Fatali Khan

Fatali Khan of Quba or Fath Ali-Khan of Quba (Fətəli xan Qubalı or Fətx Əli-xan Qubalı; 1736 - March 29, 1789) – was a ruler of Quba Khanate (1758–1789), prominent statesman of Azerbaijan of the 18th century. Gaining from his father Huseyngulu Khan a small fate consisting only Quba, Fatali Khan united all adjacent seaside territories around it, establishing an extensive possession which included Derbent, Baku and Shirvan khanates right up to Ardabil in the north of Persia. Ahmad bey Javanshir — author of the 19th century called him “a gatherer of his lands”.

Early years
Fatali Khan was born in 1736, into a family of Huseyn Ali Khan of Quba and Peri Jahan-Bike Utsmiyeva. Fatḥ-ʿAlī Khan came from a noble Lezgī family and was, like most Lezgīs, a Sunnite. As Isgandar bey Hajinski notes in his sketch, “he was not brought up, he spent his youth as usual as sons of other khans spent it, i.e. in idleness and even once, his father wanted to punish him corporally for his prank, but he hide himself until his father’s anger fade”. Fatali Khan came from a noble Lezgī family and was, like most Lezgīs, a Sunnite. Fatali Khan began to lead Quba khanate in 1758, after his father Huseyn Ali Khan’s death. Immediately, after Huseyn Ali Khan’s death, brother of Shirvan’s Khan Agha-Razi Bey invaded into Bermek mahal of Quba Khanate and carried off 200 families from there. In response, Fatali khan set out to Shirvan and captivated about 400 families and settled them into his possessions (Agha-Razi bey himself died in a struggle near old Shamakhi).

Submission of Baku, Derbent and Shamakhi
In 1765, Fatali khan conquered Derbent and united Derbent khanate to his possessions with the help of shamkhal, utsmi and Tabasaran’s qadi. Even by then he took a territories on the right coast the Samur River – Mushkur, Niyazoba, Shabran, Rustau, Beshbarmag and also villages of Ulus mahal from Derbent’s khan. Subordinating Derbent, Fatali khan gave a part of lands in Derbent Khanate to rulers of Dagestan as a sign of gratitude: Garadagli, Naburli, Chigi, Azagli, Bebeshli and Bebeli villages of Quba province to shamkhal of Tarki; Malakalil and Derbent provinces to utsmiy and allowed him to levy customs duties in Derbent; to qadi of Tabasaran was given a monetary compensation. Soon Fatali Khan married to Tuti Bike – daughter of Qaytaq utsmiy Amir Hamza. But in his turn, the Khan of Quba refused to marry his sister Khadija Bike to him. Instead he married her to Melik Mahammad Khan – son of Baku’s Khan Mirza Muhammad I. By means of Khadija Bike, who had a hard and masterful character, Fatali Khan subordinated weak-willed Khan of Baku to himself. Thus, he made Baku Khanate in state of dependence from Quba Khanate. As per relations with Amir Hamza, Fatali Khan drove Qaytaq tax collectors from Derbent and took away the village which he presented to utsmiy from him and it worsened contradiction between two rulers.

In 1768, in alliance with Muhammad Huseyn Khan of Sheki he conquered Shamakhi which was ruled by Aghasi Khan and Mahammad Seyid Khan brothers. After the victory, Fatali Khan and Mahammad Huseyn Khan divided lands of Shamakhi (Shirvan) khanate between themselves. Ismayil Bey Hajinski wrote about that: “Fatali Khan divided Shirvan with Huseyn khan in such way that Saadan and Kaasan mahals bordering upon Sheki, were given to Huseyn Khan, but Fatali Khan himself took remained part and returned to Quba”. Fatali Khan ordered to destroy New Shamakhi up to foundation and to resettle the residents to the older one. In one of documents it was written that: “…Fatali Khan gave New Shamakhi to rechennomu Huseyn Khan, but the older one took himself”. Beginning from 1768, in official documents and titular appeals, Fatali khan was named “high-degree and highly respected Khan of Derbent, Quba and Shamakhi”.

Soon, a new conspiracy against the Khan of Quba appeared in New Shamakhi, which was led by Manaf Bey – a naib of the Khan of Sheki, but Fatali Khan revealed intentions of conspirators, and leading an army consisting of 15 thousand soldiers, he suddenly invaded New Shamakhi and captivated Manaf bey and his adherents. According to Atepan Sharipin - a merchant from Astrakhan and Egor Zamyatin, the conflict between Quba and Sheki dated to 1768, was entrusted to Huseyn khan: "Huseyn khan wanted to possess all seized lands in Shamaki and then to be its ruler, but no one can repudiate Fatali khan from it."

Struggle with rulers of Dagestan
Meanwhile, the blinded ruler of Shamakhi - Aghasi Khan could escape to Karabakh and gathered his detachment. He got involved Sheki Huseyn of Sheki and Avar’s nutsal Mersel Khan, who didn’t want strengthening of the Khan of Quba. Avar’s nutsal sent an armed detachment under the guidance of his sons Bulach and Magomed Mirza. In a following struggle among Huseyn Khan, Aghasi Khan and the sons of Avar nutsal from one side and Fatali Khan from the other, the first ones were destroyed, both sons of Avar nutsal were perished, Huseyn Khan escaped to Sheki and Aghasi Khan to Kotevan. In 1774, nutsal disputed against Fatali Khan and he could capture Shamakhi together with Aghasi Khan of Shamakhi. But, soon, Fatali Khan set out to Shirvan with the army and detachment led by the Khan of Baku Melik Mahammad Khan, though “many dargwa people” came to his help. Nutsal was defeated near Old Shamakhi. Fatali khan promised him a safety and invited him for discussions to himself where nutsal was murdered by akushins.

Strengthening of the power and expansion of Fatali Khan’s sphere of influence disturbed his neighbors. Qaytaq’s utsmiy Amir Hamza, Avar’s nutsal and Umma Khan, Ali Sultan of Mekhtulin, qadi Rustam of Tabasaran, Tisheiz Magomed (Muhammad tishsiz) of Kazanish also entered into a coalition against Quba; rulers of Kumikiya of the Southern Sulak – Temir Khan of Endreyev, Ali-Sultan Kazanalipov, Aliyeshev of Kostekov and others also joined them. In July, 1774 Fatali Khan was defeated in Gavdushan field near Khudat, with unified forces of Dagestan feudals. Muhammad-tishsiz, Eldar-Bey Kazikumikskiy and maysum Sheykh Ali Bey perished in the battle.

Suffering a defeat, Fatali Khan stepped back to Salyan. Magomad Khan of Qaziqumuqkh seized Quba and “began to implement khan’s power”, but Aghasi Khan’s power was re-established in Shirvan. Amir Hamza attempted to capture Derbent by ruse, which was ruled by his sister Tuti Bike during the absence of her husband. It is known that Fatali Khan often charged his wife with governance of Derbent and appointed one of devoted to him Derbent beys as an assistant for her. Accompanying body of perished Muhammad-tishsiz, Amir Hamza approached the city and informed his sister that Fatali khan died in a struggle and that he has brought his body. But Tuti Bike guessed intensions of her brother and according to a legend she attained the city walls and ordered to open fire to his army and then sent a detachment, which forced Amir Hamza to move away to Mushkur. She was always on city walls in menswear. Y.I.Kozubskiy, researcher of Derbent’s history wrote: “Courageous wife of Fatali Khan - Tuti Bike…defended the city against her brother with fortitude; she stood on ramparts as a lioness, she disposed all fire of the fortress guns herself, threatening her brother”. I.N.Beryozin noted that “undaunted Tuti bike, who was betrayed by her brother once, defended courageously and retained Derbent for her husband”. Soon, utsmy, gathering an army, invaded Baku, and then sieged Derbent again. Fatali khan thread his way to Derbent secretly, around whom gathered his adherents.

A campaign of General Medem
While being in a difficult situation, he sent his envoy Mirza Bey Bayat from Salyan to Petersburg, empress Catherine II, with a letter in which he appealed for help and asked to take him out to the citizenship of Russian Empire. With the request of help he appealed to Tarki shamkhal, too. Shamkhal couldn’t render support and in January, 1775 he appealed to Russia and asked to help Fatali Khan. Russian command authority equipped expedition consisting of 2350 people under the command of General Medem, which directed to Dagestan on March 1 of that very year. Concerning the campaign of Russian army, Isgender bey Hajinski noted: “This circumstance had a great influence on the destiny of Fatali Khan and was the main reason of achievements subsequently gained by him”. Utsmiy Amir Hamza, seizing Derbent for the ninth month, raised the siege and opposed Medem, but was defeated by Russian army in Iran-Kharab. Fatali Khan sent keys of Derbent city to Catherine II and asked to take him out to the citizenship of Russia again. On May 10 of that year, a part of Russian army with the amount of 1411 people, led by major Cridner and with a detachment of Fatali Khan, moved to Qaytaq and Tabasaran. Amir Hamza attacked them near Bashli village, “but he was overthrown by an action of the artillery with great losses and took to flight”. According to words of H. Alkadari, troops of Fatali Khan plundered many belongings in villages near Kura's plane. Fatali Khan moved to Tabasaran with tsar army from there. People of Tabasaran, “relying on safety of their place”, decided to defend, but were destroyed in Kalukh. But in one of the struggles Crinder and Fatali Khan were surrounded in a narrow ravine and suffering a significant detriment, forced to return to Derbent.

Despite this, participants of anti-Quba coalition asked for peace, under conditions that if Fatali Khan “were in Derbent, but in Quba which belongs to him, then they would give him their amanats and would be loyal to him”. But the Russian command didn’t accept their conditions saying that Derbent will be ruled by Quba’s Khan. The Russian government was interested in reconciliation of loggerheads, in a given stage. On March 24 and then in April, 1776 they succeeded to assembly a meeting in Derbakh village, in which participated Fatali khan, Tarki shamkhal Murtazali, Bamat – ruler of Buynaksk, Amir Hamza – utsmiy of Qaytaq, Rustam – qadi of Tabasaran, Maqomed khan of Qaziqumukh, and also major Fromgold from the Russian side. A peace consensus was reached in the second meeting, according to which Amir Hamza and qadi Rustam were under obligation to ''“leave Derbent and Quba Khans alone with their possessions and not to impede them and their subjects, not to interfere in trade between our and their people and not plunder, but on the contrary, to help. But if one of our subjects would transgress, then he will be punished for that”. Besides that, major Fromgold wrote that “there will never be a desired calmness here. Despite utsmiy and qadi agreed not to harm the Khan (Fatali Khan), but they show it only on the outside…, but inwardly they are in a rage with him…”, they’ll not lose little time to renew their persecution of him”.''

In this period of his life, Fatali Khan established Khanmagomedqala village (now Mamedqala of Derbent rayon of Dagestan). According to I.Hajinski, the khan of Quba ''“drew his attention to nephew of utsmiy, brave Maqomed-Khan bey, who had a grudge against his uncle. Fatali Khan attached him to himself with caress and by other means, and built the tower in 20 versts from Derbent and named it the tower Maqomed-Khan. He resettled twenty families from Quba to this village and set it as the residence of Maqomed-Khan Bey”.'' Besides that, Quba’s Khan could also drew Shirmardan Bey – son of Qaziqumukh Khan Maqomed Bey - in his side, which was given a part of a Kura district up to Kabirek, which belonged Derbent, and Guney mahal belonged Quba.

In 1776, Khanim-bike Qarakhan-Bey qizi died in Tabasaran, who was a tutor of her dumb son maysum Novruz bey, and after her death one of the relatives of maysum Ali-Quli took the advantage of it by killing him and his two sons. He became a new maysum with the support of Rustam - qadi of the Northern Tabasaran. Cousins of murdered Novruz bey, sons of Sheykh-Ali-Bey, Maqomed-Huseyn Bey, Sohrab Bey, Shirali Bey and Mustafa bey went to Fatali Khan. The latter called Ali-Quli Bey to Derbent and deprived him of maysum title and sent him to Salyan, and charged Magomed-Huseyn bey as a new maysum. Approval of his protégé in the Southern Tabasaran had a great role in a struggle with rulers of the Southern Dagestan. In a report of Kizlyar’s commandant it is said: “Fatali Khan would revenge upon utsmiy and qadi henceforth and make them under his dominion, if he were attach him (maysum) to himself”.

Among Russian, Ottoman Empires and Persia
In 1768, the next war between Russia and Turkey began. Porte attempted to draw the khan of Quba to their side, but with no results. A contemporary of that time said: “Recently, Turks sent some officers to the khan of Quba, who rules Derbent and he will persuade lezghins to arm against Russia in favor of the Porte”. When in the first days of the war, messengers of Crimea's khan came to Fatali khan with a request to come over to Porte’s side and oppose Russia, he didn’t answer them. Besides that, in 1769-1770’s Quba’s ruler refused a request about letting pass to Ottoman army and advised other rulers not to collaborate with them. In July, 1769 Russian consul to Baku informed, that khan refused the request of sultan’s government to act against Russia and refused to admit gifts delivered to him, saying the Ottoman messenger that: ''“I don’t need it. I’m satisfied with my own capital”.'' Closure of trade intercourses between the Ottoman Empire during his reign, particularly, was related to anti-Turkish political direction of the khanate. In September, 1770 one of diplomatic representatives of Russia wrote: “Fatali Khan didn’t show any inclination to their side; indeed, he don’t want begin anything against Russia, except a continuing benevolence between them”.

Karim khan Zand, a Persian ruler, also wanted to have an ally in the person of Fatali Khan. He sent “his deputies to Fatali Khan with a hope that Fatali Khan wrote for that reason: “Karim Khan, who is the present ruler of Iran, had sent to me a lot of loyal deputies with many gifts from Shiraz…and a great monetary treasury with intention to incline me to his service and consent, but…I didn’t accept him by no means”.

Due to actions of general Medem’s army Quba Khanate restored not only its shaken condition, but also considerably strengthened its influence on the Eastern Caucasus. Asking to accept him under the protection of Russia Fatali khan wanted not only keep the territorial integrity of the khanate, but also to gain independence from Persia with the help of Russia. But Russian government didn’t want to complicate relations with Persia and Ottoman Empire and to change the order of political forces in the South Caucasus. Graph Panin, minister of foreign affairs in his letter informed Fatali khan that the empress “confers him to goodwill of Russian Empire for his diligence”, but can’t accept him to citizenship, because it can be a breach of agreement among Russia, Persia and the Ottoman Empire. Board of foreign affairs pointed to Fatali khan that he hasn’t even a small right to deviate from “Persian dependence” and “submission to this power” because of their “integrated nature and common faith”. In the end of year Russian army was withdrawn from Dagestan to Kizlyar. In September, 1775 Catherine II wrote to G.A.Potyemkin: "We should give the keys of Derbent back and reinstate Fatali khan in order to improve diligent, but troublesome and negligent act of Demedem gloriously". In the end of the year the troops were recalled from Dagestan to Kizlyar.

Gilan and campaign to Ardabil
In 1779, died Kerim Khan Zend, the ruler of Persia, and then the country was surrounded with intestine strife and battle for the power, against the background of which appeared a figure of Mohammad Khan Qajar. In summer of 1781, his army conquered Gilan khanate and its ruler Hidayat khan was forced to escape to Fatali Khan and ask for a help. The khan of Quba sent the army consisting of 9 thousand soldiers to Gilan. Armed forces from different Azerbaijani khanates and also troops of Tarki shamkhalate and Qaytaq utsmiy also participated in the campaign; the general command was carried out by nazir of Quba khanate – Mirza bey Bayat. According to testimony of witnesses of that time, “all troops were gathered due to Fatali Khan’s endeavour”. They could oust the forces of Agha Mohammad Khan Qajar and reestablish Hidayat Khan’s reign in Gilan.

Fatali Khan, who always strived for expansion of his possessions, soon decided a campaign to the south. In spring of 1784, gathering a significant amount of troop, he went over the Aras River and in August seized Ardabil and Meshkin cities. He pushed out Nazar Ali Khan – the ruler of Ardabil and appointed Tala Hasan khan of javad as a governor to Ardabil, and Khudaverdi bey to Meshkin. According to P.G.Butkov - prominent Russian researcher of Caucasus -, when the troops of Fatali Khan seized Ardabil “general-lieutenant Potyemkin demanded from Fatali Khan to withdraw his troops." And also feudal rulers of Dagestan became more active again and all these forced Fatali Khan to return back to Shirvan.

Struggle with Garabakh. Erekle II
Until the end of 1770’s, Fatali Khan came into contact with khan of Karabakh, Ibrahimkhalil khan – the ally of Erekle II, the ruler of Kartli-Kakhetiya and son-in-low of avar nutsal Umma Khan – after expanding his possessions. His aim was unification of feudal principalities of Georgia, liberation from Perso-Ottoman dominion and strengthening of Georgia in the South Caucasus.



In the beginning of 1780, Fatali Khan invaded Karabakh khanate by crossing the Kura River, but then Erekle II helped Ibrahimkhalil Khan by sending him a detachment under the command of tsarevich Georgiy and David. In August of that year the khan of Quba undertook an unsuccessful campaign again, but in the beginning of 1781 he could penetrate deep into Karabakh and to drive away some amount of peasants from there. Being in a rivalry with the khan of Karabakh and the tsar of Kartli-Kakheti, the ruler of Quba tried not only to expand his possessions and also to act as a fighter for interests of whole Azerbaijan. In the end of 1782, he wrote to Catherine II, that whole Azerbaijan is dissatisfied with imprisonment of Ganja’s Khan and ruler of Irevan’s sardar by Erekle II and Ibrahimkhalil Khan and that he “perceives it as a honor and right to support Azerbaijani khans”, asking the empress to forbid Erekle II the hostile acts regarding Azerbaijan. For shaking faith in Fatali Khan, Erekle II announced that, Fatali khan allegedly communicates with Suleyman Khan of Akhaltsikhe.

In spring of 1783, Fatali khan prepared to act against Karabakh, and khans of Talish, Tabriz, Sheki and Urmia, Bamat of Buynaksk, shamkhal of Tarki and other rulers of the Northern Caucasus also entered a coalition organized by him. According to testimony of a “confidant” the khan had about 13 thousand soldiers. Simultaneously, taking the advantage of his absence, rulers of the Southern Dagestan with the guidance of avar nutsal Umma khan and utsmiy Amir Hamza, intended to act against Fatali khan. Not long before that, in August, 1782 prince Alexander – an aspirant to the throne of Kartli-Kakheti – accompanied by prince Alexander Amilakhvari came to Fatali Khan. As far as, alliance of Erekle II with Ibrahimkhalil khan prevented Fatali khan from submission of Karabakh, then he intended to use oppositional forces, which were against Erekle II. But Erekle II informed a commandant of Kizlar of Caucasian line about intentions of Fatali Kahn and his ally, the shamkhal of Tarki and in autumn of 1783, according to assignment of P.S.Potyemkin, strong detachments were put along the Sulak and Terek Rivers, which ought to move to Derbent and Georgia in case of realization of intentions of Fatali Khan and prince Alexander. The given circumstance caused refusal of Fatali Khan from the venture against Erekle II. Besides that, according to demand of P.S.Potyemkin, Fatali Khan gave away both princes, for which he was gratitude by the Russian government.

In 1785, Fatali khan seized Talish Khanate. Then the Khan of Quba entered into a friendship alliance with Magomed – a successor of Tarki shamkhal Murtuzali, and two years later he married his elder brother Ahmad to his daughter Gichi-bike. In that very year, Fatali Khan defeated Nahammad Hasan Khan of Sheki amd former ruler of Shamakhi Aghasi Bey. The latter yielded to the winner, but the Khan of Sheki made peace with Fatali Khan. At first, Aghasi Khan was kept in Quba with his sons, but later they were sent to Baku. Besides that, Fatali Khan demanded from Mahammad Hasan Khan of Sheki to givge away his brother Aghasi khan, former Khan of Shamakhi Mahammad Seyid Khan with his two sons, but soon they themselves came to the ruler of Quba and were sent to Salyan. In 1788, Fatali khan ordered to execute khans of Shamakhi with their sons: Aghasi khan with his sons Ahmad bey and Mahammad bey in Baku, Mahammad Seyid Khan with his two sons Mahammad bey and Isgender Bey in Salyan, and also one more son of Mahammad Seyid Khan and his son-in-low Mahammad Rza Bey in Quba.

In January, 1787 Fatali Khan defeated opposing him Ibrahimkhalil Khan. Utsmiy of Qaytaq Amir hamza died in that very year. He was inherited by his brother Ustar Khan, who was in friendship relations with the ruler of Quba for a long time.

The last years
In summer, 1783 Erekle II – tsar of Kartli-Kakheti signed the treaty of Georgievsk with Russia, according to which Eastern Georgia passed to protectorate of Russia. Conclusion of the Georgiyevsk treaty sharply weakened positions of Persia and Ottoman Empire in the South Caucasus. By the end of 1780’s, significant changes in alignment of forces, called by aspiration of its nations to accept Russia’s citizenship, were happened in the region. Besides that, Agha Muhammad Khan Qajar significantly reinforced his positions in Persia and fixed upon the South Caucasus, but Ottoman and Russian Empires were on the threshold of Russo-Turkish War. Emerged foreign policy circumstances caused on convergence of Russia, Kartli-Kakheti and Quba Khanate, and Russian diplomacy attached great importance to reconciliation of the rulers of South Caucasus. In March, 1787, an agreement between Kartli-Kakheti and Quba Khanate was signed, which was of great importance in establishment of balance in the South Caucasus and strengthening of Russia’s position in the region. As G. A. Potyemkin wrote: ''“Yours Excellency, endeavor to unite tsar Erekle of Georgia and David of Imeretiya in alliance. After Fatali Khan’s joining, they’ll be able to possess advantage over our enemies”.'' Besides that, one of the aims to sign agreement with Fatali khan, was acquisition of Karabakh and Southern Azerbaijan, By that time, authority of Quba’s ruler spread up in Derbent, Shirvan khanate and Salyan. Baku, Sheki and Talish khanates were under vassalage of Fatali Khan. Influence of Fatali Khan spread in Gilan and also in Tabriz, too.

Fatali Khan came to his sister in Baku, where he died in March, 1789. On May 30, general Tekeli khan wrote to Potyemkin that, dears of the khan concealed his death “in order that his greedy and srong neighbors not to destroy possessions, which were belonged to his son by succession.” Fatali khan was buried in Baku, in a cemetery of Bibi-Heybat mosque. At present, his gravestone is kept in Azerbaijan State Museum of History.

Life
Fatali Khan was a Shia Muslim.

Family
As it’s known, Fatali Khan married to Tuti Bike, the sister of Qaytaq utsmiy Amir Hamza. In 1774 he married to Yelisu bike, daughter of Ilisu sultan, but in 1776 he married to Armenian Sahar-Nas.

He married his sister Khadija Bike to Mahammad Khan of Baku; she was the grandmother of Abbasgulu agha Bakikhanov – founder of scientific historiography of Azerbaijan, scientist, thinker and writer. Another sister Fatime, he married to Mahammad Rza bey – the son of Mahammad Seyid Khan of Shamakhi.

Memory

 * Poet Agha Mesih Shirvani dedicated his “Shahname” poem to Fatali Khan.


 * An Azerbaijani song dedicated to Fatali Khan was published as musical record in a musical magazine published in 1816-1818, in Astrakhan.


 * In 1947, a film called “Fatali Khan”, dedicated to life of the Khan of Quba, was shot by afilm director Efim Dzigan in Baku film studio.

Literature

 * В. Н. Левиатов. Очерки из истории Азербайджана в XVIII веке. — Изд-во АН Азербайджанской ССР, 1948. — 227 с.


 * Г. Б. Абдуллаев. Из истории Северо-Восточного Азербайджана в 60-80-х гг. XVIII в.. — Изд-во АН Азербайджанской ССР, 1958. — 209 с.


 * О. П. Маркова Россия, Закавказье и международные отношения в XVIII веке.. — Наука, 1966. — 322 с.