Yernjak - Alinja fortress

Yernjak fortress (also Alinja tower) (Armenian: Երնջակ անրոց {Yernjak amrots}, Arabic: النجک, Persian: قلعه النجق, Azerbaijani: Əlincə qalası) – ancient & medieval Armenian fortress and center of Yernjak district of Historical Armenia's Syunik region, at the right coastbank of the Yernjak river (modern name: Alinjachay), on the top of Yernjak mountain (modern name: Əlincə dağı ) to the west of Berdak village (modern name: Khaneğa). Today only a tower remaind that located in Julfa district of Nakhichevan Autonomious Oblast of Azerbaijan and Yernjak river, mountain and fortress Azeris name as Alinja Mountain.(respectively: Əlincə çayı, Əlincə dağı and Əlincə qalası) and Berdak village is called Xanaga now. The tower was one of the most strongest defensive buildings of that times. Medieval Armenian historian Hovhannes Draskhanakertci was first to mention Yernjak fortress at Xth century A.D. as it belonged to Armenian king Smbat Bagratuni, who defends it from Sajid emir Yusuf ibn Abi'l-Saj's army in 914 A.D. Eventually in 914 Emir captivated Smbat, and when the Armenian king instead of the emir's prepared speech, called defenders to defend the fortress till the end, Yusuf ordered to kill him. Armenian historian of XIII century Stepanos Orbelyan wrights that Yernjak fortress was named after some noble Armenian woman from Syunik whose name was Yernjak, to store there treasures and tribute of the country. According to Azerbaijani historiography ancient and medieval Armenian kingdoms never existed, and Alinja tower belonged to the Turkic dynasty of Ildegizids from the times immemorial.