khanate · Caucasus
Shirvan Khanate
Origins
After Nader Shah's death in 1747, local leaders in Shirvan formed an independent khanate around Shamakhi, the old capital of the Shirvanshah State. Its early years were divided between rival families and two capitals, Old Shamakhi and New Shamakhi, also called Aghsu.
Rule and society
Shirvan was a land of silk, grain and caravan routes, but earthquakes and wars had reduced Shamakhi from its former greatness. The khanate was for a time dominated by Fatali Khan of the Quba Khanate. Mustafa Khan, who ruled from 1792, reunited it and built a mountain stronghold at Fit-dagh, balancing between Persia and Russia.
Decline and legacy
Mustafa Khan accepted Russian protection in 1805 but remained restless. In 1820 he fled to Persia, and the Russian Empire abolished the khanate, making Shirvan a province. Shamakhi later became the seat of a Russian governorate until a devastating earthquake in 1859 moved it to Baku.
Lineage
On the connections map
Open the full map →Connections (2)
- Shirvan Khanate was a protectorate of Russian Empire1805 CE – 1820 CE
- Shirvan Khanate was conquered by Russian Empire1820 CE
Cite this page
- APA
- The Epoch Institute. (2026). Shirvan Khanate. In The Epoch Institute States Register. https://the-epoch-institute.org/state/shirvan-khanate
- MLA
- “Shirvan Khanate.” The Epoch Institute States Register, The Epoch Institute, 2026, https://the-epoch-institute.org/state/shirvan-khanate. Accessed .
- Chicago
- The Epoch Institute. “Shirvan Khanate.” The Epoch Institute States Register. 2026. https://the-epoch-institute.org/state/shirvan-khanate.
- Harvard
- The Epoch Institute (2026) ‘Shirvan Khanate’, The Epoch Institute States Register. Available at: https://the-epoch-institute.org/state/shirvan-khanate (Accessed: ).
Last reviewed October 2026Random state ↻