Shamakhi Khanate.

 1748-1820

Shirvan is a geographical region of Azerbaijan which covered a vast territory - the

north-eastern lands from the Kura River. In the middle of the 18th century, several
khanates were formed in this region - the Guba, Derbent, Baku and Shamakhi
khanates.

In 1721, Shamakhi was taken by the rebel Sunnis under the leadership of
imam Haji Davud. In 1722, the Turkish Sultan granted Haji Davud the title of
Khan. According to the Istanbul Treaty in 1724, the Shirvan Khanate was
recognized by Russia as a vassal of the Ottoman Empire. However, Haji Davud
wanted complete independence, and in 1725 the Turks began a war against him. In
1728, in Ganja, having arrived for negotiations with the Sultan, Haji Davud was
treacherously arrested and exiled to the interior regions of the Ottoman Empire.
The sultan appointed Surkhai ibn Garay-bek as the new Shirvan khan. In 1734, the
de facto ruler of Persia, Nadir-shah Afshar defeated Surkhai-bey and regained
control over Shirvan. After the assassination of Nadir Shah in 1747, the khanate
regained its independence.

The Shamakhi khanate occupied part of the territory of Shirvan. In terms of

territory, this khanate was one of the largest khanates of Azerbaijan. However, as a
result of wars between the khanates, the borders of the Shamakhi Khanate often
changed.

The emergence of the khanate. Dual power. In the middle of the 18th
century, two independent khanates were formed on the territories of old and new
Shamakhi. Old Shamakhi was ruled by the brothers Muhammadsaid Khan and
Aghasi Khan, who belonged to the Serkarlar dynasty. New Shamakhi (Agsu) was
ruled by Haji Muhammadali Khan.

(What impact did dual power have on the political and economic life of the
Shamakhi Khanate?)

The dual power had a negative impact on the political and economic life of the
Shamakhi Khanate. The split in forces made it difficult to protect the khanate from
attacks from outside. It became impossible to fight against neighboring khans who
attacked the territory of the khanate. Moreover, in the Shamakhi Khanate, the
khans of the old and new Shamakhi fought also with each other. To put an end to
this situation in 1763, Muhammadsaid Khan, defeating Haji Muhammadali Khan,
captured New Shamakhi. Thus, in the Shamakhi Khanate, the dual power was
terminated. A united Shamakhi Khanate was formed, ruled by the Serkarlar
dynasty.

In 1765 Fatali Khan of Guba, who pursued a policy of unification of Azerbaijani

lands, started a war between the Guba and Shamakhi khanates. At first, the support
provided to the Shamakhi Khan by the Sheki Hussein Khan prevented Fatali-khan
from succeeding. Trying to find a way out of the situation, Fatali-khan attracted
Hussein Khan to his side. Thus, the fate of the Shamakhi Khanate was sealed. The
Shamakhi khanate was divided between Sheki and Guba. In August 1768, Fatali-
khan defeated Hussein Khan of Sheki, thus completely annexing the Shamakhi
Khanate to Guba. Despite the long struggle of the Shamakhi khans in order to
withdraw from the subordination of the Guba Khanate, until 1789 - until the death
of Fatali Khan, the khanate was mainly part of the Guba Khanate.

In 1789-1792, a struggle for power began in the Shamakhi Khanate, which became
independent after the death of Fatali Khan.

In 1792, Mustafa Khan came to power. After that, calmness was established in the
Shamakhi Khanate, and Shamakhi turned into one of the most powerful khanates
of Azerbaijan.