CAUCASIAN ALBANIA: the history of North Azerbaijan from 400
B.C.
"In the first century A.D. the region now occupied by NagornoKarabakh Autonomous Oblast was part of the province of Artsakh,
which belonged to Caucasian Albania. Feudal relations developed in the
third through fifth centuries, and Christianity began to spread. In the early eighth
century the Arabs conquered Artsakh, as well as all of Albania, and Islam
penetrated the area. (Until that time Gregorianism had flourished among the
Christian population.) Artsakh was part of the Albanian kindgdom in the
ninth and tenth centuries. In the mid-11th century it was invaded by the
Seljuk Turks…. In the 1230's, Artsakh was conquered by the Mongols, and from
that time most of its territory was called Karabakh." (Great Soviet Encyclopedia, 3rd
edition, 1973, “NKAO, Historial Survey”).
"[Karabakh was a] part of Caucasian Albania called Artsakh."
(The Columbia Encyclopedia, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 1993, Columbia University
Press.)
"A scenic road goes from Qabala to Sheki through the district of Oguz (former
Vartashen). Oguz is mainly known for its tobacco plantations although there are
a few architectural monuments (towers, fortresses etc.) dating from the 13 15th centuries in the villages of Jalut, Mukhas, Filfili and Vardanli. A necropolis
dating from the Iron Age (11 - 7th century BC) is near Vardanli.
Most visitors miss these sights as they are heading for Sheki. Close to Sheki is
the village of Orta Zeyzit where Christian architectural monuments of Caucasian
Albania are found. They date from the 6-7th century."
(Caspian Chronicle, Volume 5, Issue 10 May 21, 1997, SHEKI -- A TOURIST
PARADISE IN AZERBAIJAN, By Nadir Moustafaev & Anne Kauzlarich)
"From the 5th century B.C. Dagestan was part of Caucasian Albania."
(UNHCR, WriteNet, THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION: DAGESTAN (November 1995))
Even Armenian propaganda sources, such as the "Armenian genocide website"
admits, albeit with usual reservations and gross misinterpretations, in the
"Karabagh as a Distinct Entity: Historical and Pre-Soviet Status" article that:
"Nagorno Karabagh is historic Armenian territory which, in different eras, has
formed part of Armenia, Aghvank (Caucasian Albania), and Persia."
The Caucasian Albanians (also spelled as Alban, Aghvan, Aghban, and Alpan)
were a nation, which, according to ancient geographer Strabo, consisted from 26
tribes, ethnic groups, such as Albans themselves, as well as Gargars, Udis, etc.
Some of them were of Turkic descent, while others were indigenous
authohontous Caucasian tribes.
The best known are Sak's, from which the name "Artsakh" means "Land of manly
Sak's." They lived in the region already in IV century B.C. The other major Turkic
tribe were Massagets.
Various Turkic tribes have been inhabiting the area in and around the Caucasus.
In fact as early as III century B.C. large influx of Salars, who were of Turkic
Oghuz stock, occured. In fact, it is those Salars who called the land as Aran,
which was later adopted by Muslim (Arab) historians, who described the area as
‘ar-Ran.’
Meanwhile, the well-known Soviet scientist, historian and scholar, V.Bartol'd also
mentions the tribe of Chols, who too were of Oghuz stock, and lived in Caucasian
Albania
In addition there were Khazars, Barsiles, Huns, Saragurs, Sabirs, Kuturgurs, KokTurks, Kipchaks (todays Kumyk, Nogay, Karachay, and Balkar) -- those are all
pre-10 century AD Turkic tribes, stretching to I/II centuries AD.
A little about Kitab-e Dede Qorgud. It mentions Alpan and Uruz, who were early
Albanian kings (in B.C.) It also mentiones Gazan-khan, who is also mentioned in
"History of Aghvans (Albans)" by Moisey Kalankatuiski (Moisey Kalankatly).
Turkish scholars on Caucasian Albania argue that "Albania" means "Country of
Alpes" (where Alpes are one of the names for Albans or mountains), but also
says that "in history Albans have once more came out as the most ancient Turkic
people....bowing to the Sun."
The North Azerbaijan was known as Caucasian Albania, with its statehood and
independence since at least 400 B.C. Caucasian Albania became important in
history because it included the Caspian gates at the city of Chol, near presentday Derbent, which served as a bridge between Europe and Asia. Archaelogical
excavations in Azerbaijan (at Mingechaur, Chukhurkabal, Sofula, Gabala,
Toprakhkal, Khynyslakh, and other places) and writings of ancient authors (such
as Arrian, Pliny, Strabo, Appianus, and Plutarch) and of Armenian chroniclers
(such as Faustus, Egishe, Khorenatsi, and Chorene) indicate that by the end of
the first millennium B.C. the population of Caucasian Albanian practiced plow
farming, distant-pasture animal husbandry, and various crafts. These
occupations formed the material base for an early slaveholding system and a
state headed by an emperor and a high priest. At the beginning of the common
Era vestiges of primitive communal property (temple property was one of its
forms) were still evident in Caucasian Albania.
Rock inscriptions in Caucasian Albania show that primitive magic gave rise to
drawings, paintings, folk dances and theater, music, and oral folk art. The moon
was considered the highest deity in Caucasian Albania. The chief city at the
beginning of the Common Era was Gabala (Kabala). Its ruins are still preserved
near the present-day city of Gabala in Azerbaijan.
In the first century B.C. the people of Caucasian Albania fought heroically, with
the peoples of Armenia and Georgia, against the invasions of the ancient
Romans into Transcaucasia (campaigns of Lucullus in 69-67 B.C. and of Pompey
in 66-65). The unstoppable Romans were unable to conquer Caucasian Albania.
In the third to the fifth centuries A.D. feudal relations arose here and facilitates
the establishment of Christianity as a state religion in the early fourth century.
The Christian church in Caucasian Albania was headed by an autocephalous
Albanian catholicos. Despite the fact that it fell under partial nominal domination
of the Sassanids (Sasanians) of Iran/Parthia in late mid III century AD, yet
continued semi-independence (i.e., had its own coins, army, and other attributes
of a sovereign state). In the fifth century Caucasian Albania took an active part
in the revolt against the Sassanids (450-51). In the sixth century the Sassanids
destroyed the dynasty of the Albanian emperors, but Caucasian Albania
continued the fight against oppression of the Sassanid shahs and its
independence was restored in the seventh century. The most outstanding ruler
of Caucasian Albania in the seventh century was Jevanshir of Girdyman (638-70).
Caucasian Albania finally restored full independence in VII century under
Jevanshir, after he defeated Sassanids. Iran has sent another army, this time the
battle went on in the mountains. Sassanids were again defeated. By then, mid
seventh century Arabs invaded, capturing Sassanid capital, Ctesiphon in 637 AD.
In 640 Arabs invaded Caucasus, and Jevanshir actually came to ally himself with
former enemies, Sassanids. However because weakened by their war with
Azerbaijanis and Byzantium, Sasanian Iran quickly lost. Jevanshir returned back
to Albania, preparing for war. Arabs invaded Albania, but it took them half-acentury to conquer Azerbaijanis (Albanians). They did so only by the beginning
of eighth century. Jevanshir was killed by treators. Nevertheless, his
descendants, Albanian princes, who had the exclusive right to call themselves
Arran-shah's, have been briefly restoring their kingdom's imperial authority
several times in ninth and tenth centuries, shaking and eventually breaking Arab
caliphate domination. Starting in the eighth century a large part of the
population of Caucasian Albania was forcibly converted into Islam under the Arab
caliphate.
(Based on articles by Academician Z.I. Iampol'skii and Great Soviet Encyclopedia
account)
Ancient literature
Not much evidence of the written Azerbaijani literature of the ancient period has
survived, but it is known that a highly developed culture existed in Caucasian
Albania as early as the fifth century. Religious and literary works, both original
and translated, were written down at that time. In the beginning of the fifth
century, Albania developed its own 52-letter alphabet. Under the rule of
Jevanshir, the “History of the Aghvan” was composed by Moisey Kalankatly, is a
major source on the history of Caucasian Albania.
Architecture and Art
The art of the last centuries B.C. and the earliest centuries A.D., primarily that of
the northern regions of Azerbaijan (Caucasian Albania), is represented by metal
artifacts, small statuary, and black-glazed ceramic and glass vessels decorated
with designs. Surviving structures include those at the city of Gabala, the fortress
of Chirakh-Gala (sixth century), and some religious structures, including a temple
of the basilica type at the village of Kum (fifth century) and a circular temple at
the village of Lekit. The Lekit temple (fifth or sixth century) is made of
cobblestone, limestone, and burnt brick and, with similar monuments in Georgia
and present-day Armenia, is typical of the Transcaucasian styles of that period.
The ruins of the temple complex at Mingechaur (seventh century, adobe) are
also of interest.
(A number of architectural monuments have been preserved from the 17th and
18th centuries, such as the Baiat, Shakhbulag, and Shusha fortresses in
Karabakh.)
In the mid-seventh century Azerbaijan was invaded by the army of the Arabian
caliphate. During the resistance to this invasion, the prominent Albanian military
leader Jevanshir covered himself with glory. Chief of the feudal domain of
Girdyman, he had become the ruler of Albania. The Arabian caliphate broke the
resistance of the masses only by the beginning of the eighth century; it then
subjugated Azerbaijan, along with the rest of Transcaucasia [before that], and
established the heavy yoke of its rule in this region. The conquerors implanted
Islam by force.
My own theory about Albania, which I have not encountered anywhere:
Albania and its main people, Albans/Alpans was indeed called "Aghvan" by
ancient sources, including Armenians (and they insist on this name) and even
the Albanian historian, Moisey Kalankatly. So let's break down the word: AghVan. "Agh" would probably have meant the same as today: white. We know,
even from Nizami, that all Turkic people were always portrayed as white
people. We also know from various sources that Albanians were white-skinned,
light haired, etc.
Meanwhile "Van" is typical Turkic suffix, which has also been known as "Var."
There are plenty of toponyms in Azerbaijan and the region containing both
terms, not to mention the lake Van which Armenians claim. Anyway, what
would "Van/Var" mean in Turkic? Would it only refer to the word "land" or
"place" (like "stan") or else? This would not only substantiate further that
Albans (Aghvans) were Turkic, but effectively strengthen Azerbaijani (Turkic)
righteous claims on the entire area from Caucasus to Eastern Anatolia.