CAUCASIAN ALBANIA: the history of North Azerbaijan from 400 B.C.
"In the first century A.D. the region now occupied by Nagorno-Karabakh 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, Kok-Turks, 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 present-day 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-a-century 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: Agh-Van. "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.