Сборник Научных Статей Сно Егу Collection of Scientific
ЕРЕВАНСКИЙ ГОСУДАРСТВЕННЫЙ УНИВЕРСИТЕТ YEREVAN STATE UNIVERSITY ______
СТУДЕНЧЕСКОЕ НАУЧНОЕ ОБЩЕСТВО STUDENT SCIENTIFIC SOCIETY
ISSN 1829-4367
СБОРНИК НАУЧНЫХ СТАТЕЙ СНО ЕГУ
COLLECTION OF SCIENTIFIC ARTICLES OF YSU SSS
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Общественные науки (теология, востоковедение, история)
Social Sciences (Theology, Oriental Studies, History)
ЕРЕВАН - YEREVAN ИЗДАТЕЛЬСТВО ЕГУ - YSU PRESS 2017
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ԵՐԵՎԱՆԻ ՊԵՏԱԿԱՆ ՀԱՄԱԼՍԱՐԱՆ ՈՒՍԱՆՈՂԱԿԱՆ ԳԻՏԱԿԱՆ ԸՆԿԵՐՈՒԹՅՈՒՆ
ISSN 1829-4367
ԵՊՀ ՈՒԳԸ ԳԻՏԱԿԱՆ ՀՈԴՎԱԾՆԵՐԻ ԺՈՂՈՎԱԾՈՒ
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Հասարակական գիտություններ (աստվածաբանություն, արևելագիտություն, պատմություն)
ԵՐԵՎԱՆ ԵՊՀ ՀՐԱՏԱՐԱԿՉՈՒԹՅՈՒՆ 2017
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Խմբագրական խորհուրդ` Редакционная коллегия: բ.գ.թ., դոց. Ռ․ Մելքոնյան к.ф.н., доц. Р. Мелконян պ․գ․թ․, դոց․ Հ․ Քոչարյան к.и.н., доц. А. Кочарян բ․գ․թ․, դոց․ Վ․ Ոսկանյան к.ф.н., доц. В. Восканян պ.գ.թ., դոց. Մ․ Գաբրիելյան к.и.н., доц. М. Габриелян պ.գ.թ., դոց. Է․ Զոհրաբյան к.и.н., доц. Э. Зограбян պ.գ.թ., դոց. Կ․ Գասպարյան к.и.н., доц. К. Гаспарян պ.գ.թ., դոց. Ա․ Հովհաննիսյան к.и.н., доц. А. Ованисян պ.գ.թ. Ա․ Բալյան к.и.н. А. Балян ա․գ․թ․ Ս․ Վարդանյան к.и.н. С. Варданян
Editorial Board PhD, Associate Prof. R. Melkonyan PhD, Associate Prof. H. Kocharyan PhD, Associate Prof. V. Voskanyan PhD, Associate Prof. M. Gabrielyan PhD, Associate Prof. E. Zohrabyan PhD, Associate Prof. K. Gasparyan PhD, Associate Prof. A. Hovhannisyan PhD A. Balyan PhD M. Vardanyan
Հրատարակիչ՝ ԵՊՀ հրատարակչություն Հասցե՝ ՀՀ, ք. Երևան, Ալ. Մանուկյան 1, (+374 10) 55 55 70, [email protected]
Հրատարակության նախապատրաստող ստորաբաժանում՝ ԵՊՀ ուսանողական գիտական ընկերություն Հասցե՝ ՀՀ, ք. Երևան, Ալ. Մանուկյան 1, (+374 60) 71 01 94, Էլ. փոստ՝ [email protected] ԵՊՀ ՈՒԳԸ կայք՝ sss.ysu.am.
Հրատարակվում է ԵՊՀ գիտական խորհրդի որոշմամբ Издается по решению Ученого совета ЕГУ Published by the resolution of the Academic Council of YSU
Vahagn Hakobyan Phd student of Institute of oriental students, E-mail: [email protected]
TRANSCAUCASIA IN THE CONTEXT OF RUSSIAN-TURKISH AND RUSSIAN-IRANIAN RELATIONS (1760-1780-IES)
At the 2nd half of the 18th century Russia began actively spread its influence in the Caucasus. This process is accompanied by gaining information on the political situation in the Caucasus by the Russian authorities, by policy to atract the local rulers to their side, by opposing Turkey's policy spreading towards the South Caucasus, as well as having a different relationship with the candidates fighting for the throne of Iran. It is therefore important to consider how the situation in the Caucasus, as well as a reflection of the Russian-Turkish and Russian-Iranian relations on the political situation in Transcaucasia. A number of sources are used for our study, as well as the activities of Russian agents in Iran and Transcaucasia and reports ambassadors, letters and other records. A large part of these documents is maintained in Russian State Archive of Ancient Documents and Russian State Archive of Ancient Documents: After the assassination of Nadir Shah for a long time there was no such a strong central authority in Iran as it had been before.InIran Iranian political priority in Transcaucasia violated as a result of the ongoing fightings betweenfeudalists in the second half of the 18th century; Eastern kingdom became independent and strong; khanates and principalities of Yerevan, Nakhchivan, Khoy, Maku, Garadagh, Urmia, Ganja, Guba (after 1765 Derbent khanate was also connected to this Khanate), Baku, Shirvan, Shaki, Talysh, Ardabil, Maraga, Savuj-Bulaghi, Karabakh obtained semi-independent status in Eastern Armenia and Azerbaijan, which were independent in the relationship with the various government units in the region.1 Transcaucasian policy of superpowers interested in Transcaucasia changed in this situation. In the present study we will refer to the Russian-Turkish and Russian-Iranian relations in the above-mentioned period and their influence on the political life of Transcaucasia. During the Russian-Turkish wars occurring regularly in the 18th century though military operations were mainly in Europe, Russia wanted to create
1 V. Grigoryan,Yerevan Khanate at the End of the 18th Century (1780-1800), Yerevan 1958, p.29.
276 problems for Turkey in the Transcaucasia, forcing Turkey to centralize a part of power in the East, or at least not to focus all the attention on European front. With the weakening of Iranian influence in Transcaucasia Russia had created favorable conditions for the implementation of the above-mentioned policy. Russia's policy of spreading its influence in Transcaucasia was in the interests of Georgian kings2 Solomon, Teimuraz II and Heraclius II who tried to have a powerful ally like Russia in order to protect their independence from Turkey and later from Iran.3Not only Turkey threatened the stability in Georgia, but also Muslim rulers of a region and especially Lezgins who regularly, sometimes at the instigation of Turkey, invaded territories of Georgian kingdoms, ruined the country and captured the population.Introducing the consequences of the invasion of Lezgins in Kartli and Kakheti kingdom the Russian representative in Georgia writes “There is little population in the country of Heraclius,one-third of the land is deserted.”4Before that the king of Kartli Teimuraz II, expecting Russia's help in this hard situation, left his kingdom to his son Heraclius II, the king of Kakheti and went to Russia in 1760.5 But Russian royal court didn’t rush to deepen Russian- Georgian relations. The Sublime Porte was following the Russian-Georgian relations and had negative attitude towards their strengthening. And at that time Russia avoiding a new war with Turkey, did not want to endanger the fragile peace while deepening relations with Georgia. Russia avoided to openly interfere in the internal affairs of Georgia and Iran and did everything that Turkey would not interfere as well. Perhaps this is the reason that the Board of Foreign Affairs were afraid that Teimuraz visit might bring tension and suspicion in Turkey.6 The entrance of the delegation to Moscow was allowed only after the assertions and the consent introduced to the Sultan's government that the delegation went there only for living and not for other affairs.7Despite such careful attitude of Russia towards Russian-Georgian relations, Turkey viewed any progress in Russian- Georgian relations as an organized alliance against Turkey,andThe Georgian
2 In this period there were three Georgian Kingdoms: Solomon reigned in Imereti, Teimuraz II reigned in the east of Imereti, Kartli and his son Heraclius II reigned in Kakheti. In 1762 Kartli and Kakheti joined under the rule of Heraclius II as a single kingdom. Since the kingdom of Heraclius II was also called Georgia in sources and documents of its time, we will consider the Kingdom of Heraclius II under the name of Georgia in this work too. 3 In Iran there was a struggle between the various pretenders to the throne and it was predictable that the winner of this fight will claim to restore Iran’s power in Transcaucasia. 4 A. Tsagareli, Diplomas and Other Historical Documents of the 18th Century Relating to Georgia, vol.1, 1768 - 1774, St Petersburg 1891, p. 358. 5 A. Ioannesyan, Joseph Emin, Yerevan 1945, p. 70. 6 Օ. Markovа, Russia, the Caucasus and International Relations in the XVIII Century, Moscow 1966, p. 129. 7 Օ. Markovа, ibid, p. 130.
277 Imereti and Kartli-Kakheti kingdomswere perceived by Turkey as allies of Russia in the Caucasus against Turkey. A number of factors contribute to the formation of such opinion in Turkey: King Solomon of Imeretia managed to defeat with small forces the Turkish army in a series of battles in the 1760's,8 Western and Turkish media wrote about Irakli II’s victories, Heraclius II allegedly captured Isfahan and made anti-Turkish calls; in 1761 Russian-Austrian anti-Turkish alliance signed in 1746 was renewed, Russian Chancellor M. Vorontsov wanted to use the liberation movements ofChristians of Turkey in the fightagainst Turkey.9 Perhaps due to these factors people began to speak in Turkey that the Georgians are experiencing great progress with the help of the Russians.10 Besides Teimuraz II, in 1762 Montenegrins also turned to Catherine the Great at the request of fight against Turkey. The Greeks, in their turn, assured the Empress that in case of war they would fight against the Sultan with the 50-thousand army.11 Due to the tension in Russian-Turkish relations in the 1760's in Transcaucasia the progress of the Russian troops on one hand and the Turkish troops on the other hand was expected. Although on June 10, 1764 Simeon I of Yerevan reported to the representative of Russia that the rumors about the intention of troops raiding by Turkey were far from reality, Tbilisi residents were terrified of the Turkish attack throughout 1764, because Turkey openly threatened Georgia with war.12 In 1768, when the Turkish war was declared, the military council decided to raise the Eastern Christians against Turkey in order to press that Muslim empire from four sides as Catherine the Great said. For this purpose people were sent to the Greeks and the Slavs, i.e Montenegrins. But all in vain.13 Turkey, in its turn,took steps to inclinethe Kabardiniars, the Crimean Tatars and the Turks against Russia. The latters were causing great distress for the Russians. In addition, the sultan sent a delegation to Dagestan feudal lords trying to persuade them to act against Georgia.14 Wanting to punish the Kurds15 raiding the Georgian borders, in 1769 Heraclius II invaded and destroyed villages in Kars.16 It was decided to send
8For more details see А. Ioannesyan, Joseph Emin, p. 160. 9 А. Ioannesyan, ibid, p. 94. 10 Օ. Markovа, ibid, p. 130. 11 M. K. Zulalyan, Issues of The Armenians of the13-18th centuries by European Authors, book A, Political History, Yerevan 1990, p. 233. 12 А. Ioannesyan, Joseph Emin, p.166. 13 A. Tsagareli, Russia's Relations with the Caucasus in the 16-18 Centuries, Speech by prof. A. Tsagareli on February 8, 1891, St. Petersburg, 1891, p. 38. 14 P. Butkov, Materials for a New History of the Caucasus, Part. 3, St. Petersburg 1869, p. 3. 15 P. Butkov, ibid, p. 112. 16 Gyut Aghaneants Archive of Armenian History, Record of Simeon II, Simeon II record, 1767-1776, Tbilisi 1908, p.117. Heraclius during the invasion of 1767 made the Kurds pay him tribute ,See Gyut Aghaneants ibid, p. ՃՁԴ.
278 4000 soldiers to support Georgia in its struggle against Turkey.17 Overestimating the possibilities of the Georgian kings, Russian court had high hopes with anti- Turkish actions of the Georgian kings. In her letter to the famous enlightening Voltaire Empress Yekatirina II praised Heraclius II, and in her letter to General Rumyantsev she wrote that the Georgians invaded against Turkey: Heraclius II with 30,000 and Solomon with 20,000 troops.18 Georgian kings, in their turn, wanted to do everything that the Russian troops move towards the South Caucasus Russian soldiers and settle the issue of security in their areas with the help of Russian soldiers. Perhaps this is proved by a letter written to the Russian authorities in 1769, where Heraclius II stated that he wanted to serve the empress from birth. Then, wanting to point out the benefits that Russia might have from sending troops to Georgia, he says there are mines of gold and silver and other precious minerals in his land and asks him to send the experts with the troops to operate those mines. Heraclius II writes that he can equip about fifty thousand people among his subordinates, the population of Georgia, the Ararat Armenians and others.19 It should be noted that it would not be so easy for Heraclius II to arm about fifty thousand people, so this figure indicated by Heraclius II must be approached with strict reservations taking into consideration that by this letter Heraclius II aimed to inspire the Russians to send troops to Georgia.At that time, Georgia could provide Russian treasury 250 000 rubles at most, a small amount of money which was not enough even to pay the expenses of the Russian army by Heraclius II.20During the Russo-Turkish War, the Russian Georgian troops carried out a series of joint military campaign against Turkeyin Transcaucasia in the 1768 -74s. In 1771 Heraclius II formally applied to the Russia court with a request to be under the auspices of Russia.21 But Heraclius II”s appeal did not reach its goal: the Russo-Turkish War ended by the Kuchuk Kaynarji Treaty signed on July 10, where according to the point concerning Georgia Turkey was obliged not to bother Georgia.22 It was obvious that this condition is quite far from the expectations of Heraclius II. On 24 August 1774, Heraclius II in the letter written to N. Panin describes the Turks, the Persians and the Lezgins as a major threat to the security of Georgia.23 This was to appoint the Kuchuk Kaynarji Treaty did not
17 A. Tsagareli, Russia's Relations with the Caucasus in the 16-18 Centuries, Speech by prof. A. A. Tsagareli on February 8, p. 39. 18 A. Tsagareli, ibid, p. 41. 19 A. Tsagareli, Diplomas and Other Historical Documents of the 18th Century Relating to Georgia, Volume 1, 1768 - 1774, p. 432. 20 N. Dubrovin, History ofWar and Russian Rule in the Caucasus, Vol. 2, St. Petersburg 1886, p. 2. 21 P. Butkov, ibid, p. 126. 22 P. Butkov, ibid, p. 134. 23 O. Markova, ibid, pp. 168-169.
279 play a significant role in defending Georgia from Turkey. This means that Kuchuk Kaynarji Treatywouldn’t play a significant role in defending Georgia from Turkey. Thus, since the 1760s to the Kuchuk Kaynarji Treaty Heraklius II’s policy of securing Georgian lands with the help of Russian weapons didn’t have a significant progress and Heraclius II, continuing the policy of entering into a strategic alliance with Russia, simultaneously tried to establish relations with Turkey. For this purpose in 1776 the representative of Heraclius II came to Constantinople. Turkey welcomed him with great honor and an agreement of friendship was signed between the parties.24 Russian-Georgian relations continue to deepen at the beginning of the 1780s: favorable situation was created for Russia to take the kingdom of Heraclius II under Russian auspices. For this purpose in 1782 Potemkin sent Dr. Rainegse to Tiflis, who was ordered to persuade Heraclius II to formally apply to Russia to accept Russian obedience.25 That same year, Heraclius II sent an official letter to the Russian empress to take Georgia under her patronage.26 Eventually on July 24, 1783 Georgian-Russian Treaty was signed in Georgievsk fortress by which Georgia was held under the patronage of Russia.27 Although kingdom of Kartli-Kakheti and many khanates of Transcaucasia were ready to support Russia in case of moving to Transcaucasia, Russia didn’t rush to implement active military and expansionist activities in Transcaucasia, as Transcaucasia was still viewed as land of under Iran's influence and did not want to endanger relations with Iran. Russian authorities were following the developments in Iran and had active links with various pretenders to the throne of the Shah in Iran, trying to use these connections in order to protect the interests of Russian obedient merchants in Iran.28 Describing the events of the 1770-1780s in Iran the Russian Ambassador writes in the report to the Foreign Affairs Board from Anzali: «Having no legitimate interest, Iranian state is basically governed by the whim of almost every Khan; in their free time they enjoy their time at wars, resort to fraud, inviting each other guests take out eyes»:29 Then mentioning in the report that according to the news
24 O. Markova, ibid, p. 155. 25 P. Butkov, ibid, p. 164. 26 N. Dubrovin, ibid, p. 7 27 The Cambridge History of Iran, vol.7, Nadir Shah To The Islamic Republic, p. 328. 28 During this period the Russian merchants as well as the Russian Armenians were doing trade in the territory of Iran. The article used the phrase to mean "Russian Subject traders" and Russian and Russian-Armenian merchants. In the article by using the word combination «Russian obedient merchants» both Russian and Armenian Marchants living in Russia are meant. 29 Russian State Archive of Ancient Documents Fund 15, register. 1, case 192, st.134 / 25 vol. 25.
280 spread in Iran the vakil30 was seriously ill, the author tries to predict what will be the situation in Iran after vakil’s death: «then only God knows how many bloody waters will flow in Iran until someone will become a vekil or Khan because the children of the current Khan, Vekil Kerim Khan's are not considered legal heirs.»31 Ensuing events showed that after Karim Khan's death, the troublesome events in Iran again started to cause new problems for Russia. Karim Khan died in Shirazon March 2, 1779.32 After Kerim Khan's death Russia was involved in the fights for throne in Iran. On behalf of Abdul Khan Feti, Kerim Khan’s son Gillan Hidayat Khan asks for help in the letter written to Zhukov the governor of Astrakhan.33 But further events showed that Feti Abdul Khan would not be the important figure in the fight for the throne of the Shah of Iran. After Karim Khan's death in Iran the struggle for the throne started between Agha Mahmad Khan and Ali Murad Khan. Mehmet Aga Khan invaded Gilan in. Describing these events Ambassador Tumanovsky writes in the report sent to Astrakhan that Hidayat Khan of Gilan took preparatory measures to resist Agha Mahmad Khan.«but he mainly relies on Anzali and he treats kindly enough to the Ambassador and does not hinder the implementation of trade»:34 That is Hidayat Khan's desirable power for Russia was threatened by Mehmet Aga Khan's invasion to Gilan. Russian authorities established relations with Hidayat Khan still in Kerim Khan's lifetime for the purpose of receiving privileges in Gilan for Russian obedient merchants. Hidayat often violated those agreements.35 Despite this Hidayat Khan was still a desired ruler of Gilan for Russia. After spreading the news about Agha Mahmad Khan's invasion on Gilan trade also suffered as the ways became dangerous, some of the merchants managed to sell only part of their goods and many residents of Gilan abandoned their settlements to avoid massacre.36 As it was mentioned above Hidayat Khan had high hopes with the Russian authorities for protecting its territories. He asked Prince P. Potyomkinin about the petition to the empress to accept him as her obedient and send 3,000 or more troops, in order Hidayat could protect his realm: instead he promised to send part of the taxes collected
30 After Nadir Shah Kerim Khan succeeded in the struggle for the throne in Iran, who in the 1760- 1763s subjected the whole Atropatena, and then almost all of Iran. After winning other candidates for the throne in Iran and gaining political supremacy Kerim Khan declared himself "vekil" vicar instead of Shah. 31 Russian State Archive of Ancient Documents Fund 15, register. 1, case 192, st.134 / 25 vol. 32 P. Chobanyan, From the History of Armenian-Russian-Iranian relations, Պատմաբանասիրական հանդես, Երևան 1991, թիվ 2, p. 57. 33 Russian State Military History Archive, F. 52, register1/194, ch. 1, case 237, h. 2, L 6. 34 Russian State Military History Archive, F. 52, reg. 1/194, part 1, case 237, part 2, p. 1. 35 Russian State Archive of Ancient Documents, F. 15, reg. 1, case 192(1),p. 24. 36 Russian State Military History Archive, F. 52, reg. 1/194, part 1, case 237, part 2, p. 1.
281 from his territories to the Empress's treasury.37 However, the Russian authorities have not provided military assistance to Hidayat Khan. Agha Mahmad Khan captured Gillan in.38 Leaving Gillan Hidayat Khan was going to leave for Russia. However, Fatali Khan promises to help him and doesn't allow to leave for Russia.39 Ali Murad Khan, the main rival Agha Mahmad Khan, had the intention of resuming Hidayat's power in Gilan.40 The latter before Hidayat's leaving Gilan, sent presents to Hidayat Khan wanting to marry his daughter. But Hidayat Khan didn't rush to give his daughter in marriage to Ali Murad Khan.41 Hidayat Khan, requesting help from Russia, expressed his readiness to become a Russian obedient in case of returning Gillan.42 The failure of Hidayat Khan's power in Gilan caused great damages to the local residents. Many villagers had fled in fear of fighting, and agricultural life was destroyed there, the food was more expensive.43 Perhaps Gillan's council is trying to evict Agha Mahmad Khan from Gilan. The latter with the help of his brother Mourtouz Kul Khan, who had positive attitude by the Gillan council, managed to gain favor of the many members of the Gillan's council. Agha Mahmad Khan also promised not to take taxes from farmers from Gilan. Mehmet Aga Khan leaves his brother Mourtouz Kul Khan in Riasha to govern Gilan.44 Mourtouz Kul Khan didn't rule in Gilan for a long time. In Gilan discontent against Mourtouz Kul Khan began when the latter sent Agha Mohammad Khan 3000 people from Gilan to Mazandaran.When discontent arose against it in Gilan Mourtouz Kul Khan explained that it was Agha Mohammad Khan's decision.45 Mourtouz Kul Khan interferred with the activities of the Russian obedient merchants. He demanded tribute from the merchants in Riasha. The Ambassador negotiated with Mortuz Kul Khan on not taking tribute frim Russian merchants. But it does not help: Mourtouz Kul Khan continues to trouble Russian obedient merchants.46 Agha Mohammad Khan did the same in Mazandara. The Ambassador sent him the text text of the treaty of Russian merchants' privileges where it was written that Russian merchants can do trade without paying tributes.47 Problems were often caused for Russian obedient
37 Russian State Archive of Ancient Documents, F. 15, case 192, p 61. 38 P. Chobanyan, ibid, p. 57. 39 Russian State Military History Archive, F. 52, reg. 1/194, part 1, case 237, part 2, p.43. 40 Russian State Military History Archive, F. 52, reg. 1/194, part 1, case 237, part 2, p.45. 41 Russian State Archive of Ancient Documents, F.15, reg. 1, case 192(1), p. 39. 42 Russian State Archive of Ancient Documents , F. 52, reg. 1/194, part 1, case 237, part 2, p.44. 43 Russian State Archive of Ancient Documents , F. 52, reg. 1/194, part 1, case 237, part 2, p.44. 44 Russian State Archive of Ancient Documents , F. 52, reg. 1/194, part 1, case 237, part 2, p.43. 45 Russian State Archive of Ancient Documents , F. 52, reg. 1/194, part 1, case 237, part 2, p.45. 46 Russian State Archive of Ancient Documents , F. 52, reg. 1/194, part 1, case 237, part 2, p.45. 47 Russian State Archive of Ancient Documents , F. 52, reg. 1/194, part 2, case 263, part 2, p.29.
282 merchants by Agha Mohammad Khan. In his letter to the Astrakhan governor Jacob the Russian consul Tumanovsky in Anzeli reports that in Mazandaran Agha Mohammad Khan forcibly took some crafts of Russian obedient merchants and made them transport his cargo, and some of the merchants, two of whom are ethnic Armenians, were taken hostages.48 Agha Mahmad Khan soon began to establish relations with the Russian authorities. In 1781 he allowed Voynovich expedition to build commercial factories near Astarabadi. It was built rather unassailable and could accommodate up to 1,000 people. It seems doubtful to Agha Mahmad Khan. In 1782 Voynovich was arrested and sent back by the latter's order and the factories was destroyed. The relations between Agha Mahmad Khan and Russian authorities became hostile and Russian authorities began to establish contacts with Ali Murad Khan.49 Soon the Gilian council evicted Mortuz Kul Khan from Gilian. On January 2, 1782 Hidayat Khan with Fat Ali Khan and others, with a total of 6,000soldiers came to Gilian. The latter had planned to join Ali Murad Khan.50 In 1784 almost the entire northern Iran was under the control of Ali Murad Khan. Նույն տարում Catherine II sent an embassy to c Ali Murad Khan in response to his ex post facto offer to cede the Transaraxian khanates in exchange for recognition and aid against the Agha Mohammad Khan.51 Mourtouz Kul Khan was also with him. In early 1785 Ali Murad Khan died52 and his brother Kul Khan Mortuz remained as the chief rival of Agha Mohammad Khan.53 Being hostile against Agha Mohammad Khan Russian authorities established relationship with Khan Mortuz Kul. At the time the Russian - Armenian spiritual leader Joseph Arghutyan also played an active role in Russia's Caucasian policy. He was trying to conduct a policy favorable for the Armenians. In one of the letters to Potemkin Argutinsky complains from Shishkin, the commander of the Russian Navy in the Caspian Sea, who sometimes troubled the Armenian merchants.54 Mourtouz Kul Khan, who after Ali Murad Khan's death went to Talish, turns to Joseph Arghutyan for help and expresses his commitment to Russia, asking Arghutyan to tell the Prince Potemkin about the contents of his letter.55
48 Russian State Archive of Ancient Documents , F. 52, reg. 1/194, part 1, case 237, part 2, p.7. 49 P. Chobanyan, ibid, p. . 57 50 Russian State Archive of Ancient Documents , F. 52, reg. 1/194, part 2, case 263, part 2, p.42. 51 Cambridge History of Iran, From Nadir Shah To The Islamic Republic, vol.7, p. 96. 52 Ibid, p. 325. 53 P. Chobanyan, ibid, p. 58. 54 Russian State Archive of Ancient Documents, F. 15, reg. 1, case 192(1),p. 66. 55 Russian State Archive of Ancient Documents, F. 15, reg. 1, case 192(1),p. 68.
283 In 1786, Mehmed Aga Khan the second time raid toGilan:56 after several years of fighting Agha Mohammad Khan could finally win over Mortuz Kul Khan, and in 1788 Agha Mohammad Khan's Ambassador Mirza Mohamed Ali was already in Russia.57 The Russian authorities not wanting to worsen relations with Agha Mohammad Khan avoid helping openly Mortuz Kul Khan. Eventually Agha Mohammad Khan was able to defeat Mourtouz Kul Khan and already in 1794, Iran was united under the rule of Agha Mohammad Khan and Russia had no role in the struggle of the Iranian throne.58 Thus, after Nadir Shah arising as a result of the struggle for the throne started in Iran political situation in Transcaucasia prepared fertile ground for Russia to spread to Transcaucasia. The local peoples, especially native peoples, Armenians and Georgians, wanted to liberate from the Turkish and Persian yoke with the help of their coreligionist Russians. However, the Russian authorities using their anti-Turkish and anti-Iranian sentiment and not denying the Armenians' and the Georgians' requests for help, didn't hurry to help them and were not inclined to military actions in Transcaucasia: in the relations with Turkey Russia attaches great importance to the affairs of the European front, and Iran's stability, enthroning Iranian figure favourable for Russia was a priority for the Russian side in the relations with Iran, in order not to have any obstacles for the Russian obedient merchants in Iran. Special thanks to ''The knights of Vartan fund for Armenian studies National Association for Armenian Studies and Research΄΄ for financial supporting to do research in archives.
Վահագն Հակոբյան
ԱՆԴՐԿՈՎԿԱՍԸ ՌՈՒՍ-ԹՈՒՐՔԱԿԱՆ ԵՎ ՌՈՒՍ-ԻՐԱՆԱԿԱՆ ՀԱՐԱԲԵՐՈՒԹՅՈՒՆՆԵՐԻ ՀԱՄԱՏԵՔՍՏՈՒՄ (1760-1780-ԱԿԱՆ ԹԹ.)
Բանալի բառեր՝ Հեռակլ II, Աղա Մահմադ խան, Անդրկովկաս
Ամփոփում Սույն հոդվածում մենք վերլուծել ենք 18-րդ դարի 2-րդ կեսի ռուս-թուրքական և ռուս- իրանական հարաբերությունները և Անդրկովկասի դերակատարությունը դրանցում: Ներ- կայացրել ենք Քարթլի Կախեթիայի թագավորության դերակատարությունը ռուս-թուրքա- կան հարաբերություններում և ռուս-վրացական մերձեցումը, որի հետևանքը եղավ Գեոր- գևսկյան պայմանագրի կնքումը: Անդրադառնալով ռուս-իրանական հարաբերություններին`
56 The Cambridge, History of Iran. From Nadir Shah To The Islamic Republic, vol.7, p. 119. 57 P. Chobanyan, ibid, p. 58. 58 ibid, p. 58:
284 ներկայացրել ենք Իրանի գահի համար մղվող պայքարը և ռուսական իշխանությունների հարաբերությունները շահի գահի տարբեր հավակնորդների հետ:
Вааг Акопян
ЗАКАВКАЗЬЕ В КОНТЕКСТЕ РОССИЙСКО-ТУРЕЦКИХ И РОССИЙСКО-ИРАНСКИХ ОТНОШЕНИЙ (1760-1780 ГГ.)
Ключевые слова: Геракл II, Ага Мухаммед хан, Закавказье, Гилян
Аннотация В статье исследуются русско-турецкие и российско-иранские отношения и их роль в истории Кавказа во второй половине XVIII века. В статье анализируются роль королевства Картли Кахетия в российско-турецких отношениях и налаживание отношений между Россией и Грузией, которое то привело к подписанию Георгиевского соглашения. При рассмотрении российско-турецких отношений мы проанализировали споры за власть в Иране, а также отношения российских властей с разными кандидатами на иранский престол.
Vahagn Hakobyan
TRANSCAUCASIA IN THE CONTEXT OF RUSSIAN-TURKISH AND RUSSIAN-IRANIAN RELATIONS (1760-1780s)
Keywords: Heraclius II, Agha Mohammad Khan, Transcaucasia
Summary In this article, we analyzed the Russian-Turkish and Russian-Iranian relations and their role in the Caucasus during the 2nd half of the 18th century. We tried to analyze Kartli Kakheti kingdom’s role in the Russian-Turkish relations and the rapprochement between Russia and Georgia, which led to the signing of the Treaty of Georgievsk. Referring to the Russian-Iranian relations we illustrated the struggle for the throne of Iran and the relations of the Russian authorities with the various candidates for the throne.
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