The history of Karabakh is very significant to the cultural and ethnic identity of Azerbaijan. It can be traced back to the 2nd Millennium BC to the dominance of the Caucasian Albanian culture. The recent history of Karabakh is dominated by the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan over Nagorno-Karabakh, the roots of which can also be traced back centuries.
The Karabakh region is one of the most ancient cradles of civilisation not only within Azerbaijan but the greater Caucasus region. Owing to its temperate climate, rich flora, and fauna there are claims that the region was amongst the first where civil society developed. Excavations at the Azikh cave, situated near present day Fuzuli, have revealed ancient traces of human contact through the discovery of fragments of a woman's skull who lived approximately 350, 000 - 400,000 years ago.
The first dominant political power in this region was Albania, a state which emerged between the 3rd and 4th Century BC around the Caucasian Albanian peoples who are indegenous to Karabakh and inhabited what is now northern Azerbaijan. This Albanian state ruled the Southern Caucasus region for nearly 1000 years, withstanding ongoing aggression from neighbouring Armenian tribes and invasion attempts by the Roman Empire. The Albanian state continued until the 5th Century AD when it was taken over by Persian influences and split up into Persian satrapies.
From the 7th Century AD onwards, the ruling power within the Karabakh region took many forms, from satrapies to individual princedoms and regional Governments. Persian and Armenian influence in the region grew, and the Albanian ethnic self-conscience was gradually eroded away. However, at the start of the 12th Century AD there was an Albanian revival and a number of insurrections led by ethnic Albanians against Arab rule, and sowed the seeds for a liberation movement across the region, which in turn led to a number of independent feudal principalities emerging, including what is modern day Azerbaijan.
In the 11th and 12th Centuries AD a cultural renaissance took place in Azerbaijan and a strong national identity was forged under the rule of the State of Atabeys. Many view this period as the Golden Age in Azerbaijani history. Throughout the remainder of the Middle Ages, Karabakh became increasingly culturally and politically intertwined with what would be come the state of Azerbaijan. The ethnic make-up of Karabakh, which has always been diverse, consisted at this time largely of Azerbaijani Turks and the descendants of Caucasian Albanians.
The rise and fall of the Ottoman Empire dominated Karabakh and the surrounding areas during the early modern period, until a period of Russian expansion from the mid-18th Century onwards. However, the Karabakh Khanate maintained its independence over the course of the 18th Century, withstanding a number of attacks from neighbouring Iran. The Karabakh Khanate was finally dissolved and the area became part of the Caspian Oblast under the Russian Empire in 1826.
The Russian Empire viewed Armenia as a crucial player in their Eastern expansion, and therefore followed a programme of deliberate Armenian settlement in neighbouring provinces, including Karabakh. During this period, as many as 150,000 Armenians migrated to Karabakh, accounting for the large proportion of Armenians living in the region today, and which laid the foundations for the current conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan. Karabakh was formally incorporated into the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic in 1918, and as a reaction, the Armenian faction within the region declared Nagorno-Karabakh an autonomous Republic.
The first dominant political power in this region was Albania, a state which emerged between the 3rd and 4th Century BC around the Caucasian Albanian peoples who are indegenous to Karabakh and inhabited what is now northern Azerbaijan. This Albanian state ruled the Southern Caucasus region for nearly 1000 years, withstanding ongoing aggression from neighbouring Armenian tribes and invasion attempts by the Roman Empire. The Albanian state continued until the 5th Century AD when it was taken over by Persian influences and split up into Persian satrapies.
From the 7th Century AD onwards, the ruling power within the Karabakh region took many forms, from satrapies to individual princedoms and regional Governments. Persian and Armenian influence in the region grew, and the Albanian ethnic self-conscience was gradually eroded away. However, at the start of the 12th Century AD there was an Albanian revival and a number of insurrections led by ethnic Albanians against Arab rule, and sowed the seeds for a liberation movement across the region, which in turn led to a number of independent feudal principalities emerging, including what is modern day Azerbaijan.
In the 11th and 12th Centuries AD a cultural renaissance took place in Azerbaijan and a strong national identity was forged under the rule of the State of Atabeys. Many view this period as the Golden Age in Azerbaijani history. Throughout the remainder of the Middle Ages, Karabakh became increasingly culturally and politically intertwined with what would be come the state of Azerbaijan. The ethnic make-up of Karabakh, which has always been diverse, consisted at this time largely of Azerbaijani Turks and the descendants of Caucasian Albanians.
The rise and fall of the Ottoman Empire dominated Karabakh and the surrounding areas during the early modern period, until a period of Russian expansion from the mid-18th Century onwards. However, the Karabakh Khanate maintained its independence over the course of the 18th Century, withstanding a number of attacks from neighbouring Iran. The Karabakh Khanate was finally dissolved and the area became part of the Caspian Oblast under the Russian Empire in 1826.
The Russian Empire viewed Armenia as a crucial player in their Eastern expansion, and therefore followed a programme of deliberate Armenian settlement in neighbouring provinces, including Karabakh. During this period, as many as 150,000 Armenians migrated to Karabakh, accounting for the large proportion of Armenians living in the region today, and which laid the foundations for the current conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan. Karabakh was formally incorporated into the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic in 1918, and as a reaction, the Armenian faction within the region declared Nagorno-Karabakh an autonomous Republic.
Karabakh has a total area of 4,400 square kilometers (1,699 square miles) and lies on the southwest part of Azerbaijan bordering Armenia and Azerbaijan. It has tall mountain ridges along the northern, western and southern boundaries and flat valley's throughout the eastern part of the territory.The region encloses five administrative districts of Azerbaijan: Askaran, Hadrut, Agdere, Khojavand and Shusha. The main town is Khankandi, and its other major city, today lying partially in ruins, is Shusha.The region of Nagorno-Karabakh is an enclave surrounded entirely by Azerbaijan; its nearest point to Armenia is across the Lachin corridor, roughly 4 kilometers across.
Below is an archive of documents relating to the history of Nagorno-Karabakh:
- Treaty between the khan of Karabakh and the Russian Empire, May 14th 1805 translated version
- War with muslims, Armenians attack again (Scotland - Liddel), Ministry of Foreign Affairs
- Letter from the Chamber of Deputies of the United States - Washington to Ali Mardan Bek Topchubashev
- Armenian-Tartar (Azerbaijani) Agreement, Scotland-Liddell, Shusha, Transcaucasia
- Kurekchay Treaty
- Gulustan Treaty
- Turkmenchay Treaty
- Draft of Treaty
IN THE NAME OF GOD ALMIGHTY
We, i..c, Ibrahim-khan Shushinsky (of the city of Shusha) and Karabaksky (of the khanate of Karabakh) and General of infantry of All Russia's troops Caucasian inspection on infantry and others Prince (knyaz) Pavel Tsitsianov with the full power given to me by his Emperor's Highness the dearest and greatest Sir Emperor Alexander Pavlovich took up with the help of God the matter of gran ting everlasting citizenship of All Russian Empire to Ibrahim khan Shushinsky and Karabakhsky with all family, posterity and posses sions of his. The Treaty was concluded, confirmed and signed with the following articles.
Article 1
- Ibrahim Khan Shushinsky on my behalf, on behalf of my heirs, successor abdicate any vassalage and whichever title it might be any dependence from Persia or any other state and in this way I declare the fact to the whole world that I don't consider myself and the successors of mine of having any power. The only power we recognize is the Supreme Power of His Emperor's Highness All Russia's great Emperor and his greatest heirs and successors of All Rus sia's Emperor Throne. I promise to keep faithfulness to the throne like faithful slave and to which I have to swear on Koran in accordance with the custom.
- His Emperor's Highness on behalf of his openhearted promise he gives his word of honour and reassures with his Emperor's word of honour for himself and for his successors that favour and care towards Ibrahim Khan Shushinsky and Karabakhsky and will never cease to exist. To prove this fact His Emperor's Highness gives the guarantee to keep the whole possessions and successors intact.
- To repay the openheartedness of Ibrahim-khan Shushinsky and Karabakhsky to recognize the supreme and sole power of All Russia's Emperor over himself and his successors this article states that he, the Khan and later his elder son and each elder successor when accepting the khanate has the right to receive Emperor's confirmati on on the khanate from the Governor of Georgia. It consist of the deed (official document), official state seal. While receiving it the new Khan is to take the oath to be faithful to Russian Empire and to recognize the supreme and sole power of Russian Emperor over himself and his successors. The form of the oath is enclosed in this Treaty. The present Ibrahim-khan Shushinsky and Karabakhsky took the oath in presence of Governor of Georgia and general of infantry prince Tsitsianov.
- I, i.e. Ibrahim-khan Shushinsky and Karabakhsky to prove that my intentions towards my and my successors' faithfulness to All Russia's Empire and recognition of the Supreme and sole power of the highest possessors of the Empire promise not to have any relations with neighbouring possessors without preliminary consent of Governor of Georgia. And when the envoys from them come or the letters are sent I promise to send the most important ones to the Go vernor and demand the solving of the questions from him and the ones with less importance to be reported and discussed with the per� son representing the Governor at my place.
- His Emperor's Highness accepts the recognition of his supreme and sole power over the possessions of Ibrahim-khan Shushinsky and Karabakhsky with good will and promises: 1) to treat the peop les of these possessions with the same honour as his own faithful ci tizens without sorting them out from those inhabiting the vast Russion Empire. 2) To preserve continuously the honour of Ibrahim-khan, his house, heirs and posterity in the area of Shusha khanate. 3) To give all the power of internal governing, court and persecuti on, income and its possession to Ibrahim-khan. 4) In order to guard Ibrahim-khan, his house and his possessions I promise to send troops (500 persons) with cannons, headquaters and officers and in case of greater defence the Governor of Georgia will have to increase the number of troops due to circumstances to defend militarily the possessions of All Russia's Empire.
- I, i.e. Ibrahim-khan Shushinsky and Karabakhsky in responce of my faithful diligence make commitment: 1) At the beginning and later on to store up the necessary quantity of wheat and corn by resonable price determined by the Chief Governor because its supply from Elisavetpol is rather difficult or even must be stated as impossible. 2) The above mentioned troops should be provided with houses to stay in Shusha Fortress. They should be selected by the will of the Commander. They should be supplied with reasonable quantity of firewoods. 3) To make the Elisavetpol bound entrance into Shusha fortress comfortable and to build the road suitable for arba pas sing. 4) It would be convenient for the government to build up a road from Shusha Fortress In the direction of Djevad. The workmen must be paid the salary determined by the government.
- His Emperor's Highness showing his goodwill and kindness to his majesty Ibrahim-khan kindly presents his banner with the state Emblem of Russian Empire which is to be kept with him a symbol of khanate and power. Nobody except the khan has the right to car ry it to war as it was presented by his Emperor's Highness.
- I, i.e. Ibrahim-khan Shushinsky and Karabakhsky having His Emperor's Highness permission to spend my usual income make the commitment to pay contribution into the exchequer treasury of His Emperor's Highness in Tifliss 8.000 chervonets (gold piece coin) a year, to pay it in two halves. 1st half on February 1st and the second half on September 1st beginning with the 1st payment of 4.000 cher� vonets. Confirming the concluding this treaty by his Emperor's Highness and according to Asian tradition, besides the oath to faithfulness I pawn my elder son's Mammad-Hassan-Aga's son of the second Shukur-Ullah to stay forever in Tifliss.
- His Emperor's Highness kindly expressing his mercy as a taken of faithfulness guarantees his Majesty khan's grandson 10 roubles of Russian money a day.
- This Treaty is concluded for ever and is not to be subjected to any changes from now to forever.
- The confirmation of this Treaty by His Emperor's Highness with the state sealed deed (official document) must be presented within 6 months after its signing or sooner if possible. In confirmation of that the undersigned parties signed these ar ticles in the camp of Elisavetpol region near r. Kura in summer of 1805 A.D. (Muhammaddan 1220) on May 14th.
Vol 2 p. 705 Tifliss 1868.
On he 26th of February 1992, the war in Karabakh escalated to unprecidented levels and resulted in one of the greatest humanitarian catastrophe's of the 20th century.
As Armenian soldiers attempted a final takeover of the town Khojaly it told inhabitants that if they evacuated they would be granted safe passage. The 2,500 remaining inhabitants of Khojaly (23,757 existed before the war) found themselves without phones, electricity, heating oil, water, or food and thus sought the safe passage they were promised. Instead, Armenian soldiers and members of the No.366 Soviet infantry regime were waiting at the border to gun them down.
As a result of this incident 613 people were killed, including: 106 women, 63 children, and 70 elderly. Of these deaths 487 were severely maimed, including 76 young children, and 56 were killed with severe cruelty- shot at close range, scalped, burnt alive, had their eyes gorged out, beheaded - one pregnant woman was even bayoneted in the abdomen. Those who escaped the gunfire only wounded had to trek through the mountains to safety- many perished in the cold. A further 1275 people were taken hostage.
Once all of the Khojaly inhabitants had been killed, taken prisoner, or escaped, Armenian soldiers quickly took control of the region, in part to manipulate the death toll to low numbers. Azerbaijani helicopters attempted to pick up the dead bodies but were continually fired at. Eventually most of the dead were brought home in vehicles, by the truckloads. However, the whereabouts of a further 150 people remain unknown. The massacre of Khojaly by Armenia violates Geneva conventions and articles 2, 3, 5, 9, and 17 of the Human Rights Declaration (adopted by UN General Assembly on Dec 10 1948).
Despite a flury of international media coverage after the event validating the massacre and a number of human rights reports holding Armenia responsible, official Armenian accounts deny responsibility for the thse crimes.
A national day of mourning takes place every year in Azerbaijan to commemorate the lives lost in the Khojaly Massacre, one of the darkest days in modern Azerbaijani history.
نسلكشی قرن بیستم(فاجعه خوجالی)
