establish a more modern constitutional government. Armenians hope to have an equal place in this new state, but the nationalistic Young Turks, led by a triumvirate known as the Three Pashas, soon announce their plan to "Turkify" the empire and remove all threats to the empire. -
The Turco-German Alliance is formed
With a great deal of German pressure, Turkey and Germany form the Turco-German Alliance in a secret treaty. The agreement gives Germany virtually all control over Ottoman military forces. -
The Ottoman Empire enters World War I
Under German command, Ottoman forces bomb Russian Black Sea ports. With this event, the Muslim Ottoman Empire formally enters World War I on the side of Germany and the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Allied powers declare war on the Ottoman Empire several days later. -
A Proclamation of Jihad is issued against the Allied powers
Ottoman religious authorities in Constantinople issue a Proclamation of Jihad against England, France, and Russia. They declare a holy war against all Christians except their allies, and legitimize the formation of chete organizations, or armed irregular forces. -
The first chete attacks on Armenians begin
After military leaders accuse Armenians of planning to join Russian forces, chete forces attack the village of Otsni in Erzerum Province, killing the local Armenian priest and many civilians. Other villages in the same province are attacked as well. -
Deportations begin.
The first convoy of Armenian deportees leaves the city of Zeitun, headed to the Konia Desert in central Anatolia or to Der-el-Zor in the Syrian Desert. Deportations soon begin leaving from other cities as well, but most deportees are killed en route. -
Turkish forces besiege the city of Van
Turkish forces suddenly attack the city of Van, and Armenians organize a defense that lasts until advance units of the Russian army, led by Armenian volunteers, arrive in May. The Russian forces identify around 55,000 Armenian dead in the province. -
The first official phase of the Armenian massacres begin
Hundreds of intellectuals are arrested in Constantinople, the capital of the Ottoman Empire. They are later murdered. This event marks the official beginning of the Armenian genocide, which lasts until 1917. However, massacres continue into the 1920s. -
The massacre begins of the Armenian population of Mush, Sassun and Bitlis vilayets begins.
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Russian forces occupy Armenian regions of the Ottoman Empire.
After gradually advancing into Armenian regions of the Ottoman Empire, Russian forces finally take over all Armenian regions. However, most Armenians have been deported or murdered at this point. -
The Treaty of Brest-Litovsk returns Armenia to the Ottoman Empire
The Soviet Union (having taken over Russia) signs the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk and concludes hostilities with the Central Powers. In the treaty the Soviets are forced to return all of Ottoman Armenia and part of Russian Armenia to the collapsing Ottoman Empire. The Ottomans, in turn, announce amnesty to all remaining Armenians, but in reality they are still being systematically destroyed. -
An Armenian Republic is formed
After a short-lived federation with Georgia and Azerbaijan collapses, Armenia declares an independent republic in Russian Transcaucasia. While this republic is short-lived as well, it is the first independent Armenian state since the Middle Ages. -
The Ottoman Empire surrenders and the Three Pashas flee
The Ottoman Empire surrenders to Allied powers, and the armistice agreement provides for the return of Armenian deportees to their homes.The Three Pashas flee to Germany, where they are given protection. The Armenian underground forms a group called Operation Nemesis to hunt them down. -
A court martial is convened in Constantinople
A court martial meant to address war crimes (including the Armenian genocide) convenes in Constantinople. A number of leaders are found guilty and sentenced to death for their involvement in the genocide. -
One of the Three Pashas is killed in Berlin
One of the Three Pashas is killed by a lone gunman in Berlin. The gunman claims temporary insanity due to the mass killings, and he is quickly acquitted. The other leaders are soon assassinated as well. -
Tehlirian's trial is held in Berlin
he Presiding Justice of the District Court, Justice Lehmberg, opened the proceedings at exactly 9:15 A .M. The presence of the three defense attorneys and the defendant was noted, and the two interpreters, Va/ian Zakarian and Kevork Kaloustian, took the oath. Subsequently, the jurors were chosen by balloting and each one took an oath stating that he would give his verdict as his conscience dictated. Then, the presence of the witnesses and the expert witnesses was verified. -
Bahaeddin Shakir assasinated
Jemal Azmi, the governor-general of Trebizond during the massacres, and Behaeddin Shakir are assassinated in Berlin. -
The Turkish Army pillages Smyrna.
During the Greco-Turkish War, the advance guard of the Turkish Army enters Smyrna in Anatolia and pillages Armenian and Greek homes and stores. Thousands of Greeks and Armenians are killed, and the city is later burned. Some historians mark this as the last massacre in the Armenian genocide. -
Treaty of Lausanne
Treaty of Lausanne signed by Turkey and the Allies excludes all mention of Armenia or the Armenians. The new Turkish Nationalist state is extended international recognition. The Ottoman Empire goes out of existence. -
Ankara ratifies the Lausanne Treaty.
The Turkish Nationalist congress, known as the Grand National Assembly, meeting in Ankara ratifies the Lausanne Treaty. The Allies begin to evacuate the following day from all places in Turkey that had been occupied in accordance with the terms of the Armistice of October 30, 1918.
