Pro-Qajar Elements in Dagestan (Early 19th Century)

• Published in: Iran & the Caucasus Vol. 14; no. 2; pp. 279 - 286
• Main Authors: Aytberov, Temur, Khapizov, Shahban
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: The Netherlands BRILL 01-01-2010; Brill Academic Publishers
• Subjects: AVARS; Correspondence; DAGESTAN; Dynasty; EMIR ALISKANDI; Historical analysis; HISTORY, CULTURE; Inks; ISKANDAR MĪRZĀ; Political conditions; Power; Princes; QAJAR PERSIA; Transcaucasia; Turkmen; Warfare
• ISSN: 1609-8498; 1573-384X
• DOI: 10.1163/157338410X12743419190223

It is known that the Qajars had their supporters in Dagestan during the Russo-Persian Wars in the early 19th century. This fact is well documented in Persian chronicles and royal decrees (firmāns), as well as in the materials from the Russian archives. However, the number of historical documents originating from the region itself is drastically few. This paper presents three letters in Arabic, without dates, but definitely from the same period, illustrating the political situation of the time in the mountains of Dagestan and the geographical extent of the Qajar influence in the area. The letters were discovered recently in the Archives of the Institute of Archaeology and Ethnography, Dagestan Centre, Russian Academy of Sciences in Makhachkala. The English translation is accompanied by the facsimile reproduction of the original texts, and commentaries.