Balakan Rayon - History of The Rayon

History of The Rayon

Archeological finds including many historical monuments and kurgans in the region speak of early human inhabitation. Balakan was a part of Caucasian Albania. The Èrs also inhabitaed this region along with the rest of North-West Azerbaijan. A Greek writer of the time who authored books on the battle between the Roman troops and Caucasian Albanians on the bank of Alazani (Qanıx) river in 65 AD., described the locals as calm, prideful and full of courage. Etymology of names such as "Getovlar" (similar to Hettax), Hunbulanchay (similar to Huns), Ingiloy (similar to Gellah) and others confirm habitation of the region by early nomadic Turkic tribes. In the 7th century Balakan was invaded by Arabs and Balakən settlement was destroyed. After the Arab rule was overthrown in 9th–10th centuries, Balakan established its political and economic links with Shaki. Both provinces developed sericulture as their primary industry.

In 1803 the Balakan Rayon territory was incorporated into the Russian Empire and was administratively a part of Georgia until 1842, after that it was a separate oblast. In 1844 the Char-Balakan Military Region was founded. From 1860 to the end of the Russian Empire it was a part of Georgia within the Tiflis Governorate.

When Democratic Republic of Georgia was established, Balakan was a part of Zaqatala District, one of Georgia's eastern provinces. After the Soviet occupation of Georgia in 1921, Zaqatala District was handed over to Azerbaijani SSR by the Bolshevik Government.

During the Great Patriotic War, 6,882 residents of Balakan fought the Nazi Germany and 2,315 of them died on the front lines. During Nagorno-Karabakh War, Balakan lost 152 residents who fought in Karabakh. Balakan rayon was created on 8 August 1930. The settlement Balakən was assigned to be the administrative center of the rayon. It later grew to become a city type settlement in 1954 and received a status of a city in 1968. In 1963, the rayon was abolished and joined with Zaqatala Rayon. In 1965, it was again re-established as an independent rayon.

Among the historical monuments are the 9th century Albanian church 18 km away from the administrative center of Balakan, Peri castle dating to 7th–8th centuries in Qullar village, 17th century mosque with a 45 meter minaret in Balakən city, Nokho Cave in the Qubek gorge pertaining to the Iron Age, ruins and pilgrimage site from the 5th–8th centuries located 2 km west of Mahamalar village, 1st–2nd century BC necropolis 1 km north of the same village, mosque built in 1780 and an underground water storage facilities from the 18th century in Qullar village, a 19th century fortress and 18th century mosque in Mahamalar, a 14th century mosque in Katex village, 17th century four-edged castle and two tombs, a 14th century mausoleum in Tülü village, mosque built in 1910 in İtitala village, 14th century temple in Hənifə village, 16th century mosque in Xalatala and temples in Mazımçay, ruins of a settlement from Middle Ages on Maklakan mountain.