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The current spelling of the name was first mentioned in 1624, in a
handwriting by Barsegh Yerets. In 17-18th centuries Melik Husenyans
ruled Goris. In the beginning of the 19th century, on 13 October 1813 according
to the "Gyulistan agreement", Goris fell under the domination of
Emperial Russia. In the 1870s Goris became the center of Zangezour province
within the Russian Empire. In 1876, the new town of Goris was founded near the
Old Goris with the initiative of the head of "Starastky province" and
recommendation of Manuchar-Bek Melik Husenyan and the plan was designed
by a German architect. At the end of the 19th century the economical and
cultural life of the town was rather improved.
After the fall of the Democratic Republic of Armenia in 1920, the 2nd
Pan-Zangezurian congress held in Tatev on 26 April 1921, announced the
independence of the self-governing regions of Daralakyaz (Vayots Dzor),
Zangezur, and Mountainous Artsakh, under the name of the Republic of
Mountainous Armenia (Lernahaystani Hanrapetutyun), with Goris as a capital city
