The Gazikumukh Khanate was a Lak state that was established in present-day Dagestan after the disintegration of Gazikumukh Shamkhalate in 1642. Its peoples included various Lezgin tribes and Avars.

State structure

Supreme council Khanate was ruled by the supreme council known as "Kat" in Lak or "Divan" where viziers, main qadis, warlords and the ruler participated in the meetings. Local governments consisted of jama'at, council of chiefs, judge and executor. Police functions were performed by the khan's noukers.

Territory The state of Laks consisted of one Lakia that was divided into such territories as "Kullal", "Uri-Mukarki", "Machaymi", "Vitskhi", "Gumuchi" and "Bartki".

Khalklavchi Alibek II

Election After the capital of the Shamkhalate was transferred to Tarki, Gazi-Kumukh was governed by the supreme council.Казикумухские и кюринские ханы. ССКГ. Вып. II. СПб. 1868. In 1642 Alibek II, son of Tuchilav, son of Alibek I, son of Chopan-shamkhal, son of Budai-shamkhal, was elected the ruler of Gazi-Kumukh, with the title "khalklavchi".Каяев А. Материалы по истории лаков Рукописный фонд ИЯЛ Даг. фил. АН СССР. Д. 1649. Л. 5-6. С. 22-23.

Surkhay-khan I

Election In 1700, the Laks gave their ruler a popular title – khan. The council of chiefs elected Surkhay-bek (1680–1748), son of Garey-bek, son of khalklavchi Alibek II from a shamkhal family that remained in Gazi-Kumukh, a ruler.С. Габиев. Лаки — Их прошлое и быт. — СМОМПК. Тифлис. 1906. С. 22. Вып. XXXVI Surkhay-khan I established a Lak state with a strong central power.

Anti-Iranian movement Public dissatisfaction in Shirvan with the Persians led to a revolt. In 1707, the population of Djaria and Tsakhur led by their elders attacked Shamakha, the residence of the ruler of Shirvan. In 1708, Iranian troops under the command of Imam Kuli-khan advanced from Kakheti and crushed the uprising.П. Г. Бутков. Материалы для новой истории Кавказа (1722–1803) СПб. 1869. С. 9. In 1709 in Azerbaijan, Haji Davud also rebelled against the Persians. Utsmy Ahmed-khan called on the people to fight the Persian shias.

Alliances In 1710 an agreement was signed between Gazikumukh Khanate and Avar Khanate that proclaimed a political-military alliance. Surkhay-khan I forming the Gazikumukh army and like the shamkhal of Tarki became an ally of the Shah of Persia.

In 1720 the Shah of Persia, Sultan Husayn, called his allies to assist and suppress the uprising in Shirvan. Surkhay-khan I gathered the Gazi-Kumukh army and advanced to Shirvan, to help the shah. Not far from Kabala, Surkhay-khan I was stopped by the Sunni delegation of Shirvan led by Haji Davud who urged Surkhay-khan I to support the Sunnis than the Shias. Utsmy Ahmed-khan was in alliance with Haji Davud against the "rafidas". Surkhay-khan I decided to support the sunnis of Shirvan.

Invasion of Shirwan In 1721 on July 21, Surkhay-khan I and Haji Davud invaded the Safavid Iranian city of Shemakha, the major trading center of Shirvan, and captured it. English writer Jonas Hanway wrote that "the city was ransacked".An Historical Account of the British Trade Over the Caspian Sea — London. 1762. Т. II. С. 146. Utsmy Ahmed-khan could take part in this campaign due to a threat from shamkhal of Tarki.

Intrusion of Peter I of Russia In 1722 a 110 thousand army of Peter I of Russia came to Dagestan as he invaded the Iranian domains in the region during the Russo-Persian War (1722-1723). Surkhay-khan I spoke out against the colonial policy of Russia, but avoided an armed clash with Peter.См. Н. Д. Миклухо-Маклай. Указ. соч. С.141. Colonel Alexander Komarov wrote that "In 1723 September 12, shah Tahmasp had ceded to Russia the whole Caspian region from Astrabad to Sulak, however Gazi-Kumukh was not included there. The merit of Gazi-Kumukh reached a high point in Dagestan".А. В. Комаров. Казикумухские и кюринские ханы. — ССКТ, Тифлис. 1869. вып. 11.

In 1724 Surkhay-khan I refused to acknowledge the extension of Ferhat-pasha treaty that passed Shirvan from Persia to Turkey. Surkhay-khan I demanded from Turkey to hand Shirvan over to his rule. Turkey refused. Surkhay-khan I, Ahmed-khan and Nutsal of Avaria ransacked Shirvan for one whole year.

Governing Shirvan In 1725 (in another version in 1728) Turkey issued a Firman that proclaimed Surkhay-khan I the ruler of Shirvan. According to Butkov, Surkhay-khan I was not subordinate to Turkish authority "as he understood his strength".П. Г. Бутков. Материалы для новой истории Кавказа (1722—1803). СПб. 1869, С. 99. Surkhay-khan I receiving the title of khan of Shirvan and Gazi-Kumukh, made Shemakha his residence, built schools, fortresses and roads.А. К . Бакиханов. Гюлистан и Ирам. — Баку, 1991. Период четвёртый.

Historian Gusaynov wrote that "as early as July 1730 shah of Persia offered Surkhay-khan I a position of Persian viceroy in Shemakha but Surkhay-khan I refused".Исмей-Гаджи Гусейнов. Лаки в истории Дагестана (VI—XX века). Кавказский Узел / Энциклопедия. In 1733 Nader, a commander-in-chief of the Persian army, defeated the Turkish army near Baghdad. Accordingly, Turkey was transferring to Persia several provinces including Shirvan. General Nader sent his messenger to Surkhay-khan I of Shirvan and demanded him to leave.А. К. Бакиханов. Указ. раб. С. 113. Surkhay-khan I wrote to Nader a letter saying that "Shirvan was conquered by the Lezgins (Dagestani) swords and not given to him by Turkey as a gift, and that neither Sultan of Turkey nor Ahmed of Baghdad have the right to request him to hand over this territory".В. Джонс. История Надиршаха. — Лондон, 1770. С. 196. Surkhay-khan I reflected the will of Dagestanis and Shirvanis who were categorically against the Persian takeover of Shirvan.Surkhay-khan I "challenged Nader-shah himself" (Prof. V. F. Minorsky), "put a lot of energy to ensure the unity of peoples of Dagestan" (Prof. R. Magomedov), "circumstances are such that from this moment Surkhay-khan I of Gazi-Kumukh became one of the most important figures in the struggle against Iranian conqueror" (Prof. V. N. Leviatov).

First invasion

In 1734 on August 17 general Nader moving in different directions captured Shemakha, Qabala, Khachmaz, Derbent and Kura. Surkhay-khan I clashed with Nader in Deve-Batan, not far from Qabala, where highlanders and the Turks were defeated by a strong enemy artillery.А. К . Бакиханов. Гюлистан и Ирам. — Баку, 1991. Период четвёртый Advancing further on Nader's artillery stormed the positions of Surkhay-khan I at Koysu river for three days and arrived in Gazi-Kumukh. General-in-chief V. Y. Levashov wrote: "Surkhay was not able to resist the great gun-fire". Surkhay-khan I retreated to Andalal, according to the "Chronicle of wars of Djaria". Nader then marched against Abdullah-pasha, who was standing with Turkish forces near Erevan.

Crimean Kaplan Girey-khan, by the order of Turkish sultan, removed Khazbulat-shamkhal and appointed Eldar-bek of Kazanish, an ally of Surkhay-khan I, as new shamkhal. These events triggered the second Persian invasion of Dagestan.

Second invasion

In November 1735 Nader overcoming the resistance captured Ganja, Djaria, Sheki, Shirvan, Shemakha, and Derbent. In December Nader advanced to Madjalis where "people of Akusha stubbornly defended themselves but were defeated", noted Bakikhanov. Persians besieged the fortress of utsmi who was forced to surrender.А. О. Муртазаев. Кайтагское уцмийство в системе политических структур Дагестана в XVIII – начале XIX в. Махачкала, 2007 С. 36.Н. А. Сотавов. Северный Кавказ в кавказской политике России, Ирана и Турции в первой половине XVIIIв. Махачкала, 1989 20. Л. 94.

Nader then headed for Gazi-Kumukh. Surkhay-khan I stood not far from Gazi-Kumukh where 30 thousand army of Nader clashed with a 10 thousand army of Surkhay-khan I. "Land was red with blood as Jaihun" wrote Iranian historian Muhammed Gazim.Мухаммед Казим. Намейи Аламарайи Надири. Т. 2, с. 283. Surkhay-khan I retreated to Andalal again. Historian Jones wrote that "the fierce sea of the conqueror’s army turned its waves on habitats and fields of Kumukh, and possessions of all people of this place were destroyed".В. Джонс. Указ. соч. С. 198.

Russian military administration in the north Caucasus reported that utsmi Ahmed-khan with Surkhay-khan I built ten fortifications equipped with guns.ГУ «ЦГА РД». Ф.379. Канцелярия коменданта г. Кизляра. Оп.1.Д.17, С. 153.А. Н. Козлова. Страница истории освободительной борьбы народов Дагестана // Страны и народы Востока. М.,1976. Вып.18 С. 92.В. Г. Гаджиев Разгром Надир-шаха в Дагестане. Махачкала, 1996 С. 28.А. Н. Козлова. «Намейи-оламарайи Надири Мухаммад–Казима о первом этапе похода Надир-шаха на Табасаран // Освободительная борьба народов Дагестана в эпоху средневековья. Махачкала, 1986 С. 120. Russian officer Kalushkin at the Persian court informed the Senate in Moscow that "Surkhay-khan ransacked Derbent fortress, defeated the army of Mehdi-khan". In 1738 Ibrahim-khan marched against Dagestanis who dealt a crushing defeat to the shah's army of Ibrahim-khan.

Third invasion

In 1741 on July 2, Nader-shah invaded Dagestan at the head of 100 thousand army. Before the invasion Nader-shah declared that "I took under my power Hindustan, the lands of Turan and Iran. Now, I intend with enormous and countless army to conquer the kingdom of Kumukh". Shah's historiographer Mirza-Mehdi Astarabadi wrote: "The banners that conquered the world are leaving Iran and heading to Dagestan".В. Г. Гаджиевю Указ. соч. С. 132.

Persians faced battles in Bashli, Dubek, Tabasaran, Kaitag and Djengutai.Б. Г. Алиев. Даргинцы в борьбе с Надир-шахом. С. 36-37. Muhammed Gazim, historian of Nader-shah, wrote that "the troops of Surkhay kept on firing from guns for two hours and all the 20 thousand shooters of Khorasan and Turkestan left this world". Nevertheless, Persians overcame the defences of highlanders.Там же, Д. № 7. Л. 209. By August 1741 Surkhay-khan I retreated to his fortress in Gazi-Kumukh but surrendered in a week. Muhammad-bek and Murtazali-bek with five thousand army retreated to Andalal. Ahmed-khan retreated to Andalal as well where highlanders began to gather.

Murtazali-khan

Election Murtazali-bek, the son of Surkhay-khan I, became the khan of Laks. Murtazali-khan was married to the daughter of Muhammad-qadi of Sogratl.

Andalal battle In 1741 at the end of August, Nader-shah approached the territory of Andalal. Sogratl became the military centre of Dagestanis.Там же, Д. 7. С. 298. Murtazali-khan at the head of Dagestani army stood in Andalal.Son of Surkhay-khan I "Murtazali, significantly increasing his cavalry, asked his uncle from mother’s side, the khan of Avaria, for military assistance". (См. В. Г. Гаджиев. С. 252). Four days and four nights passed in heavy battles. Persians were routed under Sogratl, Megeb, Chokh and Oboch.

Turchidag battle A decisive historical battle began on September 12 of 1741 on the Turchidag plateau. In Aymaki gorge Persian army was attacked and defeated too. French diplomat in St. Petersburg Marquis de La Chétardie wrote: "The defeat was all the more significant that Nader Shah lured himself into a trap and got into the canyon where hidden forces on both sides have made a terrible massacre of most of his army". By night of September 28 Nader-shah hastily retreated from Andalal losing 40 thousand of his army, according to I. Kalushkin.

Murtazali-khan pursued the retreating Persians up to Derbent. Kalushkin reported that "shah was so cruelly beaten that he was forced to turn back three times to defend himself".АВПР. д. 7. Л. 390, 411, 412.Рукописный фонд ИИЯЛ Дат. филиала АН СССР. Д. 1302, л. 7. As it was written: "Salutes were given In Istanbul. In Petersburg people could not conceal their joy".Kalushkin reported that Nader-shah "seeing this, cried out of anger". (АВПР. Л. 391.).

Muhammad-khan

Election