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Map of the State of Shirvanshahs in Azerbaijan


Map of the Shirvanshahs' State in Caucasian Azerbaijan, Aqqounly Empire, John E. Woods, 1999

The map shows the extension of the State of Shirvanshahs (Šarvānšāhs, r. 861-1538) in Caucasian Azerbaijan of the Aqqounlu Empire over present-day Armenia and Azerbaijan.

The capital of Shirvanshahs was Shamakhi (Pahlavi: ŠammāḵaAzerbaijani: Şamaxı) and later Baku (Pahlavi: Atāsh-i Bagawān?), in present-day Azerbaijan. 

The Palace of Shirvanshahs survived till modern days and is a popular destination for tourists visiting Baku.

Baku's Shirvanshah Palace is on the list of UNESCO World Heritage.

Source:

- John E. Woods,  "Aqqounlu Clan, Confederation, Empire", 1999, University of Utah Press, 352.

- Walled City of Baku with the Shirvanshah's Palace and Maiden Tower, UNESCO, https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/958/

- The Legend of Baku Maiden Tower (Zoroastrian legends), 

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/383948506_THE_LEGEND_OF_BAKU'S_MAIDEN_TOWER_ZOROASTRIAN_LEGENDS









Lake of Gekcha / Sevanga / Sevan and Azerbaijani Iravan Khanate

Lake of Gekcha / Sevanga and Qajar's Azerbaijani Iravan Khanate,
Tsar Russia's Map of Transcaucasia in 1801 - 1813, published in Tiflis, 1901, Legend in Russian.

Imperial Russia's official map (1801-1813) shows the ceded by the Qajars (Turk/Azeri dynasty of Iran, Azerbaijani: Qacarlar) Iravan Khanate (Persian: Khānāt-e IravānAzerbaijani: Irəvan xanlığı, Russian: Erivan) and the Lake of Gekcha (Azerbaijani: Göyçə/Gökçe, Turkish: Kökçe)/ Sevanga that means blue water.

In Classical Antiquity the lake was called Lychnitis Lacus, (Ancient Greek: Λυχνῖτις), meaning blue and transparent water.

The lake's name has the Sasanian origin and derives from Pahlavi (Middle Persian) Sivāng-e/ Sivān.

Notably, the name of Hrazdan River (Pahlavi: Hurazdān, Azerbaijani/ Turkish: Zangi/ Zanga çay), which flows out from the lake, is derived from the Middle Persian name Frazdān which is related to the Zoroastrian mythology. Frazdān is the lake's name mentioned in the Avesta (Frazdānu). Frazdānu is composed of the elements "fraz“ elevated, high and "dānu“ river”.

The Russified name Sevanga originates from the Middle Persian Sivāng-e. 

The Armenized name Sevan is a corrupted form of the Russified name Sevanga, which derives from the Middle Persian Sivāng-e.

Sources:

- The Caucasian region in 1801- 1813, The Head-Quarter of Russia's Caucasian Military District, Tiflis, 1901, Legend in Russian, available at: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/09/Map_of_Caucasus_1801.jpg

Adontz, N. "Armenia in the Period of Justinian. Political Conditions based on the Naxarar System", tr. N.G. Garsoїan, Galouste Gulbenkian Foundation, Lisbon. 1970, pp.529.

Allen, William Edward David; Muratoff, Paul. "Caucasian Battlefields: A History of the Wars on the Turco-Caucasian Border 1828–1921", Cambridge University Press. 1953, p 9. ...Lake Sevan (A. Sevan; T. Gök-çay; 'Blue water').

- Bosworth C. E., (1986) “ARRĀN,” Encyclopedia Iranica, II/5, pp. 520-522, available online at  http://www.iranicaonline.org/articles/arran-a-region

-  Graesse, J. G., Orbis Latinus, "Lexikon lateinischer geographischer Namen des Mittelalters und der Neuzeit Großausgabe", Band II, E – M, Braunschweig, 1972, vol. 2, p. 434, available at:

https://daten.digitale-sammlungen.de/0005/bsb00050913/images/index.html?fip=193.174.98.30&seite=436&pdfseitex=

Ghodrat-Dizaji M., Ādurbādagān During the Late Sasanian Period: A Study in Administrative Geography, Iran, Journal of the British Institute of Persian Studies, 2010, Vol 48, issue 1, 69-80, https://doi.org/10.1080/05786967.2010.11864774

Marquart, J. 1901. "Ērānšahr nach der Geographie des Ps. Moses Xorenac‘i, mit historisch-kritischem Kommentar und historischen und topographischen Excursen", Weid mannsche Buchhandlung, Berlin.

- Minorsky, V., “Caucasica IV,” BSOAS 15, 1953, pp. 504-29

Russell, J.R., “Armeno-Iranica,” in Papers in Honour of Professor Mary Boyce II, Acta Iranica 25, Leiden, 1985, pp. 447-58

- Semenov, Petr Petrovič (1873). "Geografičesko-statističeskij slovarʹ Rossijskoj Imperii: Pavasterort – Sjatra-Kasy", Volume 4 (in Russian). Bezobrazov i komp. p. 532. "Sevanga, ozero, Erivanskoi gubernii, Novobayazetskogo uezda", sm Gokchinskoe, (Севанга, озеро, Эриванской г-іи, Новобаязетскаго у.; см. Гокчинское).

- Woods, John E."The Aqquyunlu: Clan, Confederation, Empire", University of Utah Press, 1999,  pp 352. "...Lake Gökçe (Sevan) in Armenia...”

- Map of Khanate of Erivan in 1809-1817, available online at https://picryl.com/media/khanate-of-eriwan-in-1809-1817-d371ef

- Map of Russia's Military Operations in Transcaucasia from 1809 till 1817, showing local borders under the Treaties of Gulistan and Bucharest, (Карта военных действий в Закавказском крае с 1809 по 1817 год, с границами по Голистанскому договору и Бухарестсткому миру), available online at https://runivers.ru/upload/iblock/558/174748.png


Azerbaijani Erivan Khanate Flag (Khan's Standard)

 

Azerbaijani Erivan Khanate's Flag (Khan's Standard), National Museum of History, Baku, Azerbaijan

The Flag (Khan's Standard) of Qajar's Azerbaijani Khanate of Erivan (Persian: خانات ایروان, Khānāt-e Iravān, Azerbaijani: Irəvan xanlığıpresent-day Armenia). 

The Khanate of Erivan was ceded to Imperial Russia by the Qajars (r. 1789-1925, Turk/Azeri dynasty) of Iran under the Treaty of Turkmenchay of 1828 (Persian: عهدنامه ترکمانچای, Ahdnāme-ye Torkmânčây,
Azerbaijani: Türkmənçay müqaviləsi).


Administrative division of  Azerbaijan's Khanate of Erivan, 1820

Later, Russia established the so-called Armenian Oblast (province), which existed from 1828 to 1840. 

The Erivan Khanate was mostly populated by Azeri Turks up to 80%, whereas Christian Monophysites Armenians formed less than 20%.

Source:

- Museum of History of Azerbaijan, Baku, Azerbaijan, http://azhistorymuseum.gov.az/en/

- Ministry of Defense, Baku, Azerbaijan, mod.gov.az/en/the-history-of-iravan-410/

- Tsutsiev, Arthur (2014). Atlas of the Ethno-Political History of the Caucasus (PDF). Translated by Nora Seligman Favorov. New Haven: Yale University Press. ISBN 9780300153088, https://abkhazworld.com/aw/Pdf/Atlas_of_the_Ethno-Political_History_of_the_Caucasus.pdf

Sculpture of Atropates (Aturpat), Darius III's General and Satrap of Media

by Mahir Khalifa-zadeh

Created: 3 August, 2024

PDF download: 

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/383305094_ATURPAT_ATROPATES_-_DARIUS_III'S_GENERAL_AND_KING_OF_MEDIA_-ATROPATENE

ATROPATES (Old Persian: Ātrpātah and Pahlavi: Ātūrpāt; Ancient Greek: Ἀτροπάτης Atropátēs; (370 BC – 321 BC) was a Medes (Old Persian: 𐎶𐎠𐎭, Māda) and nobleman (possibly had very distant relation to the Achaemenid House) and satrap of Media (Ancient Greek: Μεγάλη) and general who served Darius III and Alexander of Macedon. He was a founder of the independent kingdom Media - Atropatene (Ancient Greek: Ἀτροπατηνή or Lesser Media) and the dynasty that was named after him. Atropates’ descendants ruled the kingdom until the 2nd century CE. The kingdom was established in c. 323 BC and was the only Iranian region to remain under Zoroastrian authority from the Achaemenids to the Muslim Arabs' conquest.

Sculpture of Atropates (Ātūrpāt), King of Media – Atropatene,

Military History Museum, Baku, Azerbaijan 

General Atropates attracts the attention of historians because a couple of hypotheses exist regarding the origins of the name Azerbaijan. According to the classic tradition, the name comes from the time of Alexander of Macedon’s conquest of the Achaemenid Empire. 

In particular, it presumably originates from General Atropates - a commander of the Achaemenid King Darius III’s army’s right wing in the battle of Gaugamela (Ancient Greek: Γαυγάμηλα, also known as the battle of Arbella) in 331 BC. 

Atropates, as satrap (Median/Old Persian: xšaçapāvān, Parthian/Arsacid Pahlavi: šahrabof Media, commanded Median, Arrānian (Latin: Albanian), Sacasenian, Cadusian, and Arminian (inhabitants of Achaemenid's province of Armina, Old Persian: 𐎠𐎼𐎷𐎡𐎴Elamite: Harminuya, Ancient Greek: Arminyaya/ Armenia) troops. 

Ilya Dyakonov indicated that Arrānians (Albanians) and Cadusians participated in the battle as the allies of Atropates, not of the Persians and, thus, he believed that Atropates' political influence lasted far to the north of Aras/ Araxes River.

On the eve of Gaugamela battle, Atropates commanded the mounted reconnaissance squad that Darius III sent to reconnoiter the field.

Intriguingly, during the battle of Gaugamela, Atropates’ units pushed Alexander of Macedon’s army to stop the advance and implemented defensive measures. Only Alexander’s personal intervention with fresh troops allowed the Macedonians to stop their retreat and concentrate on a victorious advance in the center, facing troops under the direct command of Darius III. 

Indeed, it was a unique moment in the battle. The Macedonian left wing had begun to retreat and, if King Darius III realized and utilized it, the battle’s outcome would have been completely different. However, as is well known, Darius III’s poor commanding and leadership skills resulted in the catastrophic defeat of the Achaemenids Army. 

When Darius lost the battle he flew to the Medes' capital of Ecbatana (Achaemenids' summer capital) where Atropates tried to help him to get a new army.

One month after Darius III’s death in June 330 BC, Atropates surrendered to Alexander. Later, in a personal meeting, Alexander mentioned Atropates’ military skills and esteemed him so highly that his daughter was married to Perdiccas - a close ally to Alexander and commander of the Macedonian cavalry. The marriage occurred at the famous mass wedding in Susa in February 324 BC. Atropates traveled to Susa with Alexander and offered 100 Amazons, as Greeks called beautiful female archers from Media and Arrān (Latin: Albania, present-day Azerbaijan), for the Macedonian military elite.

In 324 B.C. Atropates pacified unrest against the Greeks, and Alexander decided to keep him as a King of the land, which later became the independent (or semi-independent, vassal of Arsacid Parthia) kingdom of Atropatene (Parthian/Arsacid Pahlavi: Āturpātakān, Pahlavi: Ādurbādagān) with its capital at Ganzak/Gazaca (Ancient Greek: Γάζακα). 

Atropates had a last interview with Alexander in Media in 324-323, who came to inspect the breeding of the ancient world-famous Nisaean horses for the Macedonian army (Alexander's Bucephalus was a Nisaean horse). 

Alexander acknowledged the geostrategic location of the Medes' Ecbatana for its approximately equal distance from Babylon, Susa, and Persepolis. In Ecbatana, Alexander left a huge treasure of 180,000 talents as a special reserve garrisoned by a force of 6000 Macedonians. By establishing the military base for Alexander's main army, Ecbatana became the most important military center of his empire. Ecbatana was the place where Bessus (Bactria's Viceroy and slaughterer of Darius III) was executed and his body was publicly exposed to the Macedonian soldiers.

After Alexander's death in June 323 BC, Atropates did not participate in Alexander's satraps and generals meeting in Babylon. However, thanks to his diplomatic and political skills, he became one of only two non-Macedonians (along with Alexander's Bactrian father-in-law Oxyartes), who were listed as holding a satrapy after the division of the empire between Alexander's successors.

It should be highlighted that Atropates was a strong follower of Zarathustra (Zoroaster) and his name was neither Median nor Persian but Zoroastrian. The name Ātūrpāt originates from Avesta's word “Âtare-pâta”, (keeper of the fire) was one of the sons of Zarathustra. The transcription of name Ātūrpāt from Pahlavi (Middle Persian) could be “protected by fire”.

Atropates enjoyed full support from Zoroastrian priests or Magi/Magus (Old Persian: 𐎶𐎦𐏁 magušPahlavi: maguš; Ancient Greek μάγος magos) to minimize the Greeks’ impact on Zoroastrianism in Media-Atropatene. 

Indeed, the Achaemenids favored Goddess Anāhītā fire temple had been sacked and desecrated by Alexander the Great, who had burnt there the 12,000 ox-hides on which the original Avesta was written in golden lettering and which had been placed in the Fortress of Archives in the city of Istakhr in Pārs. 

However, Atropates was able to secure the fire temple of Ādur Gušnasp in Šiz (now Azar Gushnasp in Takht-e Soleyman, Iranian Azerbaijan), where the other copy of the Holy Avesta was preserved and copied on calf skins.

Atropates (Ātūrpāt) meets Alexander of Macedon, painting,
National Museum of History, Baku, Azerbaijan

Later, under the order of Sasanian King Shāpūr I (r. 240-272), the fire of Ādur Gušnasp (the last survived Great Fire of State) was classified as the empire’s most sacred victorious (Pahlavi: pērōzgar) warriors’ (Pahlavi: artēštār) class fire of the highest grade, holding the rank of “cathedral”.

The fire of Ādur Gušnasp, as Ataš Bahrām (Parthian: Ātaš-i Wahrām or Pahlavi: Ādur Bahrām - “fires of Victory,” the Zoroastrian name of the God of War and Victory), was most sacred or “cathedral” fire of the highest grade in Zoroastrianism, established in the late Achaemenid or Parthian era in Ādurbādagān in Media. Each new king, as Sasanian King Shāpūr I proclaimed, was obligated to make a pilgrimage after coronation to Ādur Gušnasp, providing royal gifts and celebrating Nowruz (Pahlavi: No Ruz).

Next, following the administrative and military reforms of the Sasanian kings Kawād I (r. 473-531) and his oldest son Xusrō I Anōšīrvān (r. 531- 579), the name Ādurbādagān [Azerbaijan] was extended toward Caucasia, covering Arrān (Caucasian Albania) and Armin (Arminyaya or Armenia). 

Particularly, King Xusrō I Anōšīrvān established the kust-ī Ādurbādagān (region of Ādurbādagān) military command holding Ādurbādagān’s general (Pahlavi: spāhbed), who was at the time the famous Iranian hero - Prince and General Rostam Farrokhzād of Ādurbādagān.

Finally, as someone assumes, General Atropates (Āturpāt) occupies a significant place in the history of Azerbaijan. His name, possibly, is a key to understand the origin of the name Azerbaijan - a land of fire (Azerbaijani: odlar yurdu).

Eventually, Pahlavi name Ādurbādagān evolved into the Turkified form of Azarbaijan/Azerbaijan. This is where the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Iranian province of Azerbaijan get their name.

 Sources:

"ADHARBAYDJAN (AZARBAYDJAN)", (i) Province of Persia, (ii) Soviet Socialist Republic The Encyclopedia of Islam: New Edition [Volume I A - B]GIBB, H. A. R.; KRAMERS, J. H., LEVI-PROVENCAL, E.; LEWIS, B.; PELLAT, CH.; & SCHACHT, J. (ed.) Published by E. J. Brill / Luzac & Co. 1986, 188-192.

“ATROPATES”, LIVIUS.org, https://www.livius.org/articles/person/atropates/

Bosworth C.E., "ARRĀN", Encyclopedia Iranica, II/5, 520-522, available online at: http://www.iranicaonline.org/articles/arran-a-region

Chaumont M.L., "ATROPATES", Encyclopedia Iranica, Vol. III, Fasc. 1, pp. 17-18, available online at: https://iranicaonline.org/articles/atropates-aturpat-lit

Dandamayev M., “MAGI”, Encyclopedia Iranica, available at: https://www.iranicaonline.org/articles/magi

Dyakonov I., Очерк истории древнего Ирана", (History of Ancient Iran), in Russian, Izdatelstvo Vostochnoi Literaturi, Moskva, 1961, 444.

Dyakonov I., "История Мидии: От древнейших времен до конца IV в до н.э". (History of Medes: From Ancient times till the end of IV BC), in Russian,  Publisher, Moskva-Leningrad, Academy of Science of the USSR, 1956, 488.

Ghodrat Dizaji M., Disintegration of Sasanian hegemony over Northern Iran (AD 623-643), Iranica Antiqua, 2011, Vol. 46, 315-329, DOI:10.2143/IA.46.0.2084424

Ghodrat-Dizaji M., Administrative Geography of The Early Sasanian Period: Case of Ādurbādagān, Iran: Journal of the British Institute of Persian Studies. 2007, Vol.45, 87-93, https://doi.org/10.1080/05786967.2007.11864720

Heckel W., "In the Path of Conquest", Oxford University Press, 2020, 336.

Khalifa-zadeh M., Sasanian Imperial Strategy and King Xusrō I Anōšīrvān’s Reform: The Case of Ādurbādagān and Arrān (Caucasian Albania), International Journal of History, 2024, Vol. 6, Issue 1, 111-121. https://doi.org/10.22271/27069109.2024.v6.i1b.271

Khalifa-zadeh M., From Sasanian Adurbadagan to Modern Azerbaijan: Historical Background and Developments, In book: Recent Trends in Arts and Social Studies, Edition: First, Chapter: 8, Publisher: B P International, London, Kolkata, 2023: 116-136. https://doi.org/10.9734/bpi/rtass/v9/7649A

Khalifa-zadeh M., Adurbadagan and Arran (Caucasian Albania) in the Late Sasanian Period, International Journal of History, 2023, Vol5, Issue 2, 15- 18, DOI: 10.22271/27069109.2023.v5.i2a.220

Khalifa-zadeh M., and Maksymiuk K., Reforms of Sasanian king Khusro I and the northern bank of the Araxes – Arrān (Caucasus Albania), Historia I Świat, Vol. 12, 167–182. https://doi.org/10.34739/his.2023.12.10

Mayor A., "AMAZONS IN THE IRANIAN WORLD". Encyclopedia Iranica; available at https://iranicaonline.org/articles/amazons-ii

Minorsky V., Roman and Byzantine Campaigns in Atropatene, Bulletin of the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London, 1944, Vol. 11, No. 2, pp. 243-265, Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of School of Oriental and African Studies, 2013, https://www.jstor.org/stable/609312

Sharifzadeh A., "Eternal Fires of Ancient Iran–On the Sasanian-era Ādur Gušnasp Zoroastrian Temple", Eternal Fires of Ancient Iran–On the Sasanian-era Ādur Gušnasp Zoroastrian Temple – borderlessblogger 

Shifman I., “Александр Македонский”, (Aleksandr Makedonskiy), in Russian, Izdatelstvo Nauka, Moskva, 1988, ISBN 5-02-027233-7бб, 205.

Schippmann K., “AZERBAIJAN iii. Pre-Islamic History”, Encyclopedia Iranica, Vol. III, Fasc. 2, 221-224, available at https://iranicaonline.org/articles/azerbaijan-iii

Sykes P.M. "A History of Persia", Published by London Macmilan and Company, St. Martin's Street, London 1915, Vol I, 742. https://archive.org/details/dli.ernet.547

Toumanoff C., Introduction to Christian Caucasian History I: The Formative Centuries (IVth-VIIIth), Traditio, Vol. 15 (1959), 1-106.

Yamamoto Y., The Zoroastrian Temple Cult of Fire in Archaeology and Literature (I). Orient 15, 1979, 19-53.

Sasanian Imperial Policy and Strategy: Case of Adurbadagan and Arran (Caucasian Albania)

 by Mahir Khalifa-zadeh [1,2]

[1] - Canadian Historical Association, Ottawa, Canada

[2] - Azerbaijan in Global Context, Media and Analysis Center, Toronto, Canada

 Original

Khalifa-zadeh Mahir, "Sasanian Imperial Strategy and King Xusrō I Anōšīrvān’s Reform: The Case of Ādurbādagān and Arrān (Caucasian Albania)", International Journal of History, 2024, Vol.6, Issue 1, p 111-121.  DOI: https://doi.org/10.22271/27069109.2024.v6.i1b.271

PDF download:

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/380216635_Sasanian_Imperial_Strategy_and_King_Xusro_I_Anosirvan's_Reform_The_Case_of_Adurbadagan_and_Arran_Caucasian_Albania

Map of the Sasanian fortifications in Azerbaijan (Pahlavi: Arrān, Latin: Albania)

Abstract

The article analyses the Sasanian imperial policy and strategy toward Ādurbādagān and Arrān (Caucasian Albania) as well as the impact of King Xusrō I Anōšīrvān’s reforms on these regions. The author briefly overviews Ardaxšīr I’s rise to power highlighting the Sasanian dynasty’s political ambitions. The article discusses Shāpūr I’s ideological and political reasons for declaring the Ādur Gušnasp fire-temple in Azerbaijan the empire’s most sacred fire and proclaiming Zoroastrianism as the state religion. The author argues that Shāpūr I’s decision transformed Ādurbādagān into the empire’s Zoroastrian religious and ideological center, increasing the province’s strategic value. However, Ādurbādagān’s proximity to the main war zones heightened its vulnerability. The author notes that King Xusrō I Anōšīrvān’s reform enhanced Ādurbādagān’s security by the establishment of the kust-i Ādurbādagān and Ādurbādagān’s spāhbed (general) military command covering Arrān (Caucasian Albania). The article emphasizes Arrān’s military and geostrategic importance in the Sasanian strategy to prevent Turks' incursions and contain Byzantine Christian advance in Caucasia. The reform tightened Albania’s attachment to Azerbaijan increasing its military capacity and strategic value. Thus, in the late Sasanian period Ādurbādagān and Arrān became interchangeable names in the northern bank of the Aras River through the creation of the entire Ādurbādagān [Azerbaijan] šahr shielding Ērānšahr.

Keywords: Sasanian, Khosrow Anushirvan, Adurbadagan, Arran, Caucasian Albania, Azerbaijan

 PDF download:

https://www.academia.edu/118449451/Sasanian_Imperial_Strategy_and_King_Xusr%C5%8D_I_An%C5%8D%C5%A1%C4%ABrv%C4%81ns_Reform_The_Case_of_%C4%80durb%C4%81dag%C4%81n_and_Arr%C4%81n_Caucasian_Albania_

Map of Azerbaijani Khanates and Russia's Military Operations in the South Caucasus 1809-1817

 

The map indicates Azerbaijani khanates and the Lake of Gekcha (Azerbaijani: Gökçe)/ Sevanga. The Russified name Sevanga originates from the Sasanian name (Pahlavi: Sivāng-e/ Sivān) meaning "blue water", Legend in Russian. 

High resolution image available at:  https://runivers.ru/mp/maps-detail.php?ID=468665

Карта военных действий в Закавказском крае с 1809 по 1817 год. (runivers.ru)


Azerbaijan's Iravan and Nakhcivan Khanates and the Lake of Gekcha/ Sevanga (Pahlavi: Sivāng-e), legend in Russian.

The Armenized name "Sevan" is a corrupted form of the Sasanian name "Sivāng-e/ Sivān  (Pahlavi/Middle Persian), meaning blue water.

B P International Publishing From Sasanian Adurbadagan to Modern Azerbaijan: Historical Roots and Development



 In Book:
"Recent Trends in Arts and Social Studies", Chapter 8, First Edition, Publisher: B P International, London, Kolkata, 2023, pp116-136 , https://doi.org/10.9734/bpi/rtass/v9/7649A

by Mahir Khalifa-Zadeh1.2 and Leyla Khalifazadeh3

1Canadian Political Science Association, Toronto, Canada
2Azerbaijan in Global Context, Media and Analysis Centre, Toronto, Canada
3 Don Mills Colegate Institute, Toronto, Canada 
Corresponding E-mail:    mhalifa@azglobalcontext.org


Original:

https://stm.bookpi.org/RTASS-V9/article/view/12120

PDF download:

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/374505152_From_Sasanian_Adurbadagan_to_Modern_Azerbaijan_Historical_Background_and_Developments

Abstract: 

The author discusses the historical background of the origin of  modern Azerbaijan divided by the Araz river into southern or Iranian and northern or the independent Republic of Azerbaijan. The author analyzes the application of the Sasanian name Adurbadagan to both sides of modern Azerbaijan. He believes that the name Azerbaijan originates from the Avestan words Atash or Atar or Azar that means fire. As a historical and political term, Azerbaijan roots deep to Achaemenids’ Aturpatakan (Atropatena) evolving into the Sasanian Adurbadagan - a Zoroastrian center of the empire. Since late Antiquity, Adurbadagan’s military and administrative functions were extended and applied by the Sasanids to all lands in the north from the Aras river, up to Darband fortress in Arran (Albania) in Caucasia. The author argue, since late Antiquity,  Adurbadagan and Arran became interchangeable names in the northern bank of the Araz river. In the Islamic period, particularly after Seljuk Turks conquest of Iran, Adurbadagan evolved into the Turkified form of Azarbadajan or Azerbaijan, cementing the modern Azerbaijani Turks’ identity in the south and north sides of the entire Azerbaijan divided by the Araxes.

Keywords: Iran, Sasanian, Adurbadagan, Arran, Caucasus Albania, Azerbaijan

From Sasanian Adurbadagan to Modern Azerbaijan: History and Development


by Mahir Khalifa-Zadeh1.2 and Leyla Khalifazadeh3

Original:
"From Sasanian Adurbadagan to Modern Azerbaijan: History and Development", In: Recent Trends in Arts and Social Studies, Chapter 8, First Edition, Publisher: B P International, London, Kolkata, 2023, pp. 116-136.  https://doi.org/10.9734/bpi/rtass/v9/7649A

1Canadian Political Science Association, Toronto, Canada
2Azerbaijan in Global Context, Media and Analysis Centre, Toronto, Canada
3 Don Mills Colegate Institute, Toronto, Canada 

Corresponding E-mail:    mhalifa@azglobalcontext.org

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https://www.researchgate.net/publication/374505152_From_Sasanian_Adurbadagan_to_Modern_Azerbaijan_Historical_Background_and_Developments


Abstract: The author discusses the historical background of the origin of modern Azerbaijan divided by the Araz River into southern or Iranian and northern or the independent Republic of Azerbaijan. The author analyzes the application of the Sasanian name Adurbadagan to both sides of modern Azerbaijan. He believes that the name Azerbaijan originates from the Avestan words Atash or Atar or Azar which means fire. As a historical and political term, Azerbaijan roots deep to Achaemenids’ Aturpatakan (Atropatena) evolving into the Sasanian Adurbadagan - a Zoroastrian center of the empire. Since late Antiquity, Adurbadagan’s military and administrative functions were extended and applied by the Sasanids to all lands in the north from the Aras River, up to Darband fortress in Arran (Albania) in Caucasia. The author argues, that since late Antiquity,  Adurbadagan and Arran became interchangeable names in the northern bank of the Araz river. In the Islamic period, particularly after the Seljuk Turks conquest of Iran, Adurbadagan evolved into the Turkified form of Azarbadajan or Azerbaijan, cementing the modern Azerbaijani Turks’ identity in the south and north sides of the entire Azerbaijan divided by the Araxes.

Keywords: Iran, Sasanian, Adurbadagan, Arran, Caucasus Albania, Azerbaijan

Introduction

A couple hypotheses exist regarding the origins of the name Azerbaijan. According to the classic tradition, the name comes from the time of Alexander of Macedon’s conquest of the Achaemenid Empire. In particular, it presumably originates from General Aturpat - a commander of the Persian King Darius III’s army’s right wing in the Battle of Gaugamela in 331 BC (Chaumont, 1987).

Nobleman Aturpat (in Pahlavi) or Atropates (in Greek) was King Darius III’s general and satrap of Media. He, as the satrap of Media, commanded Median, Arranian (Greek: Albanian), Sacasenian troops in the Battle of Gaugamela. Army. During the battle, Atropates’ units pushed Alexander’s army to stop the advance and implemented defensive measures. Only Alexander’s personal intervention with fresh troops allowed the Macedonians to stop their retreat and concentrate on a victorious advance in the center, facing troops under the direct command of Darius III. It was a unique moment in the battle. The Macedonian right wing had begun to retreat and, if King Darius III realized and utilized it, the battle’s outcome would have been completely different. However, as is well-known, Darius III’s poor commanding and leadership skills resulted in the catastrophic defeat of the Achaemenids Army (Shifman, 1988).


Figure 1. Aturpat (Greek: Atropates) meets Alexander of Macedon, painting,
National Museum of History, Baku, Azerbaijan

One month after Darius III’s death in June 330 B.C., Atropates surrendered to Alexander. Later, in a personal meeting, Alexander mentioned Atropates’  military skills and esteemed him so highly that Atropates’ daughter was married to Perdiccas - a close ally to Alexander and commander of the Macedonian cavalry. The marriage took place at the famous mass wedding in Susa in February 324 BC. Moreover, Atropates also offered 100 Amazons, as Greeks called beautiful female-archers from Media and Albania, for Alexander’s military elite massive wedding in Susa (Mayor, 2017)

In 324 B.C. Atropates pacified unrest against the Greeks, and Alexander decided to keep Atropates as a King of the land which later became the independent Kingdom of Atropatena (in Greek) or Aturpatakan (in Parthian or Arsakid Pahlavi). Thus, as we believe, Aturpat (Atropates) occupies a significant place in the history of Azerbaijan. His name, possibly, is the key to understanding the origin of the name Azerbaijan - a land of fire.

Indeed, Aturpat, a nobleman and general, was a follower of Zarathustra (Zoroaster). The name Aturpat comes from Avesta’s word “Atare-pata”. The word “Atur” is derived from the Avestan “Atar” or “Atash” or “Azar” that means fire. “Pat” may be derived from the Avestan “payu” meaning “guardian” or “protector”. The transcription of name Aturpat from Pahlavi (Middle Persian) could be “protected by fire” (Khalifa-Zadeh, 2017).

Aturpatakan (Atropatena)

After Alexander’s death in June 323 B.C., Atropates secured his rule in a part of Media, known as Atropatena or Lesser Media, which was mostly settled by the Medes, a founding Iranian tribe of the Median Empire, preceding the Achaemenids.

Atropatena is Aturpatan in Old Persian. During the subsequent Parthian era, the Old Persian name Aturpatan evolved to the Middle Persian Aturpatakan. In Old and Middle Persian (Pahlavi), “Atur”, as mentioned earlier, means fire. The Encyclopedia Iranica describes Aturpatakan as “a place where the holy fire is protected”.

Figure 2. Aturpatakan (Greek: Atropatena)

Indeed, Aturpatakan was the only place in Ancient Iran where Zoroastrianism was never challenged by other religions, particularly the Greek pantheon. Moreover, it is highly likely that Aturpatakan was the place where the prophet Zarathustra was born and the Holy Avesta was kept in the sacred fire Adur Gushnasp temple (now Takht-e Soleyman, Iranian Azerbaijan) (Ghodrat-Dizaji, 2007) .

Under the Seleucids, Atropates, as King of Atropatena, tried to minimize the impact of the Hellenistic religion on Zoroastrianism. He enjoyed full support from the Zoroastrian clergy—the Magi and priests. The Atropatena’s capital was Ganzak, a cultural and logistical hub. It was a fortress and stronghold of Zoroastrianism. The Encyclopedia Iranica mentions: “It was presumably the capital of Atropates and his descendants, under whom, it seems, the chief Median sacred fire Adur Gushnasp was established on a hill nearby. Later developments show that the fire became closely associated with both Ganzak and Lake Urmia.” (Boyce, 2012).

Aturpatakan or Atropatena was an independent or semi-independent (vassal of Arsakid Parthia) kingdom until 3 CE. Atropatena and Parthia considered Rome a great threat and allied themselves in a long-lasting war with the Romans. Later, Atropatena was absorbed by the Sasanian Empire and Aturpatakan evolved into Adurbadagan (in Pahlavi).

 Adurbadagan/Adarbadagan

As a result of the transition from Old Persian to Middle Persian (Pahlavi), the word “Atur” or “Atar” evolved to “Adur” or “Adar”, and so Aturpatakan has been named Adurbadagan or Adarbadagan by the Sasanians.

In the Seleucid and Parthian eras, Aturpatakan (Adurbadagan) played a central role as a stronghold against the Greek and Roman pantheons, respectively, to preserve and expand Zoroaster’s faith. In the Sasanian era, Adurbadagan became the religious center of the empire. The chief Median sacred fire temple of Atur or Adur Gushnasp (Pahlavi) was established sometime in the Parthian period on a hill near Aturpatakan’s capital Ganzak.

The Sasanians proclaimed Zoroaster’s faith as an imperial religion and Adurbadagan occupied the role of the empire’s religious core, holding the temple Adur Gushnasp as the imperial sacred fire of the highest grade. The Byzantines as well acknowledged the imperial and religious value of Adurbadagan holding fire Adur Gushnasp. During the Byzantine-Sassanian War of 602-628 CE, the Byzantine emperor Heraclius, in 623 CE, occupied Adurbadagan and sacked out fire Adur Gushnasp, aiming to crash the Sassanian will and power to fight. (Maksymiuk, 2017)

Adur Gushnasp—an Atash Bahram (Parthian: Ataxsh-i-Wahram (Yamamoto, 1979) or Pahlavi: Adur Bahram—“fires of Victory”, Zoroastrian name of God of War and Victory) was the Zoroastrian most sacred or “cathedral” fire of the highest grade established in the late Achaemenid or Parthian era in Adurbadagan. The temple was linked to the warrior class (Pahlavi: arteshtar) to which the Sasanian dynasty belonged itself. Since King Bahram V (r. 420-438 CE), the Sasanian kings after the coronation pilgrimage to the temple providing royal gifts and celebrate Nowruz (No Ruz). Adur Gushnasp continued to burn down up to the 11th century (Boyce, 2014).

Figure 3. Ruins of the Sassanids’ most sacred fire temple Adur Gushnasp,
now Takht-e Soleyman, Iranian Azerbaijan

During the late Sasanian period, the Sasanian King Kawad I (r. 488-96, 499-531) and his son Khosrow I Anushirvan (r. 531-579) conducted military and administrative reforms to establish a quadripartition of the empire. The reform was aimed improving the empire’s military and defense capabilities to lead a long-lasting permanent war with Byzantium, as well as to address direct threats from Turks and Khazars in Caucasia. The reform was designed to strengthen the empire’s defense following the establishment of four quarters or sides (Pahlavi: kust) reported to the assigned trustworthy general (Pahlavi: spahbed) for each quarter (Farrokh, 2021; Ghodrat-Dizaji, 2010 ).

King Khosrow I Anushirvan abolished the one-person command of Eranspahbed (Isbahbadh al-bilad, Artestaran salar, the office of the marshal or general of all Iranian forces) (Maksymiuk, 2015) and replaced it with four generals (spahbed) reporting directly to the Shahanshah (king of kings). As a result of the reform, kust-i Adurbadagan (quadrant or side of Adurbadagan) was established holding Adurbadagan spahbed (general) and Adurbadagan amargar (financial or administrative officer) as well. The office of supreme military command (Isbahbadh) of Azerbaijan, with specially assigned Adurbadagan general, was covered Adurbadagan, Arran (Caucasus Albania) and Armin (Arminyaya or Armenia)  (Maksymiuk, 2015; Farrokh, 2021; Ghodrat-Dizaji, 2011; Gylesen, 2001; Kasumova, 1988)  (Figure 4).

Figure 4. The Sasanian Military Commander seal: Gorgon i Mehran…ud hujadag Xusro wuzurg eran— kust-i Adurbadagan spahbed, (Maksymiuk, 2015). The seal was found in Azargushnasp (Pahlavi: Adur Gusnasp), now Takht-e Soleyman, Iranian Azerbaijan; (M.Khalifa-zadeh translation: Gorgon of Mihran, grandee  of Great Khusrow of Iran - region Adurbadagan's [Azerbaijan] general)

The establishment of kust-i Adurbadagan with a specially assigned general was designed to improve the empire’s military and defense capabilities and to strengthen the central power of the Shahanshah. Moreover, as we believe, the reform aimed to strengthen Zoroastrianism in lands bordering the Christian Orthodox Byzantium and Turks in the Caucasus. The Sassanids considered kust-i Adurbadagan the most important quadrant because of its military potential and geographical location. The kust included the province of Adurbadagan (a religious center of the empire) and all adjoining lands in the north and west from the Araz River up to the Khazar lands in the Caspian Sea.

The establishment of kust-i Adurbadagan allowed to redesign the Sassanian military architecture in this part of the empire, projecting Adurbadagan’s structures and functions to the north over the Araz river up to Caucasia’s Darband fortress as Adurbadagan shahr (country, in Pahlavi) (Gadjiev & Kasumova, 2006).

The Sasanian reform strategy was pragmatic and effective. It strengthened the empire’s defense and military capabilities by incorporating Arranian (Albanian) troops into the Sasanian Imperial army under the Adurbadagan spahbed’s (general) command. However, the establishment of kust Adurbadagan had a clear religious function, as mentioned, because the province Adurbadagan, holding the most sacred fire Adur Gushnasp, was the imperial center of Zoroastrianism. Thus, projecting Adurbadagan’s military and administrative functions to the north of the Araz River (Araxes) was of paramount significance to the Sassanids enforcing both the central Shahanshah’s power and the Zoroastrian faith in Arran (Albania) which was challenged by the Orthodox Byzantium (Caucasus Albania was baptized into Nestorian Orthodox Christianity at the beginning of the 7th CE) (Rapp Jr., 2012) . It increased Zoroastrian gravity and the importance of Adurbadagan as an imperial religious center, cementing the Sasanian power and Zoroastrianism (as the unique imperial religion) under Adurbadagan shahr umbrella in the geographical region where the military and religious rivaling with the Orthodox Byzantium was in the stages of war (Rapp Jr., 2012). 

Figure 5. Sasanian province Adurbadagan and Arran (Latin: Caucasian Albania)

The establishment of Adurbadagan’s command (Isbahbadh) (Maksymiuk, 2015) under a specially assigned general (spahbed) centralized and expanded military operations up to the Darband fortress on the frontier with the Turks and Khazars in Caucasia. Despite Darband, at the time, was within the semi-independent Arran state (Pahlavi: Arranshahr), the Sasanians maintained military garrisons under the direct supervision of Adurbadagan’s spahbed. They strongly believed that Arraninan (Albanian) forces alone were not enough to stop the Turks from penetrating the Darband passage deep into Iran (Pahlavi: Eranshahr) (Farrokh et al., 2018; Farrokh et al., 2019) .

The Sassanian Kings (Shahanshah) and Kings of Arran (Arranshah) improved Darband’s fortifications by constructing double walls and the Narin Gala citadel on the hill. The fortified defense line was erected to protect a narrow passage between the Caucasus Mountains and the Caspian Sea, blocking the invasion of Turks and Khazars.

It is noteworthy that Azerbaijani and Dagestani scholars translated many Pahlavi inscriptions on the Darband walls. One of the inscriptions confirms the Darband’s subordination to Adurbadagan’s tax or revenue officer (Pahlavi: amargar). The Pahlavi wall inscription “en ud az en abarbar Darius-i Adurbadagan amargar” was translated as: “This and higher than this made by Dariush, Adurbadagan’s [Azerbaijan] revenue/tax collector” (Gadjiev & Kasumova, 2006) (Figure 6).

Figure 6. Arran's (Caucasian Albania) Darband fortress wall's Pahlavi official inscription. It transcribes as, “ēn ud az ēn ābarbar Daryuš ī Ādurbādagān āmārgar”, and translates as “This and higher than this made by Dariush, tax collector of Adurbadagan [Azerbaijan]” (Kasumova, 1988; Gadjiev & Kasumova, 2006).

 

The Pahlavi writings on the Darband wall and the Sasanian garrisons’ location (Gadjiyev, 2003) in Arran’s (Albanian) fortresses of Darband, Torpakh kala (Sahrestan Yazdegerd), Beshbarmag and in the Gilgilchay Defense Wall under the Adurbadagan’s general (spahbed) command as well as kust-i Adurbadagan marzban (administrative office) location in the Adurbadagan province’s city of Ardebil clearly confirm the projection of Adurbadagan’s political, military and administrative functions to the north from the Araxes. Later, historical developments indicate that Arran and Adurbadagan became interchangeable names in the region (Bosworth, n.d.; ARRAN, n.d.).

It is not surprising that Adurbadagan’s name and functions were projected onto Arran (Albania). The local Arranian (Albanian) nobility was close to the Sasanian crown and Arranian (Albanian) troops were integrated into the Sasanian army under command of Adurbadagan spahbed. Thus, despite that the Caucasus Albania (Arran) was an independent (from time to time) or semi-independent state, however, the defense was under Adurbadagan spahbed command who was at the time famous Iranian military and political hero—spahbed Rostam Farrokhzad of Adurbadagan. General and Prince of Adurbadagan Rostam Farrokhzad was a member of the Pahlav clan of Ispahbudhan family (House)—one of the Seven Great (Pahlavi: wuzurgan) Houses of the Sasanian Empire claiming its descent to the Arsacids of Parthia (Maksymiuk, 2015).

At the same time, the King of Arran Varaz Grigor (r. 628-637), Zoroastrian name that may have been Gadvsnasp prior to his second baptizing into dyophysite (Chalcedonian doctrine) (Toumanoff, 1961)Orthodox Nestorian Christianity, was adopted as the title of Arranshah. He was a member of the wuzurgan Mihran family (a Pahlav noble-family, separated or branch of the Ispahbudhan House). Moreover, Arranshah Varaz Grigor was related to the Sasanian Shahanshah Khosrow I Anushirvan or even “being himself a noble of the family of Ardashir I” and Prince Javanshir (Pahlavi: Juansher) of the Caucasus Albania (Arran) was a son of Varaz Grigor. The Pahlav House of Mihran held high ranking positions in the Sasanian hierarchy and occupied high command over frontline in the north, leading the negotiations with the Khaqan of Turks (Maksymiuk, 2015).

Figure 7. Javanshir (Pahlavi: Juansher), Prince and General (Pahlavi: Spahbed) of Arran (Caucasian Albania),
National Museum of History, Baku, Azerbaijan

Notably, the famous Sasanian general Rostam Farrokhzad of Adurbadagan escorted and introduced Prince Javanshir to the last Sasanian King Yazdgird III (r. 632-651) in Ctesiphon, the Sasanian capital. Prince Javanshir has occupied a significant place in the history of Azerbaijan and Iran.

On November 636, in the famous Battle of al-Qadisiyyah between the Sasanians and Muslim Arabs, Prince Javanshir was the commander of the Arranian (Albanian) troops, which were part of the Sasanian Imperial Army under the command of spahbed Rostam Farrokhzad of Adurbadagan.

In 637, Javanshir with 3000 - 4000 troops (Hoyland, 2020), helped arrange King Yazdgird III’s evacuation from the Sasanian capital Ctesiphon sieged by the Muslims. Later, Yazdgerd III awarded Javanshir two golden spears and shields and acknowledged his bravery, awarding a flag—the Standard of Jamshid (Pahlavi: Derafsh-e Kavian) which was the highest honor for loyalty and bravery in the fight with the Muslim Arabs. Before the final defeat of the Sassanian army at the Battle of Nahavand in 642, Javanshir arrived in Adurbadagan. One can assume that he planned to resume command of the Sasanian Adurbadagan military in the wake of the death of Rostam, and because of Yazdgerd’s strong will to collect a new army in Media to fight the Arabs. However, Rostam’s brother Farrukhzad was assigned as the Adurbadagan spahbed and Javanshir fled back to Arran's (Caucasian Albanian) capital Partaw (now Barda, present-day Azerbaijan).

Azarbaijan/Azerbaijan

Since the Muslim conquest of Iran following the disintegration of the Sasanian empire and Caucasus Albania, Muslim Arabs have followed the Sassanian tradition applying Adurbadagan as shahr to both south and north banks of the Araz river (Ghodrat-Dizaji, 2010). The Muslims followed the Sasanian military command structure and Sasanian fortifications’ infrastructure designed to protect the Araxes’s northern lands keeping a garrison in Caucasia’s Darband. In the meantime, since the Muslim conquest of Iran, the Middle Persian (Pahlavi) experienced great Arabic influence, and many Pahlavi words evolved into new form of writing and reading. In fact, Adurbadagan shahr transformed into Azarbadajan (Arabic pronunciation), and finally, thanks to the Turkification that followed, evolved into Azarbaijan or Azerbaijan (in Azerbaijani Turkish).

Since the Sasanian era, the central and northern and northwestern parts of Iran particularly Adurbadagan, Arran, and Armin (Greek: Arminiyaya or Armenia), experienced a high degree of Turkification (Aray, 2010). The first Oghuz Turkic tribes (Afshars) began penetrating Iran as early as the 5th CE. The local population of Sassanian Adurbadagan shahr (province and kust) was involved into the permanent and long-lasting (5th-11th centuries) process of Turkification following the gradual transition from the Adari Iranian language to Azeri Turkic or Azerbaijani Turkish. Simultaneously, entire Adurbadagan region experienced the settlement of Turkic tribes fueling the partial or full absorption of the local population by the Turks.

The Seljuk Turk’s conquering of Iran in the 11th century (Peacock, 2000) became a dominant force creating the ethnic and cultural foundation of contemporary Azerbaijani Turks or Azerbaijanis identity on both sides of the Araxes. The Seljuk Turk’s massive influx and conquering accelerated local Adari language degradation (Kasravi, 1993) and its gradual replacement by Azeri or Azeri Turkish. This process created a common political, religious, ethnic, cultural, and linguistic space, or the sole identity of Azerbaijani Turks on both sides of the Araxes (Alstadt, 1992) .

The conquering of the Seljuk Turks and the subsequent Turkification fundamentally changed the ethnic composition of Iran. It created a new political balance within Iran, resulting in the origin of the entire Azerbaijan and later Azerbaijani Turks’ identity on both banks of the Araxes, and shifted the nature of Iran into Muslim Shi’a power under the Turkic dynasties’ rule.

Figure 8. Jahanshah Kara Koyunlu (r. 1438-1567), Sultan of Azerbaijan and Emperor of Persia (Iran)

Notably, after the defeat of Jahan Shah (Sultan of Azerbaijan, Emperor of Persia, son of Sultan of Azerbaijan Yusef Kara of Kara Koyunly, a leader of the Kara Koyunlu Turkic dynasty in Azerbaijan and Arran) (Uzun Ḥasan & Turkmen Ruler, n.d.) by Uzun Hasan , the 9th Shahanshah of the Turkic Ak Koyunlu dynasty, in the Battle of Chapakchur (November 11, 1467), the name Arran was totally abolished (Bosworth, n.d.) as a political term. Uzun Hasan (1453-1478) proclaimed Azerbaijan’s Tabriz as the capital of the Turkic Ak Koyunlu Empire and translated the Quran into Turkic.

Next, with the rise of the Safavid Turkic dynasty in Iran, the forces of Shah Ismail I Safavid (1487-1524, maternal grandson of Uzun Hasan of Ak Koyunlu) defeated and killed Shirvanshah Farruh Yassar of Shirvan (Persianized dynasty) in the Battle of Jabani in 1500. The Shirvanshah Yassar’s defeat accelerated the disintegration of the state of Shirvanshahs on the northern side of the Araxes, following its absorption by the Safavid Empire in 1538. The disintegration of Shirvanshahs terminated Shirvans’ political functioning, cementing entire Azerbaijan under the Safavids. However, Shirvan and Arran, as geographical terms, have survived until today. The Turkic Safavids proclaimed Azerbaijan’s Tabriz as the capital of the empire. The Safavids, following the Sasanian tradition, valued both parts of Turkic speaking Azerbaijan (Pahlavi: Adurbadagan) as the core of the empire.

Figure 9. Ismail I (1487-1524), founder of Turkic Safavid dynasty, Shah of Iran, died in Ardebil, Azerbaijan, Iran

The Savafids appointed Beglarbegis in the following major provinces: Isfahan, Azerbaijan, Qaradag and Qarabaq. The administrative reform in the Safavid period confirmed the final political abolishment of Arran (Caucasus Albania) and Shirvan (state of Shirvanshahs) to the north of the Araxes as independent or semi-independent entities, securing them as geographical and historical toponymies till modern time.

Undoubtedly, the Seljuk and later Safavid eras facilitated the sailing of the northern part of Iran as Azerbaijan to the 18th century Iran of Qajars, which was the Iranian royal dynasty of Turkic origin from present-day Azerbaijan. However, several defeats of Qajar Iran by the Russian empire, following the early 19th century Russo-Persian wars, pushed them to sign the painful Treaties of Golestan (1813) and Turkmanchay (1828). Both treaties forced Iran to cede the Qajar’s Caucasian or Azerbaijani khanates including the Iravan khanate (present-day Armenia), to Imperial Russia (Zardabli, 2014; Ismailov, 2017).

Modern Azerbaijan: South (Iranian) Azerbaijan and North (Independent Republic of) Azerbaijan

Many the Imperial Russia’s official documents indicate the newly gained territories from Qajar Iran as Aderbeijani (Azerbaijani) khanates. On September 4, 1795, Russia’s Empress Catherin the Great wrote to General Gudovich: [we] “…have cordially to invite officers of Aga Mohammad Shah [Qajar] and, if he wants to be acknowledged as a Shah, he must stop his [military] operations in the region close to the Caspian Sea and named as the khanates of Darband, Baku, Talish, Shusha and others locating in Aderbeijan [present-day Azerbaijan]” (Dubrovin, 1871).

Figure 10. Map of Qajar Iran khanates of northern and southern Azerbaijan

On January 8, 1804, following the capture of Ganja fortress (present-day Azerbaijan), the Commander-in-chief of the Russian forces in Caucasia, General Titsianov, wrote to Russia’s Caucasian Governor Kasparov: “Thanks to the location of Ganja fortress, which keeps the whole Aderbeijan [Azerbaijan] in fear, it is the most important purchase for Russia; and I would like to update you on this event recommending you to inform about this great victory in all places of the gubernia [region] which is under your control” (Gezalov, n.d.).

Next, British Imperial cables from Persia confirmed that the ceded Caucasian khanates were Azerbaijan. On June 27, 1864, British Keith E. Abbot, H.M. Consul-General in Tabriz (Iranian Azerbaijan), sent a cable to the Foreign Office stating the following: “The country which is known to the Persians as Azerbaijan is divided between them and Russia… This area includes the following territorials: …Mohammedian countries of Erivan, Nakhchevan, Karabagh, Ghenja, Shirwan, Sheky, Shamachy, Bakou, Koobeh, Salian and a portion of Talish” (present-day Azerbaijan). In the same cable he also states the following: “The population of Russian Azerbaijan consists of mixed races, Mohhammedan and Christians, amounting probably to 700,000 to 800,000 souls. Persian Azerbaijan extends southward to the range of mountains known as the Kaflan Kooh. The country included in these boundaries, and perhaps, a large part, if not all, of Russian Azerbaijan, is generally recognized as the Media Atropatena of ancient geography” (Abbott, 1863-1864).

Moreover, Imperial Russia referred to the local population on both sides of the Araz River Aderbeijanskiye (Azerbaijani) Tatari (Tatars of Aderbeijan or Azerbaijan) because they spoke, as Russians believed, in the same or similar language as Russia’s Tatars in Kazan (Velichko, 1904).

As a result of the above-mentioned historical developments, the phenomenon of two Azerbaijans—South (Iranian) Azerbaijan and North (Russian) Azerbaijan emerged, creating a new geopolitical landscape in Caucasia and on both banks of the Araxes in the beginning of the 19th century.

Figure 11. Map of modern Azerbaijan: southern (Iranian) and northern (independent Republic of Azerbaijan)

After the Russian Bolshevik Revolution of 1917, the national Musavat government in Ganja proclaimed independence of northern Azerbaijan from Imperial Russia on May 28, 1918. Thus, the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic (ADR) emerged as the first Western-style state in the Muslim world. The ADR political system was based on Western secular values and established the National Parliament (Milli Majlis), granting equal voting rights to women as well as switching from Arabic to the Latin alphabet.

Finally, as a result of the Soviet collapse in 1991, northern or Soviet (Russian) Azerbaijan proclaimed its return to independence as the Republic of Azerbaijan—a political and historical descent of the ADR of 1918. On December 25, 1991, Iran recognized the independence of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

Conclusion

As we have seen, the name Azerbaijan is deeply rooted in the Achaemenids era and possibly originates from Avestan Adur or Atash. In the Sassanids period, Azerbaijan (Adurbadagan, in Pahlavi) became the principal Zoroastrian center of the empire, housing the sacred cathedral fire of Adur Gushnasp.

In the 5th-6th century, the Sassanids implemented reforms designed to strengthen the empire’s structure and military capabilities during the war with the Byzantines and Turks. They pushed forward the gravity of Adurbadagan, the empire’s Zoroastrian core, into the defense and consolidation of the Sasanian power in military and politically sensitive Caucasia to address direct threats from the Byzantium, Khazars and Turks.

The Sassanids reorganized the empire’s architecture, expanding Adurbadagan’s military and administrative functions to Darband in Caucasia as under the Adurbadagan shahr or kust umbrella. The newly discovered Sasanian (kust-i Adurbadagan spahbed) military seals in Takht-e Soleyman (Iranian Azerbaijan) and Pahlavi writings on Caucasia’s Derbent walls confirm that Arran and Adurbadagan were interchangeable names on the north bank of the Araxes since late Antiquity.

After the disintegration of the Arranshahr (Caucasus Albania) and Shirvanshahs, paralleling the large-scale Turkification process in the central and northern parts of the Oghuz Turk dynasties’ Iran, the entities like Arran and Shirvan lost their political essence and were replaced by Azerbaijan, the Turkified form of Adurbadagan. However, the historical and geographical functioning of Arran and Shirvan has survived until modern times.

Historically, as we have seen, the names Arran and Azerbaijan were interchangeably used to refer to the northern bank of the Araxes. Thus, Azerbaijan applied for the larger area combining both south and north sides of the Araxes. The term Arran, however, was used for a narrower area implying not for the whole territory of the Araxes’ north bank.

Finally, the Turkification process gave birth to the Azerbaijani Turks identity, holding the Azerbaijani Turkish language as a key element as well as cementing the whole of Azerbaijan on both sides of the Araz river. The population on the river’s both banks became the same ethnic group sharing the common language and religion. However, the historical and geographical partitioning of Azerbaijan by the Araxes into southern and northern parts culminated in the present-day geopolitical reality of modern Azerbaijan, representing the combination of Southern (or Iranian) Azerbaijan, and Northern—the independent Republic of Azerbaijan. The existence of two Azerbaijans shapes history and geopolitics between and around Iran and the independent Republic of Azerbaijan.

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest regarding the publication of this paper.

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