The Mailyan brothers (also spelled Mailoff) ( hy, Մայիլյան եղբայրներ) were oil magnates, businessmen, and philanthropists of Armenian descent. Some sources consider them to be the first producers of caviar in Russia. They were also known for sponsoring numerous cultural projects in

Baku Baku (, ; az, Bakı ) is the capital and largest city of Azerbaijan, as well as the largest city on the Caspian Sea and of the Caucasus region. Baku is located below sea level, which makes it the lowest lying national capital in the world a ...

, such as the Mailov Theatre (now known as the

Azerbaijan State Academic Opera and Ballet Theater The Azerbaijan State Academic Opera and Ballet Theater (Azeri: ''Axundov adına Azərbaycan Dövlət Akademik Opera və Balet Teatrı''), formerly known as the Mailov Theatre

), in addition to many investment projects in Armenia.US Archives, RG 256, 184.021/304/364Republic of Armenia Archives, File 421/1, H.H. Hay Teghekagir Biuro Parisum, 1919 t., no 59; File 66a/3, Bulletin no. 34; File 132/31, H.H. Pativrakutiun, 1920

Overview

The Mailyan brothers consisted of three brothers: Daniel, Ivan (Hovhannes), and Lazarus (Yeghia). The brothers were industrial capitalists who amassed a major fortune from oil. They were also successful in the caviar trade, founding the first company that produced caviar in Russia. Due to their success in the caviar industry, they were known as the "Kings of fish roe". However, after the

Russian Revolution The Russian Revolution was a period of Political revolution (Trotskyism), political and social revolution that took place in the former Russian Empire which began during the First World War. This period saw Russia abolish its monarchy and ad ...

, the Mailyan family sought refuge in France.

Mailyan theatre

According to legend, a famous opera-soprano singer (which according to sources is either

Antonina Nezhdanova Antonina Vasilyevna Nezhdanova (russian: Антони́на Васи́льевна Нежда́нова, – 26 June 1950), was a Russian and Soviet coloratura soprano. Nezhdanova was born in , near Odesa, Ukraine, then in the Russian Empire. ...

or a certain Italian opera singer) visited

and had many performances in various casinos and residences in the city. However, when asked if she would return to Baku, she refused because she found that there was no decent opera house in the city. Daniel Mailov, who admired the personality and voice of the opera singer, commissioned an opera house to be built under the condition that she return to the city.The Opera and Ballet Theatre
by Manaf Suleymanov. ''The Past Days''. 1990 The theatre was commissioned by the Mailyan brothers and was built by ethnic ArmenianArmenia-Russia: The dialogue in the space of artistic culture, Materials of International symposium, Moscow 2010, p. 16 (by Dr. M. Gasparyan)
architect

Nikolai Bayev Nikolay Georgievich Bayev (russian: Николай Георгиевич Баев; hy, Նիկողայոս Գևորգի Բաև, ''Nikoghayos Gevorki Bayev''; October 6, 1875 – August 5, 1952) was an Armenian architect, who mainly worked in B ...

.Opera in Azerbaijan
by Azer Rezayev. ''Azerbaijan International''. #5.4. Winter 1997 The project was also funded by the Azeri oil baron

Zeynalabdin Taghiyev , image = Haji Zeynalabdin Taghiyev.jpg , image_size = 250px , caption = , birth_date = 25 January 1823 If the opera house was completed within a year, he would pay the costs of construction. The opera house was built in 10 months and Taghiev paid as promised. When first opened in 1911, the theatre was known as the Mailyan Theatre. It is now known as the

and continues to serve

residents until this day.

Philanthropy in Armenia

The Mailyan brothers sponsored many projects in the

First Republic of Armenia The First Republic of Armenia, officially known at the time of its existence as the Republic of Armenia ( hy, Հայաստանի Հանրապետութիւն), was the first modern Armenian state since the loss of Armenian statehood in the Middle ...

. The most important of which was the financial grant of 2 million rubles in February 1919 to fund the expedition of surveyors for potential industrial output, mineral extracts, soil, and other minerals needed for the reconstruction of the country.

References

{{Reflist Armenian families Armenian businesspeople Armenian businesspeople in the oil industry Russian businesspeople in the oil industry Ethnic Armenian philanthropists Armenian diaspora

Overview

Mailyan theatre

Philanthropy in Armenia

See also

References