Talysh Khanate
Encyclopedia
The Talysh Khanate
(or Lankaran Khanate) was one of many self-ruling principalities that existed on the territory of modern Azerbaijan Republic
between 1747 and 1813, which was Safavi territory at that time. It was conquered over Iran by Russia and confirmed by the Treaty of Turkmenchay .
The founder of the Talysh Khanate, Abbas's ancestors were minor members of Safavid nobility, who had moved into the Talish region during the 1720s during a turbulent period in Iranian history. When Seyyid Abbas died in 1747 he was succeeded by his son Jamaladdin, often remembered as Gara Khan (the 'Black King'). Gara Khan was pro-Russian in his foreign policy which upset the rulers of neighboring khanates notably Hidayat Khan of Gilan. In 1768 Hidayat Khan attacked the Talysh khanate. Seeing aid against the superior enemy, Gara Khan send his brother Karbalayi Sultan to Fath Ali Khan, ruler of the Quba Khanate
resulting in an alliance between Quba and Lenkaran. By 1785 the territory of the Talysh khanate had formally become a dependency of that much stronger Quba Khanate
together with certain other Azerbaijani khanates. However, in 1789 following Fath Ali Khan's death, the Talysh Khanate regained its independence under Mir Mustafa, the son of Gara Khan who had himself died in 1786.
In 1794-5 the Persian Shah Agha Muhammad Qajar called on the various Khanates of the South Caucasus to form an alliance against Russia and mounted a military expedition against those who refused to join him. The Talysh khanate refused to do and was attacked in 1795. Mir Mustafa Khan’s disparate army was not strong enough to resist and he send his representatives to General Gudovich asking for Russian protection. However, the Russians took a long time to respond, only finally arriving in 1802 when the Talysh Khanate became a protectorate of the Russian Empire.
The khanate was to remain a pawn between the Persian and Russian empires over the subsequent two decades. In 1809 as a part of the Russo-Persian War (1804-1813)
, Iranian troops took the city of Lenkaran and expelled the Russian-leaning khan. In 1812, with Napoleon attacking Moscow, the Russians were also battling again in the Caucasus. After a brief siege led by Pyotr Kotlyarevsky
on January 1, 1813 2,000 Russian troops managed to retake the citadel of Lenkaran from the Persian army. There were heavy losses on both sides, but strategic capture of Lankaran
led inexorably to the September 12, 1813 Treaty of Gulistan. This forced defeated Persia
to cede many of the formerly independent khanates to Russia. In 1814 Mir Mustafa khan died and his son Mir Hasan Khan succeeded him but only in name.
With Russia busy in European wars, Persia attempted to reassert its hegemony in the area 1826-28 Russo-Persian war but the results were disastrous and the war ended up with the even more humiliating Treaty of Turkmenchay
which definitively gave the Talysh Khanate to Russia. Mir Hasan khan had died in 1826 and the khanate was abolished.
The Talysh Khans proved a stimulating subject for famed Azeri poet-playwright Mirza Fatali Akhundov (Mirza Fatali Akhundzade)
, nicknamed the Muslim Molière
. A 1938 production of his Sərgüzəşti Vəziri-Xani Lənkəran ('The Adventures of the Lankaran Khan's Visier'), starred the future president Heydar Aliyev, then just a teenager
1747-1786 (1785-6 under Quba Khanate) Jamaladdin (Gara Khan)
1786-1814 (1786-9 under Quba Khanate) Mir Mustafa Khan
1814-1826 (under Russia) Mir Hasan Khan
Khanate
Khanate, or Chanat, is a Turco-Mongol-originated word used to describe a political entity ruled by a Khan. In modern Turkish, the word used is kağanlık, and in modern Azeri of the republic of Azerbaijan, xanlıq. In Mongolian the word khanlig is used, as in "Khereidiin Khanlig" meaning the Khanate...
(or Lankaran Khanate) was one of many self-ruling principalities that existed on the territory of modern Azerbaijan Republic
Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan , officially the Republic of Azerbaijan is the largest country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded by the Caspian Sea to the east, Russia to the north, Georgia to the northwest, Armenia to the west, and Iran to...
between 1747 and 1813, which was Safavi territory at that time. It was conquered over Iran by Russia and confirmed by the Treaty of Turkmenchay .
The founder of the Talysh Khanate, Abbas's ancestors were minor members of Safavid nobility, who had moved into the Talish region during the 1720s during a turbulent period in Iranian history. When Seyyid Abbas died in 1747 he was succeeded by his son Jamaladdin, often remembered as Gara Khan (the 'Black King'). Gara Khan was pro-Russian in his foreign policy which upset the rulers of neighboring khanates notably Hidayat Khan of Gilan. In 1768 Hidayat Khan attacked the Talysh khanate. Seeing aid against the superior enemy, Gara Khan send his brother Karbalayi Sultan to Fath Ali Khan, ruler of the Quba Khanate
Quba Khanate
The Quba Khanate was an independent principality on the territory of modern day Azerbaijan from 1747-1806. The Quba Khanate was founded as a feudal hold around 1680 as a result of a land grant to the Saytaq family, who were related to both the Qajar dynasty and the Utsmi of Tarki in Dagestan and...
resulting in an alliance between Quba and Lenkaran. By 1785 the territory of the Talysh khanate had formally become a dependency of that much stronger Quba Khanate
Quba Khanate
The Quba Khanate was an independent principality on the territory of modern day Azerbaijan from 1747-1806. The Quba Khanate was founded as a feudal hold around 1680 as a result of a land grant to the Saytaq family, who were related to both the Qajar dynasty and the Utsmi of Tarki in Dagestan and...
together with certain other Azerbaijani khanates. However, in 1789 following Fath Ali Khan's death, the Talysh Khanate regained its independence under Mir Mustafa, the son of Gara Khan who had himself died in 1786.
In 1794-5 the Persian Shah Agha Muhammad Qajar called on the various Khanates of the South Caucasus to form an alliance against Russia and mounted a military expedition against those who refused to join him. The Talysh khanate refused to do and was attacked in 1795. Mir Mustafa Khan’s disparate army was not strong enough to resist and he send his representatives to General Gudovich asking for Russian protection. However, the Russians took a long time to respond, only finally arriving in 1802 when the Talysh Khanate became a protectorate of the Russian Empire.
The khanate was to remain a pawn between the Persian and Russian empires over the subsequent two decades. In 1809 as a part of the Russo-Persian War (1804-1813)
Russo-Persian War (1804-1813)
The 1804-1813 Russo-Persian War, one of the many wars between the Persian Empire and Imperial Russia, began like many wars as a territorial dispute. The Persian king, Fath Ali Shah Qajar, wanted to consolidate the northernmost reaches of his Qajar dynasty by securing land near the Caspian Sea's...
, Iranian troops took the city of Lenkaran and expelled the Russian-leaning khan. In 1812, with Napoleon attacking Moscow, the Russians were also battling again in the Caucasus. After a brief siege led by Pyotr Kotlyarevsky
Pyotr Kotlyarevsky
Pyotr Stepanovich Kotlyarevsky was a Russian military hero of the early 19th century.-Biography:He was born in the village of Olkhovatka near Kharkov into a cleric's family. Kotlyarevsky was brought up in an infantry regiment quartered near Mozdok...
on January 1, 1813 2,000 Russian troops managed to retake the citadel of Lenkaran from the Persian army. There were heavy losses on both sides, but strategic capture of Lankaran
Lankaran
-History:The city was built on a swamp along the northern bank of the river bearing the city's name. There are remains of human settlements in the area dating back to the Neolithic period as well as ruins of fortified villages from the Bronze and Iron Ages. Lankaran's history is rather recent,...
led inexorably to the September 12, 1813 Treaty of Gulistan. This forced defeated Persia
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
to cede many of the formerly independent khanates to Russia. In 1814 Mir Mustafa khan died and his son Mir Hasan Khan succeeded him but only in name.
With Russia busy in European wars, Persia attempted to reassert its hegemony in the area 1826-28 Russo-Persian war but the results were disastrous and the war ended up with the even more humiliating Treaty of Turkmenchay
Treaty of Turkmenchay
The Treaty of Turkmenchay was a treaty negotiated in Turkmenchay by which the Qajar Empire recognized Russian suzerainty over the Erivan khanate, the Nakhchivan khanate, and the remainder of the Talysh khanate, establishing the Aras River as the common boundary between the empires, after its...
which definitively gave the Talysh Khanate to Russia. Mir Hasan khan had died in 1826 and the khanate was abolished.
The Talysh Khans proved a stimulating subject for famed Azeri poet-playwright Mirza Fatali Akhundov (Mirza Fatali Akhundzade)
Mirza Fatali Akhundov
Mirza Fatali Akhundov , former – Akhundzade , was a celebrated Azerbaijani author, playwright, philosopher, and founder of modern literary criticism, "who acquired fame primarily as the writer of European-inspired plays in the Azeri language"...
, nicknamed the Muslim Molière
Molière
Jean-Baptiste Poquelin, known by his stage name Molière, was a French playwright and actor who is considered to be one of the greatest masters of comedy in Western literature...
. A 1938 production of his Sərgüzəşti Vəziri-Xani Lənkəran ('The Adventures of the Lankaran Khan's Visier'), starred the future president Heydar Aliyev, then just a teenager
Rulers
1747 (founder) Sa`id `Abbas1747-1786 (1785-6 under Quba Khanate) Jamaladdin (Gara Khan)
1786-1814 (1786-9 under Quba Khanate) Mir Mustafa Khan
1814-1826 (under Russia) Mir Hasan Khan
