Melikjan Melikian and Artin Bey Melikian

The photograph shows Melikjan Melikian (1842-1914) and his brother Artin Bey Melikian (born in 1858). They were the sons of Hairabed Melikian Agha and Hripsime, the eldest daughter of Artin Boghos Eramian. They were both born in Cyprus, but Melikjan made a career in Turkey and was appointed a Judge for the Armenian community in Boursa, which was a high office for an Armenian in the Ottoman Empire. Artin Bey lived in Nicosia and was in search of a wife. However, it was difficult to find a suitable match, as all girls that were available were also his cousins. Hence, his brother decided to choose a good wife for Artin from among the large Armenian community in Boursa; he was lucky to find Elise Boursayerissian, a beautiful, thirteen-year-old girl. The wedding of Artin and Elise took place in Nicosia on 30/11 February 1895. In the photograph Melikjan is dressed in a ceremonial army uniform with rich decorations on the collar, the sleeves and the trousers. He is also wearing a belt with an elaborate buckle, gloves and a tall fez. In his left hand he is holding a sabre. His brother is dressed in a western-style black suit with a long coat closed with two series of buttons, over a white long-sleeved undershirt. In his left hand he is holding a top hat.