Page 11 - Azərbaycan xalçaları

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by a lord under subordination of the general supremacy of
Georgia. In 1809, the administration of Guba consisted of four
authoritative beys under the leadership of Mirza Mahammad,
the father of A.A. Bakikhanov, who established rule in the
Guba province.
Sheikh Ali, khan of Guba, continued his struggle against
tsarist Russia. The masses were dissatisfied with the new gov-
ernment. In 1810, revolt occurred under Sheikh Ali khan in
Guba, but the tsarist government suppressed it. After the re-
volt, a governing regime was formed in Guba and Guba, Baku,
and Darband provinces were united in the Dagestan district.
In 1826 the General Muslim Revolt spread to Guba. The Tsar-
ist government managed to suppress these revolts during the
Russo-Persian War in 1826-1828. In spite of these suppressions,
it was impossible to prevent people from fighting for freedom.
In the 1830s, one of the largest revolts in northern Azerbaijan
was in Guba in 1837.
The Guba revolt fought against colonization movements.
In the 1830s, colonial servitude arose in the Guba province.
The exploitation of peasants and the tyranny of tsarist officers
reached a critical level. The citizens of Guba province paid tax-
es in silver money at the rate of 1 ruble 50 kopecks and grain
taxes in different amounts. Moreover, peasants were required
to pay other taxes as well. The acting governor of Guba province declared that it was required for
peasants to pay seven types of treasury taxes. The situation for serfs and farm labourers, as well as
servants, was difficult.
One of the aspects that led to the deterioration of the situation of the people was the obligation
system. Common lands with pastures belonging to the khanates in Guba province were confiscated
and given to the treasury. The treasury gave these pastures for duty and therefore, people were
forced to use their pastures under difficult conditions.
Peasants suffered all measure of tyranny from officials of the province. The situation became more
difficult during the period of Governor Colonel Gimbut. Tsarist officers did not consider the situa-
tion of peasants; rather, they required payment of all previous debts and new taxes and forced the
peasants to sell grain to the army at three times lower than market price.
The cases of abuse increased in the collection of taxes. The taxes owed from the peasants for
construction in connection with mineral water in Budug were 179 rubles, 60 kopecks, but only 500
rubles worth of silver money was collected. The remainder of the money was appropriated by the
heads of the province, especially Governor Gimbut. The governor was not punished, and therefore,
he implemented additional taxes wilfully and made the peasants work for him. In addition to the
taxes, Governor Gimbut also received “zakat” (alms).
The illegal activity of the governor of the province set precedent for some district governors to act
in any way they wanted.
As a result of tax collection, the peasants were basically robbed and all their wealth was captured.
The courts and legislative system also failed to equitably solve disputes. This situation led to dis-
satisfaction with the colonial regime. The collection of 36 horsemen to staff a Muslim regiment lo-
cated in Warsaw at the beginning of 1837 was the pretext for the revolt. The main issue was not the
unwillingness of people to serve in the army, but the additional economic problems created. That is
to say, as a result of the tyrannies in the Guba province, the maintenance of one horseman was 350
rubles, which was 2-2.5 times more than in other provinces.
In April 1837, the upper Yukhari-bash district decided to refuse to give horseman. The elders
of other highland districts like Sirt and Anagdara gathered in the village of Khizra and joined the
protest. It was impossible to determine a common line and therefore it was decided to continue
meeting regularly in Girkhbulag, near the village of Gil. Everyone agreed not to give horsemen and
Reut, head of the military district, was informed. When the peasants did not receive an answer for
their applications, they began to struggle to meet their requirements. In this situation, Reut sent
out notice that horsemen would not be required from people, but some beys would be granted the
right to collect volunteers. They were not satisfied with this decision, and therefore the elders of the
districts of Guba province gathered at Gunduzgala village in connection with Reut’s answer and
demanded an end to the collection of horsemen. When Reut saw the situation, he sent Major Isa bey,
Azerbaijani carpets / GUBA GROUP
Silver abbasi (unit of money twenty copecks)
belonging to Guba khanate. Guba city.