khanate · Caucasus
Shaki Khanate
Origins
In 1743 Hajji Chelebi, a local notable, led a rising against the heavy taxes of Nader Shah's Afsharid Empire and defeated the forces sent against him. He made Shaki an independent khanate, one of the first of the Caucasian khanates, and after a mudflow destroyed old Shaki the capital moved to Nukha.
Rule and society
The khans ruled a land rich in silk, orchards and crafts, and Nukha became a major centre of silk weaving. Hajji Chelebi fought the Georgian kings and neighbouring khans. The Palace of the Shaki Khans, built in the late 18th century, is famous for its painted interiors and stained-glass shebeke windows.
Decline and legacy
Weakened by family feuds, the khanate accepted Russian protection in 1805. After the death of Ismail Khan in 1819, the Russian Empire abolished it and created the Shaki province. The palace survives and, with the historic centre of Shaki, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Lineage
On the connections map
Open the full map →Connections (2)
- Shaki Khanate was a protectorate of Russian Empire1805 CE – 1819 CE
- Shaki Khanate was conquered by Russian Empire1819 CE
Cite this page
- APA
- The Epoch Institute. (2026). Shaki Khanate. In The Epoch Institute States Register. https://the-epoch-institute.org/state/shaki-khanate
- MLA
- “Shaki Khanate.” The Epoch Institute States Register, The Epoch Institute, 2026, https://the-epoch-institute.org/state/shaki-khanate. Accessed .
- Chicago
- The Epoch Institute. “Shaki Khanate.” The Epoch Institute States Register. 2026. https://the-epoch-institute.org/state/shaki-khanate.
- Harvard
- The Epoch Institute (2026) ‘Shaki Khanate’, The Epoch Institute States Register. Available at: https://the-epoch-institute.org/state/shaki-khanate (Accessed: ).
Last reviewed October 2026Random state ↻