The name comes from Persian bāghche-sarāy, which means "the Garden Palace". Its former name was Müküs, derived from
ArmenianMokkʿ (
Armenian: Մոկք) region. The Kurdish Miks derives from the Armenian. The word "Mokk'" in
classical Armenian language means: "the place of the magic". According to the legend,
Amenap'rkich ("All-Saving") monastery that was nearby Moks, has the grave of a magician by name Gaspar. Probably name of "the place of the magic" or just "Mokk" is connected with this mysterious personality. But scientific sources say that in the Urartu era there existed the Moxene tribe and
Moxoene, so the names Mokk' and Moks originated from this tribe's name.
History
The district corresponds to
Historical Armenia's Mok Arandznak district, which was part of the greater province of
Moxoene. The district has several ancient Armenian monasteries and churches.[7] The
Aparank monastery is located in the vicinity of the town.[8]
In the 19th century Bahçesaray was the center of the Kurdish
Emirate of Müküs,[9] until the emirate was defeated by the troops of Ottoman Empire in 1846.[10]
^Adem Avcıkıran (2009).
Kürtçe Anamnez Anamneza bi Kurmancî(PDF) (in Turkish and Kurdish). p. 57.
Archived(PDF) from the original on 27 January 2020. Retrieved 17 December 2019.
^Büyükşehir İlçe Belediyesi, Turkey Civil Administration Departments Inventory. Retrieved 19 September 2023.