Javanshir Clan - As A Part of Russia

As A Part of Russia

Not severing relations with the khan, shah attempted to bring its garrison to Shusha. Then, Ibrahimkhalil khan renewed discussions with Russia in May of 1805 and moved to the Russian citizenship. Proper treaty was signed on the coast of the Kurakchay River. Khan was obliged to pay an annual tribute of 8000 chervons and allowed the Russian garrison to enter Shusha. He hoped that hereby he will be able to save his government from capture of neighbor states, but he precipitated its end. In spring of 1806, when the Persian army consisting of 20 thousand soldiers arrived Shusha, lieutenant-colonel Lisanevich, commander of the Russian garrison, ordered 80 years old Ibrahimkhalil khan for suspicion and betrayal and annihilated all his family (his wife and a lot of little children were also murdered). Russian Government announced Mehdigulu khan – son of Ibrahimkhalil khan - a new khan, but he didn’t forgive the committed crime to Russians and was a secret ally of Iran during all years of his reign.

Meanwhile, in 1813, before the end of the Russo-Persian war of 1804-1813, a peaceful Russo-Iran treaty - called the treaty of Gulistan - was signed in Karabakh fortress Gulustan, by which the conversion of Karabakh khanate to Russia was recognized.

In November of 1822, when pro-Persian activity of Mehdigulu khan was disclosed, he escaped to Persia and so hastily that, he even forgot the state seal in Shusha. In 1822, Karabakh khanate was abolished and reformed into a province of the Russian Empire.

Persia didn’t put up with losing the South Caucasus. Urging on by Great Britain, it began a new war against Russia soon. But the Persians couldn’t conquer Shusha, which was desperately defensed by the Russian garrison of lieutenant-colonel Reutt, but eventually there were driven away by Russians.