Karabakh Karabakh As Independent Khanate Aydin ASLANOV Phd in History (1747–1805)
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Karabakh Karabakh as independent khanate Aydin ASLANOV PhD in History (1747–1805) continued from the previous issue AFTER PANAH ALI-KHAN, HIS SON IBRAHIM KHALIL-KHAN (1763-1806) BECAME RULER. UNDER HIM, THE KARABAKH KHANATE BECAME ONE OF THE MOST POWERFUL IN AZERBAIJAN (MIRZA JAMAL JAVANSHIR. THE HISTORY OF KARABAKH, 1959, P. 77). he great Azerbaijani poet, Mol- la Panah Vagif, played a great Trole in the rise of the Karabakh khanate and in the strengthening of its power. From 1769, he was the main vizier of this state. At the turn of the 18th-19th centu- ries, the domestic and international situation of Azerbaijan was very complicated. The country’s split into small feudal entities, constant hos- tility between them and economic decline were very characteristic for Azerbaijan. The aggressive aspira- tions of the Iranian shah, Ottoman Empire and tsarist Russia with regard to this country made the situation in the region even more complicated. 4 Ibrahim Khalil Khan’s Castle. (Rock walls). 18th century www.irs-az.com www.irs-az.com Ibrahim Khalil Khan’s Castle. (Rock walls). 18th century. Bird’s eye-view 5 Karabakh 6 www.irs-az.com At the end of the 18th century, Aga Muhammad-khan’s proposal, he The huge army was opposed by the Iran, where Aga Muhammad-khan also refused to recognize him as ruler 15,000-strong Karabakh army. The Gajar came to power by the end of of Iran. defenders of Shusha did not intend 1794, posed a special danger to Azer- For this reason, Aga Muhammad- to surrender. baijan. The new ruler of Iran dreamt khan started preparing an attack on The siege lasted 33 days. The of restoring the erstwhile greatness Northern Azerbaijan, first of all, on Russian historian recorded in this of the Safavid Empire. The Gajar dan- the Karabakh khanate. Just before regard: “The heroic defense of Shusha ger forced Azerbaijani rulers to think the invasion, the ruler of Iran sent against the throngs of Aga Muham- about their security and start looking a firman to all khans, demanding mad-khan is undoubtedly one of the for allies against the looming threat. that they immediately recognize his best minutes of his (Ibrahim Khalil- At such a responsible and difficult power and release hostages. Most of khan’s) life” (The establishment of time, the ruler of Karabakh, Ibrahim them did not dare to oppose the for- Russian rule in the Caucasus, V. 1, Khalil-khan, initiated the establish- midable ruler of Iran. The well-known Tiflis, 1904, p. 241). ment of an anti-Gajar coalition (J. M. 19th century Russian military histo- All attempts to take the castle suf- Mustafayev. The northern khan- rian, V. A. Potto, recorded: “Only the fered a setback. Finding himself in ates of Azerbaijan and Russia ruler of Karabakh, khan Ibrahim, flatly a desperate situation, Aga Muham- (late 18th and early 19th centuries). refused to receive the envoys of the mad-khan was forced to start nego- Baku, 1989, p. 73). He restored rela- shah, and fortifying his position in Shu- tiations with Ibrahim Khalil-khan. An tions with Georgian King Irakli II. To sha, prepared for desperate defense” Iranian representative was sent to this end, Tiflis was visited by Ibrahim (V. A. Potto. The Caucasus War, V. Shusha, and he tried to persuade the Khalil-khan’s vizier, Molla Panah Vagif. 1, Stavropol, 1994, p. 259). khan to stop resisting. However, the Mirza Jamal recorded: “The Tiflis vali, Aga Muhammad-khan sent an Karabakh khan told him to tell Aga high-ranking Irakli khan, the ruler of 8,000-strong army led by his best Muhammad-khan that he had no Erivan, Muhammad khan and the ruler military commanders against the intention of surrendering his capital: of Talish, Mir Mustafa khan, jointly with Karabakh khanate. In 1794, the Irani- “I’d rather die in action than surren- Ibrahim khan, swore not to obey Aga an troops crossed Khudafarin Bridge. der the city to a eunuch” (Jean Cure. Muhammad shah and to be allies and Georgian armed detachments un- The Crown-Bearing Eunuch. Teh- to help each other” (Mirza Jamal Ja- der the command of Irakli II’s son, ran, 1982 (in Persian), p. 270). vanshir. Op.sit., p. 79). Prince Aleksandr, came to help the The Iranian troops stayed in Azer- Along with preparations for de- Karabakhis. As a result of a battle, the baijan until February 1796. News of fense from Iranian attacks, many Iranian troops suffered a defeat and Russian troops’ advance and unrest in Azerbaijani khans established rela- were forced to retreat beyond the Iran forced Aga Muhammad-khan to tions with the Russian command in Aras River. hastily leave the country and restore the North Caucasus, asking Russia to Despite his failure, Aga Muham- law and order in his own state. help and protect them against the mad-khan was preparing for a de- Aga Muhammad-khan Gajar’s de- Gajar danger. cisive attack on Azerbaijan. In the sire to subjugate Azerbaijan caused The Iranian ruler, Aga Muham- summer of 1795, an 85,000-strong concern in Russia’s ruling circles. The mad-khan, was aware of the nego- Iranian army set off from Ardabil. Aga Russian government could not al- tiations between the Azerbaijani Muhammad-khan himself moved to- low Gajar to succeed because it ran khans and the Russian command in wards Karabakh, leading his choice counter to tsarist plans regarding the the North Caucasus. Therefore, he units. The Iranian soldiers were led Caucasus. In the spring of 1796, the tried to call on Northern Azerbaijani by French officers (P. G. Butkov. Ma- Russian army under the command of khans for obedience and submission terials for the new history of the General V. A. Zubov invaded Azerbai- through his personal representative Caucasus from 1722 to 1803. Part jan. As a result, they took major cit- (J. M. Mustafayev. Op.sit., p. 83). 2. Ch. P. SPB, 1869, p. 251). At the ies of the country – Derbend, Baku, However, the mission of the Iranian end of July 1795, the Iranian troops Guba, Shamakhi and Ganja. envoy was not successful. Ibrahim approached Shusha Castle. The occupation of Azerbaijani Khalil-khan of Karabakh, who was The capital of the Karabakh khan- lands by Russian troops forced Ibra- confident in his forces and the im- ate heroically defended itself. The de- him Khalil-khan to send one of his pregnability of his capital Shusha, re- fense was headed by Ibrahim Khalil- sons to the camp of the Russian fused to obey. Not only did he reject khan and his vizier Molla Panah Vagif. commander-in-chief with numerous www.irs-az.comYukhari (Upper) Govhar Aga Mosque. 18–19th century. Architect Karbalayi Safi Khan 7 Karabakh the castle wall. This was supposed to cause serious damage to the wall, which would allow the Iranian troops to enter the city through gaps and breaches in the wall (Jean Cure. Op.sit., p. 367). Then, the Karabakh khan decided to make a foray in order to destroy the Iranian artillery. As a result of a brave operation, Ibrahim Khalil-khan succeeded in achieving his goal – the enemy’s artillery was suppressed. However, the enemy cut their way back into the castle. The Karabakh khan and his detachment hardly managed to break out of the encir- clement and head northwards to Jar and Tali. The Iranian troops did not dare to enter Shusha for two days. Aga Muhammad-shah sent a letter to its defenders, suggesting that they lay down their arms. In response to the fears of the city residents, the shah swore on the Koran that he would Molla Panah Vagif’s Tomb. 1982. A.V.Salamzade and E.I.Kanukov not touch anybody. Only after that, gifts. The Karabakh khan also wrote khan abdicate in favor of his son. did the gates of the castle open. The an appeal expressing his loyalty to Moreover, Ibrahim Khalil-khan was nobility and elders of the city came Catherine II (Mirza Adigozal-bey. supposed to leave his possessions to welcome the shah, hoping to pay Op.sit., p. 83). and travel to holy places in Mecca (J. him off with an indemnity. The Russian troops did not stay M. Mustafayev. Op.sit., p. 99). Thus, the troops of Aga Muham- very long in Azerbaijan. The unex- The situation in Azerbaijan ahead mad-shah seized Shusha. However, pected death of Catherine II and the of Gajar’s invasion was complicated. the Iranian shah “forgot” about his accession of Paul I to the throne sud- Famine and plague were rife and oath and ordered his soldiers to loot denly changed the political climate. rampant in the country. Most of the reviled city. A bloody massacre On orders from the emperor, the Rus- Karabakh residents were forced to against the intractable population sian military units left Azerbaijan. leave their homes and move to other began in Shusha. Thousands of peo- The departure of the Russian khanates in search of livelihood. In ple were executed or jailed. Among troops allowed Aga Muhammad- this situation, it was difficult for the the prisoners was Molla Panah Vagif. shah to try his luck again. Letters Karabakh khan to organize the de- However, Shusha was fated to be- were sent to Azerbaijani khanates fense of his capital and counter the come the site of the death of the cru- again, demanding obedience. The invasion by Aga Muhammad-shah el shah. He was killed while asleep at message to Ibrahim Khalil-khan was Gajar. night as a result of a plot by his court- especially menacing.