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Shirvan




Shirvan (, today part of the Republic Of Azerbaijan , stretching between the western shore of the Caspian Sea and the Kura River .


HISTORY


The name is first attested during the Sassanian epoch, when it was used to denote the northern part of Caucasian Albania , or Arran . After the Islamic conquest, it became a hereditary possession of the Khalif 's governors.

Between 799 and 1538, the territory was ruled by the Shirvanshah s (a particular Persian title of the royal rank of Shah ). It was there that the Persian poet Khaqani ( Khaghani ) was born. The capital of the Shirvanshahs was Shemakha .

In the 18th century, Shirvan was a Khanate whose ruler paid homage to Persia . The Russians briefly overran it during the Russo-Persian War, 1722-1723 . After the Treaty Of Gulistan of 1813 the region was absorbed by Imperial Russia .

The regions of Shirvan and Arran later formed the Republic of Azerbaijan.

Shirvan is known for the quality of its Rugs .


PEOPLE


Shirvan's population consisted of Caucasian speaking peoples Lezgi, Avar, Udi, Kriz and Iranian speaking Tats. This population was slowly Turkisized since the 11th century onward, yet some speakers of the Caucasian languages still live in the distant villages of Shamakha , Shaki , Qabala , and Oguz .


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