Jaques Bagratuni

Prince Yakov Gerasimovich Bagratuni (, ; 25 August 1879 – 23 December 1943) was a Russian and Armenian nobleman and military commander. He was a major general in the Imperial Russian Army. During World War I, he served under the Centro-Caspian Dictatorship and the First Republic of Armenia and later became the Ambassador of Armenia to Great Britain.

Early life Bagratuni was born on 25 August 1879 in Akhaltsikhe city, in Caucasus Viceroyalty (1801–1917) of the Russian Empire to a noble family. His family is descended from the Bagratuni dynasty of former kings of Armenia in the Middle Ages (885-1045). He graduated from the Tiflis gymnasium in 1898 with honors, from the Kiev Military School in 1900, and from the Nicholas General Staff Academy in 1907.

Military career Bagratuni served as an officer in Warsaw and successfully completed an important task in the intelligence of Persia. He became a Lieutenant in 1904 and that same year he entered the Academy of the General Staff, but in early 1905 his teaching was interrupted and he went to the front of the Russian-Japanese War. Bagratuni commanded a company in the 19th East Siberian Regiment. On 25 February 1905 in a battle near the village of Pooh, he was shot and wounded, but continued to command a company. For military merit he was awarded the Order of St. Anna 4th class with the inscription "For Bravery" and the Order of Saint Stanislaus 3rd class with Swords.

On 26 November 1908, he became Captain and Assistant Adjutant Main Staff of the Turkestan Military District. Bagratuni then led the 4th Intelligence Department of the district headquarters. According to his biographer, Academician Hrant Avetisyan, Bagratouni carried out secret military research and practical tasks in Mongolia, Tibet, Korea, Afghanistan, and Central Asia in Bukhara, Kashgar, Kermishe, Kushka, Merv. He uncovered a plot of Pan-Turkic emissaries in Tashkent and other cities of Turkestan. This feat was marked by his awarding the Order of St. Anna 3rd degree and he was promoted to Lieutenant colonel. Also for his services rendered, the Emir of Bukhara celebrated by granting him the Order of the Golden Star of Bukhara 3rd class.

Upon return of the British troops in Baku on 18 November, Bagratuni traveled back to the Armenian National Council. He was also keenly interested in the Armenian defense in Zangezur and Nagorno-Karabakh led by General Andranik Ozanian. A letter sent by Bagratuni to General Andranik, along with money to help defend against the invading Turks in Zangezur, dated 12 December 1918, states: "I send you one million rubles, of which 400,000 should be allocated to the military, and the remaining 600,000 for assistance to refugees - local and from distant places."

Personal life Bagratuni was married to Lidia Kudoyarova, a daughter of an official in Tashkent. They got married on January 31, 1914, at Spaso-Preobrazhensky Military Cathedral in Tashkent.

Awards Order of St. Anna, 4th class, "For Bravery" (1905) Order of Saint Stanislaus, 3rd class with Swords (1907) Order of St. Anna, 3rd class (1912) Order of the Golden Star of Bukhara, 3rd class (1914) Order of Saint Stanislaus, 2nd class with Swords (1914) Order of St. Vladimir, 4th class with Swords (1914) Order of St. Vladimir, 3rd class with Swords (1915) George Arms (1915) Order of St. Anna, 2nd class with Swords (1916) Order of St. George, 4th class (1917)