Panah Ali Khan 1

Panah Ali Khan

Grave stone of Panah Ali Khan (Azerbaijan National HistoryMuseum)

Panah-Ali khan Javanshir (Azerbaijani: Pnah liQarabal) (1693, Sarijali, Azerbaijan 1761, Shiraz,Iran) was the founder and first ruler of Karabakh khanate,initially under Iranian suzerainty and by 1748 anindependent feudal state that existed in 17471822 inKarabakh and adjacent areas.[1][2]Wikipedia:Verifiability.

Origins and early life

Panah Ali Khan was from the Sarijali branch of the clanof Javanshir, who with their associate clan of Otuz-Iki(meaning thirty-two in Azerbaijani) had for long beenrivals of the Yirmi-Drt (meaning twenty-four inAzerbaijani) and Ziyadoglu Qajars of Ganja, whosechiefs had been official rulers of Karabakh since Safavidtimes.

Panah Ali's paternal great grandfather and namesakePanah Ali bey served at the court of Ganja beylerbeys(governors) in the early 17th century, at the time when theregion's was directly controlled by the Safavid Empire ofIran. He soon retired, married a woman from theJavanshir clan of Karabakh and had a son by the name ofAli (nicknamed Sarija Ali). They lived in their estate located in Arasbar (Arasbaran) (present-day Khojavend andAgdam rayons of Azerbaijan) but also owned land in Tartar and the northern shores of the Aras River. The Arasbarestate was rebuilt into a castle in Sarija Ali's son Ibrahim Khalil's lifetime and has been known as Ibrahim KhalilGalasi since.[3]

After the dethronement of the Safavids in 1736 by Nader Shah, the landed classes of Ganja and Karabakh gatheredin Mugan (the Javanshirs were also among them) deciding to oppose the usurper's reign and agreeing on trying to getthe Safavids back on the throne. When this news reached Nadeh Shah, he ordered all Muslim landowners of theregion and their families deported to Khorasan (northeastern Iran) as a punishment. Thus the future khan Panah Alihappened to be among the deportees.In 1747, Panah Ali, by then already a successful naib and royal grant de maison, found himself displeased withNader Shah's attitude towards him and having gathered many of those deported from Karabakh in 1736, returned tohis homeland. Due to his reputation as a skillful warrior and his wealthy ancestor's legacy in Karabakh, Panah Aliproclaimed himself and was soon recognized throughout most of the region as a ruler (khan). The shah sent troops tobring back the runaway however the order was never fulfilled: Nader Shah himself was killed in Khorasan in June ofthe same year. The new ruler of Persia, Adil Shah issued a firman (decree) recognizing Panah Ali as the Khan ofKarabakh.

Panah Ali Khan 2

Karabakh KhanateThe capital of the khanate was moved three times to strengthen the Panah Ali's power in the Karabakh. The Bayatfortress, built in 1748, was the khan first residence. "In a short period of time, external walls were constructed,ditches were dug out, and the bazaar, the bath and the mosque were build." Craftsmen from surrounding areas werere-settled into the castle. "Many of residents of the area and even residents, especially craftsmen, of the Tabrizdistrict and Ardabil, moved into the Bayat castle with their families, having heard about Panah Ali Khan's success,governance and mercy."[4]

Strengthening of Panah Ali khan's power faced resistance from other khans (e.g. Khan of Ganca, Khan of Shaki) andfrom meliks of Nagorno-Karabakh. The struggle between the Karabakh khan and Haji Chalabi Khan of Shaki, one ofthe most powerful feudal rulers of the South Caucasus, started in 1748. Haji Chalabi Khan wishing Panah Ali khan'spower not increased further, allied with the Khan of Shirvan and surrounded the castle of Bayat. The allies for thewhole month unsuccessfully tried to capture the capital of the Karabakh khanate. The Shaki and Shirvan khanswithdrew, incurring huge casualties and failing to accomplish the mission. Haji Chelebi Khan was forced to admit:"Until now Panah Khan was raw silver that was not minted. We came, minted it, and returned." Same quote fromanother Karabakh historian of 19th century, Mirza Yusif, reads: "Until now Panah Khan was merely gold, we cameand minted a coin from that gold."[5]

DeathWhen Karm Khan Zand took control of much of Iran, he forced Panh Khan to come to Shiraz (Capital), where hedied as a hostage. Panah-Ali Khan's son Ibrahim-Khalil Khan was sent back to Karabakh as governor. Ibrahim,succeeding his father (1760), not only ruled over most of Qarb, but also became one of the major potentates inthe Caucasus.

References[1] "History of Azerbaijan" (http:/ / www. britannica. com/ eb/ article-129462/ Azerbaijan) Encyclopdia Britannica Online:[2] Abbas-gulu Aga Bakikhanov. Golestan-i Iram (http:/ / vostlit. info/ Texts/ rus2/ Bakihanov/ frametext4. htm)[3][3] Mirza Adigozel-bek, Karabakh-name (1845), Baku, 1950, p. 54[4][4] Mirza Jamal Javanshir (1847), History of Karabakh, Baku, 1959, p. 68[5][5] Mirza Yusuf, Tarihi-Safi, 1856

Article Sources and Contributors 3

Article Sources and ContributorsPanah Ali Khan Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=600867230 Contributors: AdilBaguirov, Aghvank, Alborz Fallah, AnnaFrance, Artaxiad, Ataby, Bgwhite, Brandmeister(old), Colonies Chris, Enver62, Grandmaster, Hajji Piruz, Hovik95, J04n, John Vandenberg, Khoikhoi, Khorshid, Lamro, Mardavich, Nick Number, Parishan, Quantum666, Siavosh 84, Vacio,Vera from upstairs, Waacstats, Woohookitty, Xebulon, Yngvadottir, 18 anonymous edits

Image Sources, Licenses and ContributorsFile:Penaheli xanin mezar dasi.jpg Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Penaheli_xanin_mezar_dasi.jpg License: Public Domain Contributors: Sefer ibrahim

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Panah Ali KhanOrigins and early lifeKarabakh KhanateDeathReferences

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