Shirvan

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For the town in Iran see Shirvan

Shirvan (Persian: شروان ) Azerbaijani: Şirvan) or Shervan is a historic region in the Caucasus, historically a part of Persia, and 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 Shirvanshahs (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 Lezgian, Avar, Udi, Kryz and Iranian languages 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.

See also

• Shirvanshah
• Aran
• Shirvan Khanate

References

External links

• WorldStatesmen- Azerbaijan
• Great Soviet Encyclopedia, article on Shirvan

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Last updated on Thursday March 06, 2008 at 17:27:38 PST (GMT -0800)
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