Rupen Chilingiryan (Sevag) (Ռուբէն Յովհաննէսի Չիլինկիրեան (Սեւակ), February 28, 1886,

Silivri Silivri, formerly Selymbria (Greek language, Greek: Σηλυμβρία), is a municipality and Districts of Turkey, district of Istanbul Province, Istanbul Province, Turkey. Its population is 217,163 (2022). It lies along the Sea of Marmara, outsi ...

Ottoman Empire The Ottoman Empire (), also called the Turkish Empire, was an empire, imperial realm that controlled much of Southeast Europe, West Asia, and North Africa from the 14th to early 20th centuries; it also controlled parts of southeastern Centr ...

– August 26, 1915,

Çankırı Çankırı, historically known as Gangra (Greek language, Greek: Γάγγρα), is a city in Turkey, about northeast of Ankara. It is situated about 800 m (2500 ft) above sea level. It is the seat of Çankırı Province and of Çankır ...

, Ottoman Empire) was an

Armenian Armenian may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to Armenia, a country in the South Caucasus region of Eurasia * Armenians, the national people of Armenia, or people of Armenian descent ** Armenian diaspora, Armenian communities around the ...

poet A poet is a person who studies and creates poetry. Poets may describe themselves as such or be described as such by others. A poet may simply be the creator (thought, thinker, songwriter, writer, or author) who creates (composes) poems (oral t ...

, prose-writer, and doctor.Gregoire Balakian: ''Le Golgotha arménien'', Le cercle d'écrits caucasiens, La Ferté-Sous-Jouarre 2002 (vol. 1) pp. 442 He was sent to a prison along with

Siamanto Adom Yarjanian (), better known by his pen name Siamanto (; 15 August 1878 – August 1915), was an influential Armenian writer, poet and national figure from the late 19th century and early 20th century. He was killed by the Ottoman authoritie ...

and

Daniel Varoujan Daniel Varoujan (, 20 April 188426 August 1915) was an Armenians, Armenian poet of the early 20th century. At the age of 31, when he was reaching international stature, he was Armenian notables deported from the Ottoman capital in 1915, deport ...

during the

Armenian Genocide The Armenian genocide was the systematic destruction of the Armenians, Armenian people and identity in the Ottoman Empire during World War I. Spearheaded by the ruling Committee of Union and Progress (CUP), it was implemented primarily t ...

Biography

Rupen Sevag received his elementary education in his birthplace at the Askanazian school. He then moved to

Constantinople Constantinople (#Names of Constantinople, see other names) was a historical city located on the Bosporus that served as the capital of the Roman Empire, Roman, Byzantine Empire, Byzantine, Latin Empire, Latin, and Ottoman Empire, Ottoman empire ...

(now

Istanbul Istanbul is the List of largest cities and towns in Turkey, largest city in Turkey, constituting the country's economic, cultural, and historical heart. With Demographics of Istanbul, a population over , it is home to 18% of the Demographics ...

) and studied at the prestigious Berberian School. He graduated in 1905 and went to

Lausanne Lausanne ( , ; ; ) is the capital and largest List of towns in Switzerland, city of the Swiss French-speaking Cantons of Switzerland, canton of Vaud, in Switzerland. It is a hilly city situated on the shores of Lake Geneva, about halfway bet ...

Switzerland Switzerland, officially the Swiss Confederation, is a landlocked country located in west-central Europe. It is bordered by Italy to the south, France to the west, Germany to the north, and Austria and Liechtenstein to the east. Switzerland ...

, to pursue studies at the medical school. He met there his future wife, Helene Apell.Der Dichter und seine Frau
Deutsch-Armenische Gesellschaft. ADK 139, p. 46-48 After graduating in 1911, he decided to go back to Constantinople in 1914 with his family. This decision would cost him his life. He was

arrested An arrest is the act of apprehending and taking a person into custody (legal protection or control), usually because the person has been suspected of or observed committing a crime. After being taken into custody, the person can be Interroga ...

on at the onset of the

Armenian genocide The Armenian genocide was the systematic destruction of the Armenians, Armenian people and identity in the Ottoman Empire during World War I. Spearheaded by the ruling Committee of Union and Progress (CUP), it was implemented primarily t ...

on April 24, 1915, and killed on August 26, 1915.

Creative poet

Sevag's first poem was printed in 1905. Sevag is mostly known as a lyric poet. He also composed many love songs, highly acclaimed for their feeling and depth. His poetry was characterized by freshness and precision of language, and noted for its varying meter and its musicality. His poetry captures the history and essence of Western Armenian literature while creating a totally new genre.

References

1885 births 1915 deaths People from Silivri Armenians from the Ottoman Empire 20th-century Armenian poets Armenian physicians People who died in the Armenian genocide Armenian medical writers Armenian male poets 19th-century Armenian writers Lyric poets 19th-century Armenian male writers Berberian School alumni 20th-century physicians from the Ottoman Empire Poets from the Ottoman Empire {{Armenia-genocide-stub