Стр. 16 - Azərbaycan xalçaları

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The IravanKhanatewas ruled by the following government figures:Mehdi khan (1747-1748),MahammadHuseyn
khan (1748-1751), Khalil khan (1751-1755), Hasan Ali khan’s brother Huseynali khan (1759/60-1784), Huseynali
khan’s son Mahammad Huseyn khan (1784-1805), Ali Gulu Khan Qajar (June 1797), Hasan khan Mekulu (sum-
mer 1797), Mehdigulu khan Qajar (1805-1806), Ahmad khan Maragali (August-October 1806), and Huseyngulu
khan Qajar (1806-1827).
The Iravan Khanate has had to fight to maintain its independence since it was established. The Kartli-Kakheti
tsar Irakli II created danger for the khanate. In this situation, confrontations within Iravan shook the khanate and
weakened its defense against enemy attacks.
In 1779, Irakli II attacked Iravan Khanate and moved the population of several villages back with himself. In
1780, Huseynali khan reconciled with Irakli II and the people who had been moved to Georgia were brought
back. The khanate’s defense was strengthened. Relations with neighboring Azerbaijani khanates broadened. This
contributed to the aggravation of relations with the Kartli-Kakheti tsar.
To overthrow Huseynali khan, Irakli II came to an agreement with his brother Mahammad khan. However, re-
bellious Iravan residents assassinated both brothers in 1784. Huseynali khan’s son Gulameli khan came to power.
Irakli II maintained close relations with Russia and signed the Georgiyevsk Treaty in 1783, resulting in a grow-
ing number of Armenian missionaries in Iravan Khanate, especially in Echmiadzin. The Ottoman Empire also
grew more active after this. The Ottoman sultan tried to provoke Gulameli khan against Irakli II. However, the
people of Irakli killed the khan. Gulameli khan’s brother Mahammad khan then came to power. Although Turkey
tried to set Mahammad khan against Russia, this did not happen.
During this period, Armenian-Gregorian missionaries in Iravan khanate extended their activities to implement
the policy emerging at the time of Peter I to create a Christian government in the area. The Armenian-Gregorian
church paid special attention to make sure that Karabakh’s Christian-Alban monarchs were involved in this mis-
chievous policy. In letters addressed to Catherine II, appeals were made to establish an Armenian ruler in the
South Caucasus. However, the Russian-Turkish war in 1787-1791 did not permit Russia to carry out this plan.
Between 1785-1787, the Iravan khanate was subjected to attacks by Karabakh and Khoy khans and the Jar-Balakan
ruler Omar (Umme) khan. The Iravan khanate eventually strengthened its positions.
In 1789, Bayazit pasha attacked the Iravan
khanate and surrounded the khan’s army
troops. Mahammad khan received help
from the Nakhchivan khanate and escaped
the blockade. Then he counterattacked and
surrounded the Bayazit fortress. However,
he was unsuccessful in capturing the for-
tress and retreated.
In 1790, the forces of the Iravan and Na-
khchivan khanates attacked the Khoy
khanate. Then the Khoy khan sided with
the Nakhchivan khan to attack the Iravan
khanate. The allies won the battle and re-
mained in Iravan until August 1790. Fol-
lowing the attack of Agha Mahammad Qa-
jar, Iravan khanate’s independence was in
serious danger.
Agha Mahammad Qajar seized Iravan cas-
tle in the summer of 1795 after 35 days of
siege. In 1796, during the attack of V. Zubov,
Mahammad khan made a diplomatic ma-
neuver and acquiesced to Russia. During
the attack, Qajar Mahammad khan was
captured and the government was handed
over to Eligulu khan. However, following
Qajar’s death, Eligulu khan was chased out
of Iravan. The new shah of Iran, Fatali Shah,
brought Mahammad khan to power again.
During the Russo-Persian war of 1804-1813,
Russia’s attempt to seize the Iravan khanate
was unsuccessful (Map 6).
One of the major strategic targets of both
sides during the 1826-1828 Russo-Persian
Map 6
Iravan And Nakhchivan Khanates. 1823
Fragment From The Map Of Caucasus
Source: Rusiya Dövlət Qədim Aktlar arxivi;
War against Azerbaijan.
Targeting Cultural Heritage. Baku, 2007