Lezgian People - History

History

In the 4th century BC, the numerous tribes speaking Lezgic languages, which is part of the Nakh-Dagestan family of languages, united in a union of 26 tribes, formed in the Eastern Caucasus state of Caucasian Albania, which existed before the 8th century BC. Under the influence of foreign invaders Caucasian Albania was divided into several areas - Lakzi, Shirvan, etc.

Although Lezgins were first introduced to Islam perhaps as early as the 8th c., the Lezgins remained primarily animist until the 15th century, when Muslim influence became stronger, with Persian traders coming in from the south, and the Golden Horde increasingly pressing from the north. In the 16th century, the Ottoman Turks occupied the area, and also helped to consolidate Islam. By the 19th century, the Lezgins had all been converted to Islam, and they have since then been very devout in their faith. The Lezgins did not form their own country. Some were part of the Kuba Khanate in Azerbaijan, some were under control of the Derbent Khanate. The Lak Kazi Kumukh Khanate contrtolled the Lezgins for a time in the 18th century, but from 1812 onwards, the Russians took over. They created the Kiurin Khanate, later to become the Kiurin district.

At the beginning of the 18th century in eastern Transcaucasia began anti-Persian uprising by the Lezgins and other peoples of Dagestan and Azerbaijan. Under the leadership of Haji Dawood Myushkyurskogo (r. 1721-1728 ) In the vast territory of Shirvan was created Lezgin State Khanate with its capital in Shemakha

In the first half of the 18th century at a time, Persia was able to restore its authority throughout the Eastern Caucasus. After the death of Nadir Shah, he created the state into divided several smaller khanates. The main part of Lezgins united in "free society" (Magalim) (Akhty para, Alti-para, Kure, Dokuz-para); Lezghians Azerbaijani khanate in the Kuba and Dagestan Lezgins - in Derbent Khanate. In 1812 most of the Dagestani Lezgins became part of the educated in southern Dagestan, a Russian protectorate Kyurinskoe Khanate, which was transformed in 1864 into Kyurinsky District, and the rest - in the Samur district, most of the Azerbaijani Lezgins - in the Kuban district of Baku province.

In 1930, Sheikh Mohammed Effendi Shtulskim organized an uprising against Soviet rule, which was suppressed after several months . In Twentieth century, attempts were made to create a republic Lezgistan (independent or as autonomy) .