DOI: https://doi.org/10.36719/2706-6185/49/33-40
Leyla Aliyeva
Sumgayit State University
PhD in History
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8195-6092
leyla.eliyeva@sdu.edu.az
The History and Current Historical Significance of the Iravan Khanate
Abstract
The Irevan Khanate emerged in the mid-18th century as one of the significant feudal-political formations on the historical Azerbaijani territories. Established as an independent political entity in 1747 after the death of Nadir Shah Afshar, the khanate was formed in the territory of the Chokhursaad baylarbaylik and covered a vast area extending from the Aghri mountain plain to Lake Goycha and towards the southwest of the Araz river. With its capital in the ancient city of Iravan, the khanate was a successor to millennia-long statehood traditions and represented an important stage in Azerbaijani history.
The main aim of this article is to investigate the political development of the Iravan khanate, analyze the conflicts arising within the framework of territorial claims, and highlight the role of this khanate in today’s geopolitical context. For this purpose, historical sources, official documents and contemporary geopolitical assessments will be used to scientifically interpret academic debates on the topic and ensure an objective approach. This study will also focus on analyzing the internal and external factors that contributed to the emergence of the Iravan khanate, as well as explaining in detail the processes that led to its downfall. Special attention will also be given to demographic changes, the destruction of cultural heritage and the consequences of shifts in the geopolitical balance of that period.
Keywords: Iravan khanate, political history, territorial claims, geopolitical significance, Western Azerbaijan