Daniel Varoujan à l’Université de Gand (1905-1909)

Although works on Daniel Varoujan often refer to his years at Ghent University, there is to date no publication focusing specifically on his studies at Ghent. This is the first study to employ the archives of Ghent University as well as the archives of the city of Ghent, in addition to the archives in Yerevan, Armenia, to offer a detailed attention to Varoujan’s studies at the University. The city archives were used to identify his addresses of residence in Ghent. During his first semester at Ghent University in the fall of 1905, Varoujan audited courses in literature and philosophy, but upon formal matriculation beginning in January 1906 he changed his field to political economy and sociology but also took courses in history, psychology, and law. Varoujan concluded his studies at Ghent in 1909 and returned to his hometown Brgnik as a mature intellectual and a prolific poet deeply influenced by his education at Ghent University.