The Armenian Oblast was created out of the territories of the former Erivan and Nakhichevan khanates, which were ceded to Russia by Persia under the Treaty of Turkmenchay after the Russo-Persian War of 1826-1828.[5][6] Ivan Paskevich, the Ukrainian-born military leader and hero of the war, was made "Count of Erivan" in the year of the oblast's creation.[3][5]