The Karabakh Khanate was a semi-independent
Turkic Caucasian khanate on the territories of modern-day
Armenia
Armenia (), , group=pron officially the Republic of Armenia,, is a landlocked country in the Armenian Highlands of Western Asia.The UNbr>classification of world regions places Armenia in Western Asia; the CIA World Factbook , , and ''Ox ...
and
Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan (, ; az, Azərbaycan ), officially the Republic of Azerbaijan, , also sometimes officially called the Azerbaijan Republic is a transcontinental country located at the boundary of Eastern Europe and Western Asia. It is a part of th ...
established in about 1748 under
Iranian
Iranian may refer to:
* Iran, a sovereign state
* Iranian peoples, the speakers of the Iranian languages. The term Iranic peoples is also used for this term to distinguish the pan ethnic term from Iranian, used for the people of Iran
* Iranian lan ...
suzerainty in
Karabakh
Karabakh ( az, Qarabağ ; hy, Ղարաբաղ, Ġarabaġ ) is a geographic region in present-day southwestern Azerbaijan and eastern Armenia, extending from the highlands of the Lesser Caucasus down to the lowlands between the rivers Kura (Caspia ...
and adjacent areas.
[Abbas-gulu Aga Bakikhanov. Golestan-i Iram](_blank)
/ref>
The Karabakh Khanate came under the control of the Russian Empire
The Russian Empire was an empire and the final period of the Russian monarchy from 1721 to 1917, ruling across large parts of Eurasia. It succeeded the Tsardom of Russia following the Treaty of Nystad, which ended the Great Northern War. ...
in 1805 during the course of the Russo-Persian War (1804–13)
The Russo-Persian Wars or Russo-Iranian Wars were a series of conflicts between 1651 and 1828, concerning Iran, Persia (Iran) and the Russian Empire. Russia and Persia fought these wars over disputed governance of territories and countries in th ...
. The Russian annexation of Karabakh was not formalized until the Treaty of Gulistan
The Treaty of Gulistan (russian: Гюлистанский договор; fa, عهدنامه گلستان) was a peace treaty concluded between the Russian Empire and Iran on 24 October 1813 in the village of Gulistan (now in the Goranboy Distri ...
in 1813, when Fath-Ali Shah
Fath-Ali Shah Qajar ( fa, فتحعلىشاه قاجار, Fatḥ-ʻAli Šâh Qâjâr; May 1769 – 24 October 1834) was the second Shah (king) of Qajar Iran. He reigned from 17 June 1797 until his death on 24 October 1834. His reign saw the irr ...
of Qajar Iran
Qajar Iran (), also referred to as Qajar Persia, the Qajar Empire, '. Sublime State of Persia, officially the Sublime State of Iran ( fa, دولت علیّه ایران ') and also known then as the Guarded Domains of Iran ( fa, ممالک م ...
officially ceded Karabakh to Tsar
Tsar ( or ), also spelled ''czar'', ''tzar'', or ''csar'', is a title used by East Slavs, East and South Slavs, South Slavic monarchs. The term is derived from the Latin word ''Caesar (title), caesar'', which was intended to mean "emperor" i ...
Alexander I of Russia
Alexander I (; – ) was Emperor of Russia from 1801, the first King of Congress Poland from 1815, and the Grand Duke of Finland from 1809 to his death. He was the eldest son of Emperor Paul I and Sophie Dorothea of Württemberg.
The son of ...
. The khanate continued to exist under Russian suzerainty until its formal abolition in 1822, when the Karabakh Province, with a military administration, was formed. Russian control was decisively confirmed by the Treaty of Turkmenchay
The Treaty of Turkmenchay ( fa, عهدنامه ترکمنچای; russian: Туркманчайский договор) was an agreement between Qajar Iran and the Russian Empire, which concluded the Russo-Persian War (1826–28). It was second o ...
with Iran in 1828.
History
Background
The precursor of the Karabakh Khanate, the Safavid province of Karabakh
The Province of Karabakh ( fa, ولایت قره باغ, translit=Velāyat-e Qarebāq) was a province of the Safavid Empire of Iran, centered on the geographic region of Karabakh.
These provinces were headed by the shah's governors-general, who ...
, was one of the provinces established in the northern part of the Safavid Empire
Safavid Iran or Safavid Persia (), also referred to as the Safavid Empire, '. was one of the greatest Iranian empires after the 7th-century Muslim conquest of Persia, which was ruled from 1501 to 1736 by the Safavid dynasty. It is often conside ...
. The Safavid
Safavid Iran or Safavid Persia (), also referred to as the Safavid Empire, '. was one of the greatest Iranian empires after the 7th-century Muslim conquest of Persia, which was ruled from 1501 to 1736 by the Safavid dynasty. It is often conside ...
shah of Iran
Iran, officially the Islamic Republic of Iran, and also called Persia, is a country located in Western Asia. It is bordered by Iraq and Turkey to the west, by Azerbaijan and Armenia to the northwest, by the Caspian Sea and Turkmeni ...
Tahmasp I
Tahmasp I ( fa, طهماسب, translit=Ṭahmāsb or ; 22 February 1514 – 14 May 1576) was the second shah of Safavid Iran from 1524 to 1576. He was the eldest son of Ismail I and his principal consort, Tajlu Khanum. Ascending the throne after t ...
() granted the governance of the province to a branch of the Qajars
The Qajar dynasty (; fa, دودمان قاجار ', az, Qacarlar ) was an IranianAbbas Amanat, ''The Pivot of the Universe: Nasir Al-Din Shah Qajar and the Iranian Monarchy, 1831–1896'', I. B. Tauris, pp 2–3 royal dynasty of Turkic origin ...
, the Ziyadoglu, in 1540. It was initially founded in the lowland part of Karabakh ("Karabakh Steppe"), away from the mountainous regions, known today as Nagorno-Karabakh
Nagorno-Karabakh ( ) is a landlocked country, landlocked region in the Transcaucasia, South Caucasus, within the mountainous range of Karabakh, lying between Lower Karabakh and Syunik Province, Syunik, and covering the southeastern range o ...
and Syunik. The mountainous part of Karabakh was also home to several semi-autonomous Armenian principalities known as the Khamsa Melikdoms. According to a prominent historian who hailed from the Karabakh Khanate, Mirza Adigozal Bey, "The power of the Karabakh beylerbeylik covered a vast territory – from the Georgian border near “Sinig Korpu” Bridge (currently " Red Bridge”) to Khudafarin Bridge on the Araz River
, az, Araz, fa, ارس, tr, Aras
The Aras (also known as the Araks, Arax, Araxes, or Araz) is a river in the Caucasus. It rises in eastern Turkey and flows along the borders between Turkey and Armenia, between Turkey and the Nakhchivan Auton ...
. However, following the collapse of the Safavid Empire and the death of Nader Shah Afshar
Nader Shah Afshar ( fa, نادر شاه افشار; also known as ''Nader Qoli Beyg'' or ''Tahmāsp Qoli Khan'' ) (August 1688 – 19 June 1747) was the founder of the Afsharid dynasty of Iran and one of the most powerful rulers in Iranian h ...
in 1747, the Safavid
Safavid Iran or Safavid Persia (), also referred to as the Safavid Empire, '. was one of the greatest Iranian empires after the 7th-century Muslim conquest of Persia, which was ruled from 1501 to 1736 by the Safavid dynasty. It is often conside ...
domain split into several khanates with various forms of autonomy.
Establishment
After the death of Nader Shah and the fragmentation of the Safavid Empire, Panah Ali khan
Panah Ali Khan Javanshir (, ; 1693 – 1759 or 1763) was the founder and first ruler of the Karabakh Khanate under Persian suzerainty.
Ancestry
Panah Ali Khan was from the Sarijali branch of the clan of Javanshir, who with their associate clan o ...
of the Javanshir clan consolidated his local power by establishing a ''de facto'' independent khanate. The Javanshir clan lived as nomads in Karabakh and had long been rivals of the Ziyadoglu. Panah Ali was recognized as Khan of Karabakh by Nader Shah's successor Adel Shah
Ali-qoli Khan ( fa, علیقلیخان), commonly known by his regnal title Adel Shah (also spelled Adil; , "the Just King") was the second shah of Afsharid Iran, ruling from 1747 to 1748. He was the nephew and successor of Nader Shah (), th ...
().
The capital of the khanate was initially Bayat Castle
Bayat Castle ( az, Bayat qalası) is in Kəbirli, Tartar, Kebirli village of Tartar Rayon of the Republic of Azerbaijan.
History
After the death of Iranian ruler Nader Shah (1736-1747), several khanates were established on the territory that con ...
in modern-day Kabirli in 1748, in the Karabakh Steppe (or “Lowland Karabakh”), before being moved to the newly built fortress of Shahbulag and soon moved again to the newly built fortress-town of Panahabad
Shusha ( az, Şuşa, ) or Shushi ( hy, Շուշի) is a city in Azerbaijan, in the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh. Situated at an altitude of 1,400–1,800 metres (4,600–5,900 ft) in the Karabakh mountains, the city was a mountain reso ...
(modern-day Shusha
/ hy, Շուշի
, settlement_type = City
, image_skyline = ShushaCollection2021.jpg
, image_caption = Landmarks of Shusha, from top left:Ghazanchetsots Cathedral • Yukhari Govhar ...
) in 1750–1752. Panah Ali acquired this fortress in the heart of Mountainous Karabakh through his alliance with Melik Shahnazar II
Melik Shahnazar II ( hy, Մելիք Շահնազար Բ) was the melik of Varanda, one of the five Melikdoms of Karabakh, in the 18th century. He is a controversial figure in Armenian history, whose actions contributed significantly to the demi ...
, the ruler of Varanda, who was in conflict with the other ''meliks'' of Karabakh. Melik Shahnazar and Panah Ali Khan solidified their alliance with the marriage of Shahnazar's daughter to Panah Ali's son, Ibrahim Khalil. During the reign of Ibrahim Khalil, Panahabad became a large town and was renamed to Shusha, apparently after the name of a nearby Shusha, known also as Shushikent.[ Hewsen, Robert H., ''Armenia: A Historical Atlas''. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2001, p. 155.][Mirza Jamal Javanshir Karabagi. The History of Karabakh]
. "They shared these (their) thoughts with Melik Shahnazar bey, who was always their well-wisher. The issue of building the fortress of Shusha was resolved on his advice and instructions."
Later, Panah Ali Khan expanded the territory of the khanate, subjugating territories of Mountainous Karabakh, Zangezur
Zangezur ( hy, Զանգեզուր) is a historical and geographical region in Eastern Armenia on the slopes of the Zangezur Mountains which largely corresponds to the Syunik Province of the Republic of Armenia. It was ceded to Russia by Qajar Ir ...
, and Nakchivan Khanate
The Nakhichevan Khanate ( fa, خانات نخجوان, translit=Khānāt-e Nakhchevān; Azerbaijani language, Azerbaijani:ناخچیوان خانلیغی,Naxçıvan xanlığı; hy, Նախիջեւանի խանութիւն, translit=Naxijewani xano ...
.
Reign of Panah Ali Khan Javanshir
Less than a year after Shusha was founded, the Karabakh Khanate was attacked by Mohammad Hasan Khan Qajar, one of the major claimants to the Iranian throne. During Safavid rule, Karabakh had been governed by the Turkic Qajar clan for almost two centuries, as they were appointed governors of the Ganja-Karabakh province. For this reason, Mohammed Hasan Khan Qajar considered Karabakh his hereditary estate.
Mohammad Hasan Khan besieged Panahabad but soon had to retreat because of the attack on his own domain by one of his major opponents in the struggle for the Iranian throne, Karim Khan Zand
Mohammad Karim Khan Zand ( fa, محمدکریم خان زند, Mohammad Karīm Khân-e Zand; ) was the founder of the Zand Dynasty, ruling from 1751 to 1779. He ruled all of Iran (Persia) except for Khorasan. He also ruled over some of the Cauc ...
. His retreat was so hasty that he even left his cannons under the walls of Shusha fortress. Panah Ali Khan counterattacked the retreating troops of Mohammad Hasan Khan and even briefly took Ardabil
Ardabil (, fa, اردبیل, Ardabīl or ''Ardebīl'') is a city in northwestern Iran, and the capital of Ardabil Province. As of the 2022 census, Ardabil's population was 588,000. The dominant majority in the city are ethnic Iranian Azerbaija ...
across the Aras River
, az, Araz, fa, ارس, tr, Aras
The Aras (also known as the Araks, Arax, Araxes, or Araz) is a river in the Caucasus. It rises in eastern Turkey and flows along the borders between Turkey and Armenia, between Turkey and the Nakhchivan excl ...
in Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan (, ; az, Azərbaycan ), officially the Republic of Azerbaijan, , also sometimes officially called the Azerbaijan Republic is a transcontinental country located at the boundary of Eastern Europe and Western Asia. It is a part of th ...
.
In 1759, the Karabakh Khanate underwent a new attack from Fath-Ali Khan Afshar Fath-Ali Khan Afshar ( fa, فتحعلی خان افشار), was a chieftain from the Afshars of Urmia, Afshar tribe of Urmia, and one of the four contenders for supremacy in Iran between 1751–1763. He was ultimately defeated and captured in Februa ...
, ruler of the Urmia Khanate
The Afshars of Urmia (also spelled Urmiya; fa, افشارهای ارومیه) are a branch of the Afshar tribe centered in the Iranian city of Urmia. From 1624/25 to 1820/21, the governorship of Urmia was mainly in the hands of the Urmia Afshars. ...
. With his 30,000-strong army, Fath-Ali Khan also managed to gain support from the ''meliks'' of Jraberd and Talysh (Gulistan Gulistan, Golestan or Golastan ( fa, گلستان) means "flower land" in Persian language (''gol'' meaning "flower", and ''-stan'' or meaning "land").
It may refer to:
Places
Iran
"Golestan" most often refers to:
* Golestan province in nor ...
); however, Melik Shahnazar of Varanda continued to support Panah Ali Khan. The siege of Shusha lasted for six months and Fath-Ali Khan eventually had to retreat. Panah Ali gave his son Ibrahim as a hostage to Fath-Ali Khan to end the siege.
In 1761, Karim Khan Zand allied with Panah Ali Khan of Karabakh to defeat Fath-Ali Khan Afshar of Urmia, who had earlier subordinated the khanates of Karabakh, Marageh, and Tabriz.
In 1762, during his war with Kazem Khan of Qaradagh, Panah Khan submitted to Karim Khan Zand, who was consolidating different khans under his rule and was about to besiege Urmia
Urmia or Orumiyeh ( fa, ارومیه, Variously transliterated as ''Oroumieh'', ''Oroumiyeh'', ''Orūmīyeh'' and ''Urūmiyeh''.) is the largest city in West Azerbaijan Province of Iran and the capital of Urmia County. It is situated at an alt ...
. After the fall of the city, Karim took Panah Khan among the hostages to Shiraz
Shiraz (; fa, شیراز, Širâz ) is the List of largest cities of Iran, fifth-most-populous city of Iran and the capital of Fars province, Fars Province, which has been historically known as Pars (Sasanian province), Pars () and Persis. As o ...
, where he soon died. Panah Ali Khan's son Ibrahim Khalil Khan was sent back to Karabakh as governor.
Reign of Ibrahim Khalil Khan Javanshir
Under Ibrahim Khalil Khan Javanshir, the Karabakh Khanate became one of the strongest entities of the South Caucasus
The South Caucasus, also known as Transcaucasia or the Transcaucasus, is a geographical region on the border of Eastern Europe and Western Asia, straddling the southern Caucasus Mountains. The South Caucasus roughly corresponds to modern Arme ...
and Shusha
/ hy, Շուշի
, settlement_type = City
, image_skyline = ShushaCollection2021.jpg
, image_caption = Landmarks of Shusha, from top left:Ghazanchetsots Cathedral • Yukhari Govhar ...
turned into a big town. According to travelers who visited Shusha in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, the town had about 2,000 houses and an approximate population of 10,000.
In the summer of 1795, Shusha was besieged by Agha Mohammad Khan Qajar, son of Mohammad Hasan Khan, who attacked Shusha in 1752. Agha Mohammad Khan Qajar's goal was to end the feudal fragmentation and restore the old Safavid
Safavid Iran or Safavid Persia (), also referred to as the Safavid Empire, '. was one of the greatest Iranian empires after the 7th-century Muslim conquest of Persia, which was ruled from 1501 to 1736 by the Safavid dynasty. It is often conside ...
imperial domain. For this purpose, he also wanted to proclaim himself shah
Shah (; fa, شاه, , ) is a royal title that was historically used by the leading figures of Iranian monarchies.Yarshater, EhsaPersia or Iran, Persian or Farsi, ''Iranian Studies'', vol. XXII no. 1 (1989) It was also used by a variety of ...
(king) of Iran. However, according to Safavid tradition, the shah had to control the South Caucasus and southern Dagestan before his coronation. Therefore, the Karabakh Khanate and its fortified capital Shusha were the first and major obstacle to achieve these ends.
Agha Mohammad Khan Qajar besieged Shusha with his 80,000-strong army. Ibrahim Khalil Khan mobilized the population for long-term defense. The a militia 15,000 was assembled in Shusha, where women fought alongside men. The Armenian population of Karabakh also actively participated in this struggle against the invaders and fought side by side with the Muslim population, jointly organizing ambushes in the mountains and forests.
The siege lasted for 33 days. Not being able to capture Shusha, Agha Mohammad Khan ceased the siege and advanced to Tiflis (present-day Tbilisi
Tbilisi ( ; ka, თბილისი ), in some languages still known by its pre-1936 name Tiflis ( ), is the Capital city, capital and the List of cities and towns in Georgia (country), largest city of Georgia (country), Georgia, lying on the ...
), which, despite desperate resistance, was occupied and exposed to unprecedented destruction, with many thousands of its inhabitants carried off to mainland Iran.
Qajar period
In 1797, Agha Mohammad Khan Qajar, who by that time had already managed to declare himself Shah, and had swiftly either re-occupied or re-subjugated the entire Caucasus that previously made up part of Iran for centuries, decided now to carry out a second attack on Karabakh, as its khan was not letting him nor his armies enter the city. Nevertheless, the khan of Karabakh had already been paying regular tribute to Agha Mohammad Khan since the aftermath of the first attack in 1795.
In this new siege, Agha Mohammad Khan devastated the surrounding villages near Shusha. The population could not recover from the previous 1795 attack and also suffered from a serious drought which lasted for three years. The artillery of the enemy also caused serious losses to the city defenders. Thus, in 1797 Aga Mohammad Khan succeeded in seizing Shusha and Ibrahim Khalil Khan was forced to flee to Dagestan
Dagestan ( ; rus, Дагеста́н, , dəɡʲɪˈstan, links=yes), officially the Republic of Dagestan (russian: Респу́блика Дагеста́н, Respúblika Dagestán, links=no), is a republic of Russia situated in the North C ...
.
However, several days after the seizure of Shusha, Agha Mohammad Khan was killed in enigmatic circumstances by his bodyguards. Ibrahim Khalil Khan returned Agha Mohammad Shah's body to Tehran, and in return, the new king Fath-Ali Shah Qajar
Fath-Ali Shah Qajar ( fa, فتحعلىشاه قاجار, Fatḥ-ʻAli Šâh Qâjâr; May 1769 – 24 October 1834) was the second Shah (king) of Qajar Iran. He reigned from 17 June 1797 until his death on 24 October 1834. His reign saw the irr ...
() appointed him the governor of Karabakh and married his daughter Agha Beyim. Agha Baji, as she came to be called, was brought to court accompanied by her brother Abol' Fath Khan, and became Fath' Ali Shah's twelfth wife; highly respected at the court, for some reason she remained a virgin.
Conquest by Russia
During the rule of Ibrahim Khalil Khan, the Karabakh Khanate grew in importance and established ties with other neighbouring khanates. On May 14, 1805, amidst the still ongoing Russo-Persian War of 1804–1813, Ibrahim Khalil Khan
Ibrahim Khalil khan Javanshir (1732–1806) was an Azerbaijani Turkic khan of the Karabakh Khanate from the Javanshir family, who succeeded his father Panah-Ali khan Javanshir as the ruler of the khanate.
Early life
He was born in c. 1732 in ...
and the Russian general Pavel Tsitsianov
Prince Pavel Dmitriyevich Tsitsianov (russian: Павел Дмитриевич Цицианов), also known as Pavle Dimitris dze Tsitsishvili ( ka, პავლე ციციშვილი; —) was a Georgian nobleman and a prominent genera ...
signed the Treaty of Kurekchay, which transferred the Karabakh Khanate to the dominion of the Russian Empire
The Russian Empire was an empire and the final period of the Russian monarchy from 1721 to 1917, ruling across large parts of Eurasia. It succeeded the Tsardom of Russia following the Treaty of Nystad, which ended the Great Northern War. ...
.[Gammer, Moshe (1992). Muslim resistance to the tsar. Routledge, 6. . “In 1805 the khans of Qarabagh, Shirvan, and Sheki swore allegiance to Russia.”] According to this agreement, the Khan of Karabakh gave up his right to carry out independent foreign policy, and took on the obligation to pay 8,000 gold ruble
The ruble (American English) or rouble (Commonwealth English) (; rus, рубль, p=rublʲ) is the currency unit of Belarus and Russia. Historically, it was the currency of the Russian Empire and of the Soviet Union.
, currencies named ''rub ...
s a year to the Russian treasury. In its turn, the Tsar
Tsar ( or ), also spelled ''czar'', ''tzar'', or ''csar'', is a title used by East Slavs, East and South Slavs, South Slavic monarchs. The term is derived from the Latin word ''Caesar (title), caesar'', which was intended to mean "emperor" i ...
ist government promised not to infringe upon the right of Ibrahim Khan's legitimate successors to administer the internal affairs of their possessions.
However, in the same year, Russians reneged on the agreement, apparently acting on suspicion that Ibrahim Khalil Panah Khan was a traitor. He was killed near Shusha together with some members of his family by Major Dmitri Tikhonovich Lisanevich.
The Russian Empire finally gained control over Karabakh
Karabakh ( az, Qarabağ ; hy, Ղարաբաղ, Ġarabaġ ) is a geographic region in present-day southwestern Azerbaijan and eastern Armenia, extending from the highlands of the Lesser Caucasus down to the lowlands between the rivers Kura (Caspia ...
through the Treaty of Gulistan
The Treaty of Gulistan (russian: Гюлистанский договор; fa, عهدنامه گلستان) was a peace treaty concluded between the Russian Empire and Iran on 24 October 1813 in the village of Gulistan (now in the Goranboy Distri ...
(1813) and Treaty of Turkmenchay
The Treaty of Turkmenchay ( fa, عهدنامه ترکمنچای; russian: Туркманчайский договор) was an agreement between Qajar Iran and the Russian Empire, which concluded the Russo-Persian War (1826–28). It was second o ...
(1828) after defeating Iran in the Russo-Persian Wars
The Russo-Persian Wars or Russo-Iranian Wars were a series of conflicts between 1651 and 1828, concerning Iran, Persia (Iran) and the Russian Empire. Russia and Persia fought these wars over disputed governance of territories and countries in th ...
.
In 1822, Russian Empire abolished the khanate. A Karabakh province was created in its place, administered by Russian officials.
Legacy
Some of the descendants of Panah Khan subsequently scattered around Iran with most remaining in Karabakh. Abdul Wakil Panah Khan became the Emir of Greater Khorasan
Greater Khorāsān,Dabeersiaghi, Commentary on Safarnâma-e Nâsir Khusraw, 6th Ed. Tehran, Zavvâr: 1375 (Solar Hijri Calendar) 235–236 or Khorāsān ( pal, Xwarāsān; fa, خراسان ), is a historical eastern region in the Iranian Plate ...
.
Abul-Fath Khan Javanshir, was one of the sons of Ibrahim Khalil Javanshir, that through his sister was the brother-in-law of Fath-Alī Shah Qajar. In the First Russo-Persian War Abul-Fath Khan supported the Iranians and fought on the side of the crown prince Abbas Mirza
Abbas Mirza ( fa, عباس میرزا; August 26, 1789October 25, 1833) was a Qajar crown prince of Iran. He developed a reputation as a military commander during the Russo-Persian War of 1804–1813 and the Russo-Persian War of 1826–1828, as ...
. After Karabakh was ceded to Russia and even before it, Abul-Fath Khan withdrew from Karabakh along with his fellow tribesmen, and Abbās Mirza made him governor of Dezmār. Dezamār lay on a southern tributary of the Aras, which flowed into the main river at Ordubad
Ordubad is the second largest city of Azerbaijan's Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic and the capital of an eponymous district. Ordubad is a medieval city of the Caucasus and in its current capacity of a town was founded in the 18th century. The town ...
. In the years following 1813 Abul-Fath Khan smuggled his warriors back across the Aras into southern Karabakh and took up residence in the village of Garmī (eight farsangs south of Shusha). Presumably, this must have been done with the connivance of his brother Mahdiqoli Khan Javanshir, who had succeeded his father in 1806 as governor of Shusha in the service of the Russians. In 1818, long before the outbreak of the Second Russo-Persian War, Abbas Mirza invaded the territory to which the Russians laid claim and which was de facto under their sovereignty; supported by 100 horsemen, he brought Abul-Fath Khan back by force. What happened to Abul-Fath Khan thereafter is not known; he does not appear to have taken part in the battles of the Second Russo-Persian War. His brother Mahdī-qolī Khan crossed into Iranian soil in 1822. Under the terms of the Treaty of Turkmanchay in 1828, the whole of Karabakh was finally ceded to Russia.
Army
Karabakh Khanate never had a permanent army, but those who were a certain age and had the ability to serve in the military were written in a special register. When it was necessary, soldiers were called together with local landlords, ''meliks'' and beks. The persons whose names were included in the register with along with volunteers formed the army of the Karabakh Khanate, but they were deployed only in cases of war or emergency. Sometimes, especially in urgent circumstances, soldiers from Dagestan
Dagestan ( ; rus, Дагеста́н, , dəɡʲɪˈstan, links=yes), officially the Republic of Dagestan (russian: Респу́блика Дагеста́н, Respúblika Dagestán, links=no), is a republic of Russia situated in the North C ...
were invited to join the army of the Karabakh Khanate. For example, when Agha Muhammad Khan
Agha Mohammad Khan Qajar ( fa, آقا محمد خان قاجار, translit=Âqâ Mohammad Xân-e Qâjâr; 14 March 1742 – 17 June 1797), also known by his regnal name of Agha Mohammad Shah (, ), was the founder of the Qajar dynasty of Iran
...
Qajar seized Shusha
/ hy, Շուշի
, settlement_type = City
, image_skyline = ShushaCollection2021.jpg
, image_caption = Landmarks of Shusha, from top left:Ghazanchetsots Cathedral • Yukhari Govhar ...
for 33 days, part of the soldiers who were defending Shusha were from Dagestan. During the rule of Ibrahim Khalil Khan, the Army Register contained more than 12,000 names. All expenses of the army during the campaign were paid by Ibrahim Khan.
Rulers
The following is a list of the Khanate's rulers, all from the Javanshir clan.
})
, style="text-align:center;", Panah Ali Khan Javanshir
, style="text-align:center;", 1693
Alaqarghu, Arazbar, Safavid Karabakh
The Province of Karabakh ( fa, ولایت قره باغ, translit=Velāyat-e Qarebāq) was a province of the Safavid Empire of Iran, centered on the geographic region of Karabakh.
These provinces were headed by the shah's governors-general, who w ...
, style="text-align:center;", 1748 – 1760
, style="text-align:center;", 1763
Shiraz
Shiraz (; fa, شیراز, Širâz ) is the List of largest cities of Iran, fifth-most-populous city of Iran and the capital of Fars province, Fars Province, which has been historically known as Pars (Sasanian province), Pars () and Persis. As o ...
, Iran
, style="text-align:center;", The founder and first ruler of the Karabakh Khanate.
, -
, style="text-align:center;",
, style="text-align:center;", Mehrali bey
, style="text-align:center;", Mehrali Bey Javanshir
, style="text-align:center;", 1735
Safavid Karabakh
The Province of Karabakh ( fa, ولایت قره باغ, translit=Velāyat-e Qarebāq) was a province of the Safavid Empire of Iran, centered on the geographic region of Karabakh.
These provinces were headed by the shah's governors-general, who w ...
, style="text-align:center;", 1759 – 1760
, style="text-align:center;", 1785
Shamakhi
Shamakhi ( az, Şamaxı, ) is a city in Azerbaijan and the administrative centre of the Shamakhi District. The city's estimated population was 31,704. It is famous for its traditional dancers, the Shamakhi Dancers, and also for perhaps giving it ...
, Shirvan Khanate
Shirvan Khanate ( fa, خانات شیروان, Khānāt-e Shirvan) was a Caucasian khanate under Iranian suzerainty, which controlled the Shirvan region from 1761 to 1820.
Background
Under the Safavid dynasty of Iran, Shirvan was a leading silk ...
, style="text-align:center;", The de facto leader of the Karabakh Khanate prior to Ibrahim Khalil Khan's arrival from Zand Iran. Most of the information about him came from his descendant Ahmad bey Javanshir's ''On the Political Affairs of the Karabakh khanate in 1747–1805''.
, -
, style="text-align:center;",
, style="text-align:center;", Ibrahim Khalil Khan
Ibrahim Khalil khan Javanshir (1732–1806) was an Azerbaijani Turkic khan of the Karabakh Khanate from the Javanshir family, who succeeded his father Panah-Ali khan Javanshir as the ruler of the khanate.
Early life
He was born in c. 1732 in ...
( fa, ابراهیم خلیل جوانشیر)
, style="text-align:center;", Ibrahim Khalil Khan Javanshir
, style="text-align:center;", 1732
Safavid Karabakh
The Province of Karabakh ( fa, ولایت قره باغ, translit=Velāyat-e Qarebāq) was a province of the Safavid Empire of Iran, centered on the geographic region of Karabakh.
These provinces were headed by the shah's governors-general, who w ...
, style="text-align:center;", 1763 – 12 June 1806
, style="text-align:center;", 12 June 1806
Khankendi
/ az, Xankəndi, italic=no
, settlement_type = City
, image_skyline = File:StepanakertCollage.jpg
, imagesize = 300px
, image_caption = From top left: Holy Mother ...
, Karabakh Khanate
, style="text-align:center;", He defeated his brother and became ruler of the khanate. As an ally of the Avar Khanate
The Avar Khanate, the Avar Nutsaldom ( av, Avar Nutsallhi; russian: Аварское ханство), also known as Khundzia or Avaria, was a long-lived Avar state, which controlled mountainous parts of Dagestan (in the North Caucasus) from the ...
, he fought against the Quba Khanate
The Quba Khanate (also spelled Qobbeh; fa, خانات قبه, Khānāt-e Qobbeh) was one of the most significant semi-independent khanates that existed from 1747 to 1806, under Iranian suzerainty. It bordered Caspian sea to the east, Derbent Khan ...
. He depended on Russia
Russia (, , ), or the Russian Federation, is a List of transcontinental countries, transcontinental country spanning Eastern Europe and North Asia, Northern Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by area, largest country in the ...
and was killed by them.
, -
, style="text-align:center;",
, style="text-align:center;", Mehdigulu Khan
( fa, مهدیقلی خان جوانشیر)
, style="text-align:center;", Mehdigulu Khan Javanshir
Mehdigulu Khan Javanshir ( fa, مهدیقلی خان جوانشیر, translit=Mehdiqoli Xān Javānšir, az, مهدیقلو خان جاوانشیر; 1763 or 1772–1845) was the last Khan of the Karabakh Khanate, functioning as its head from 18 ...
, style="text-align:center;", 1763 or 1772
Shusha
/ hy, Շուշի
, settlement_type = City
, image_skyline = ShushaCollection2021.jpg
, image_caption = Landmarks of Shusha, from top left:Ghazanchetsots Cathedral • Yukhari Govhar ...
, style="text-align:center;", 13 September 1806 – 1822
, style="text-align:center;", 14 May 1845
Aghdam, Russian Empire
The Russian Empire was an empire and the final period of the Russian monarchy from 1721 to 1917, ruling across large parts of Eurasia. It succeeded the Tsardom of Russia following the Treaty of Nystad, which ended the Great Northern War. ...
, style="text-align:center;", The last khan of the Karabakh Khanate, functioning as its head from 1806 up to his flight in 1822. His only known issue was Khurshidbanu Natavan
Khurshidbanu Natavan ( az, خورشیدبانو ناتوان / Xurşidbanu Natəvan; 6 August 1832 – 2 October 1897) was an Azerbaijani poet and philanthropist. She is considered one of the best lyrical poets of Azerbaijan. Her poems are in ei ...
- famous Azerbaijani poetess.
, -
See also
* Khanates of the Caucasus
The khanates of the Caucasus, also known as the Azerbaijani khanates, Persian khanates, or Iranian khanates, were various provinces and principalities established by Persia (Iran) on their territories in the Caucasus (modern-day Azerbaijan Repub ...
*Melikdoms of Karabakh
The Five Melikdoms of Karabakh, also known as Khamsa Melikdoms (), were Armenian feudal entities on the territory of modern Nagorno-Karabakh and neighboring lands, from the dissolution of the Principality of Khachen in the 15th century to the a ...
*Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is an ethnic and territorial conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan over the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh, inhabited mostly by ethnic Armenians, and seven surrounding districts, inhabited mostly by Azerbaij ...
Sources
* Abbasqulu Bakihanov, Gulistan-i-Iram, 1841 (Baku, Elm, 1991)
* Mirza Karabaghi, Karabakh-name
*
References
External links
Kurekchay Treaty between the Karabakh khanate and the Russian Empire
{{Coord missing, Armenia, Azerbaijan
Karabakh
States and territories established in 1748
States and territories disestablished in 1822
States and territories established by the Afshar tribe